Ostrava
Encyclopedia
Ostrava (ˈostrava, ) is the third largest city in the Czech Republic
and the second largest urban agglomeration after Prague. Located close to the Polish border, it is also the administrative center of the Moravian-Silesian Region
and of the Municipality with Extended Competence. Ostrava was candidate for the title of European Capital of Culture
2015. Ostrava is located at the confluence of the Ostravice
, Oder, Lučina
and Opava
rivers. Its history and growth have been largely affected by exploitation and further use of the high quality black coal deposits discovered in the locality, giving the town a look of an industrial city and a nickname of the “steel heart of the republic” during the communist era
of Czechoslovakia
. Many of the heavy industry companies are being closed down or transformed, yet the city remains one of the most polluted in the EU
.
.
. Archaeological finds have proved that the area around Ostrava has been permanently inhabited for 25,000 years. Circa 23,000 BC, the Venus of Petřkovice (Petřkovická venuše in Czech) from Petřkovice in Ostrava, Czech Republic, was made. It is now in Archeological Institute, Brno
.
In the 13th century, the Ostravice river marked the border between the Silesia
n duchy of Opole
and the March of Moravia
under Bohemian
suzerainty. Two settlements arose on both sides of the river: Slezská Ostrava (Silesian Ostrava) was first mentioned in 1229, Moravská Ostrava (Moravian Ostrava) in 1267, it received town privileges
in 1279. The Piast
dukes of Opole in 1297 built a fortress on their side of the river. Both parts were largely settled by Germans
in the course of the Ostsiedlung
.
Until the late 18th century, Moravská Ostrava was a small provincial town with a population around one thousand inhabitants engaged in handicraft. In 1763, large deposits of black coal
were discovered, leading to an industrial boom and a flood of new immigrants in the following centuries. During the 19th century, several mine towers were raised in and around the city and the first steel works were established at Vítkovice
, acquired by Salomon Mayer von Rothschild
in 1843. Industrial growth was made possible by the completion of Kaiser-Ferdinands-Nordbahn
from Vienna
in 1847. The 20th century saw further industrial expansion of the city accompanied by an increase in population and the quality of civic services and culture. However, during World War II, Ostrava – as an important source of steel for the arms industry – suffered several massive bombing campaigns that caused extensive damage to the city.
Since the Velvet revolution
in 1989 the city has been going through major changes. A thorough restructuring of industry is taking place – coal mining in the area of the city was stopped in 1994 and a large part of the Vítkovice ironworks near the city center was closed down in 1998. Both actions improved the environment dramatically, although the Arcelor Mittal plant (ex-Nová Huť) continues to heavily pollute the Radvanice
district and the surrounding area, resulting in one of the highest concentrations of PM10 dust in Europe.
(15 km (9.3 mi)) and Slovak
(55 km (34.2 mi)) borders. It spreads over the northern part of the natural north-south valley called the Moravian Gate (Moravská brána) with an average elevation of approximately 210 m (689 ft) above sea level
.
The local climate
is continental temperate
, with hot, humid summers and mild, dry winters. The yearly average temperature is 10.2 °C (50.4 °F) (January low: -1.2 °C, July high: 25 °C (77 °F)), the yearly rainfall
is around 526 mm (20.7 in).
Historically, among the most influential ethnic groups besides Czechs in Ostrava were the Poles
, Germans
and the Jews. However, during and after the World War II years the situation changed completely, as most Ostravian Jews were killed or transported to concentration camps (on 17 October 1939, the first transport of Jews to a camp under the Nisko Plan
, and the Nazi administrative innovation known as the General Government
was held in Ostrava – the first of its kind in Europe). After World War II, Germans were expelled
from Ostrava according to the Potsdam Agreement
. Thus, the population of the city, has become a mixture of Silesians, Moravians, Czechs, Slovaks and Poles. The mayor of Ostrava Josef Hinner opposed the deportation with the magistrate and German forces and started to organize the resistance to smuggle Jewish citizens from the city and surrounding areas. Due to his opposition, mayor Hinner was deported and placed in a concentration camp, barely surviving World War II.
The unemployment rate is 12 % (as of December 2010).
All underground coal mines were closed down shortly after the Velvet revolution
in 1989, due to unfavourable geological and political conditions which caused mining to become uneconomical in the post-communist system, and also because of ex-mayor Evžen Tošenovský
's drive to modernize the city's industries. The last minecart
with coal was retrieved from new Odra Mine (formerly František Mine) on 30 June 1994.
Some of the largest industrial companies lie in the city of Ostrava. The Vitkovice steel works, located in the suburb of the same name near the city center, concentrates on metallurgy
and machine engineering. It was established in 1828 and now it is undergoing a major transformation. The Vítkovice complex Dolní oblast is set to undergo extensive reconstruction. The giant gas container for blast furnace gas
(around 70 m wide and 33 m high) will be modified into a concert hall for 1,500 visitors, a gallery, café, etc., based on design by leading Czech architect, Josef Pleskot. Blast Furnace no 1 will become the start of a tour route, and the sixth energy central office will become an industrial museum (project authored by Václav and Helena Zemánkový). The expected date for completion of reconstruction is set for 2013.
Michal Mine whose history goes back to 1843, is an extremely valuable authentic industrial site in terms of construction and technical equipment. the museum provides visitors with the chance to look over all of the above ground work areas that a miner would have to go through to get to his shift. The tour includes, the dressing rooms, washrooms, registry, dispatching, and most importantly, the machine room, with its original and unique equipment that had worked until 1993, when the mine was permanently closed. The scene, intentionally left intact, without any artificial arrangements being made, gives the impression as if work there has just ended. Some of the rooms in the Museum house also other kinds of temporary exhibitions, often displaying works by foreign artists.
Located on the former Anselm Mine (one of the first to be established at the end of the 18th century in what is today the Petřkovice District of Ostrava), the Mining Museum was opened in the early 1990s. A unique exhibition of the Mining Museum highlights the evolution of coal mining in the Ostrava-Karvina region, as well as mining technology, and rescue services. In fact, it is the largest exhibition of its kind in the world. With the collection of miner’s lights and hand tools, visitors get a real taste of the hard work and dedication the men of the mines had. The tour includes a view of mining in the original seams with wooden braces, mining machines and belt conveyors.
. After demolition of the old coking plant and clearing the entire area, the Karolina site can now be used to extend the Ostrava city center.
In late June 2006, the Dutch firm Multi Development won the contract to develop the grounds of the former Karolina site. Multi Development plans to invest 13 billion CZK (EUR 450 million).
Many new apartment buildings, offices and shops are planned for this new city district. There will also be a new church, a high-rise building, a large park by the Ostravice River
and a university campus.
There are four theaters in Ostrava: Moravian-Silesian National Theatre (Národní divadlo moravskoslezské). It has two buildings: Divadlo Antonína Dvořáka
(named after Antonín Dvořák
) and Divadlo Jiřího Myrona. Further there are Petr Bezruč Theatre (named after Petr Bezruč
), Komorní scéna Aréna
(Chamber theatre Arena) and Divadlo loutek (Puppet theatre).
Every July there is an international world music festival Colours of Ostrava
taking place.
Ostrava's Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra
(formerly called the Czech Radio Orchestra) is one of Europe's better orchestras.
Ostrava was candidate for the European Capital of Culture
2015.
Some technical landmarks, such as Lower Vítkovice Area, the Michal Mine, and/or Landek Park, with its Mining Museum exhibition, have no match within the entire Czech Republic.
Another attraction, which is becoming more and more popular mainly among young people, is Stodolní Street (Stodolní ulice), actually a collection of streets just next to the center, full of bars, pubs and clubs, bringing night-life to the city and thousands of visitors all year long. There are currently around 60 places to have a drink or dance on this street, each with its own style and atmosphere. There are a few bigger events at this area throughout the year, the largest of which is the Colours of Ostrava
a summer music festival
hosting many musicians and groups from all over the world.
The New City Hall Viewing Tower provides visitors a panoramic view of the city and surroundings from a height of about 72 m (236.2 ft). In clear weather, the Moravian-Silesian Beskids and Jeseníky mountain ranges are visible.
The Silesian Ostrava Castle
is one of the city's most historic cultural monuments. The castle
was built in the eighties and nineties of the 13th century. In 1534, the gothic castle was rebuilt into a renaissance chateau. It was restored recently after many years of dilapidation caused by coal mining under the castle. Today, the castle is one of the most important tourist attraction of the city. It hosted the Colours of Ostrava music festival in 2007.
The Ostrava ZOO was founded in 1949 and officially opened in 1951; the zoo originally had only eight animals: three roes and five pheasants. Since that time, it has expanded to include 230 species of animals and, after relocation in 1956 to its current place, has grown from its original 0, 5 km2 to 3 km2 today.
The most favourite children attraction is called Petting Zoo, where children could go right to the exhibition with goats and sheep. Every day, people can go to watch special commented feedings of animals, where a worker feeds an animal and talk about the animal and answer people’s question.
The 230 species are housed in outdoor and indoor exhibits which include: African mammal house, monkey house, elephant house, 3 aviaries for birds, small Amazonia, hippo house.
The Ostrava zoo was the first in the Czech Republic to see the birth of an elephant. Two elephants were born in 2011. The elder, a male named Sethi, died after a two months. The second one, a female named Rashmi, has flourished and can be visited in the elephant pavilion.
The Miniuni is a collection of over thirty 1:25 models of Europe's prominent edifices spreading across a 1.5ha area. Some of the exhibits are Prague's Old Town Hall, London's Big Ben, Berlin's Brandenburg Gate and a dominant 12m tall Eiffel Tower. The exhibition also features the Seven World Wonders and the World's Skyscrapers. Railways with model trains and water canals with model steamers add extra fun.
The Ostrava museum was established by merging three older local museums in the Old Post-Office building after World War One. Since 1931 it occupies the Old Town Hall in Masaryk Square, the oldest existing example of original historic architecture typical of Ostrava's city core. On display are local history of Ostrava and a couple of other theme shows. Its singular feature and pride item is the 225 cm (88.58 in) tall indoor astronomical clock called the Mašek Clock. It boasts 51 different functional features and consists of four dials: clock, calender, astronomical and planetary dials.
The Fire-fighting Museum' building has been dedicated to fire-fighting since its completion in 1905. The exhibition features seven sections showing models of fire trucks and other fire-fighting hardware; model situations like fire, leaks of dangerous substances and traffic accidents; an exhibition of history and development of fire-fighting techniques and technology; breathing apparatuses and personal protection gear for chemical accident operations. Video features and documentaries show and explain the Whats and Whys of a fireman's job.
In the Ostravar brewery, an excursion route has been traced for visitors, who will be able to learn interesting things about the brewing of the Czech national drink. At the end of the route, visitors can taste their favourite brew. A great attraction of the Museum is a tap bar that is more than 60 years old. In addition to the tap-room, visitors can see a number of other interesting objects linked with brewing. There are, for example, specimens of barrels with illustrations of how they were made, transport glasses dating from the 1920s and 1930s and a historical barrelhead. All this is accompanied by historical photographs and labels.
The Ema Heap, made up of dirt, or mining waste material, from The Trinity Colliery, is now a favourite Sunday trip destination. It is 82 ha large and contains some 4 mil. cube meters of dirt. Spontaneous ignition appeared deep in its bowels in the 1960s and the invisible fire still keeps burning. Inside temperature reaches up to 1500 °C (2,732 °F) creating suitable habitats for steppe species of fauna and flora along the dump limits. Extreme temperature produces rare minerals inside this man-made singularity of nature. Visitors should follow the marked yellow path.
The city's two current League football teams are FC Baník Ostrava
and FC Vítkovice
.
FC Baník Ostrava represent the city in the Czech Republic 1. League (Gambrinus Liga
).
In ice-hockey, Ostrava has one team HC Vítkovice Steel represent the city in the Czech Extraliga
and HC Poruba in second league.
The city's National Basketball League
(NBL) team is the NH Ostrava.
In Ostrava are two teams in the first floorball league. 1. SC WOOW Vítkovice and FBC Ostrava.
Ostrava also supports athletics. Ostrava-Vítkovice
hosts the Golden Spike
athletics meeting, one of the IAAF World Challenge Meetings.
, 59 day bus lines. Service is provided mainly by Dopravní Podnik Ostrava a.s. (Ostrava City Transportation Company).
and Warsaw
. Ostrava, as a third largest city, has direct train connection with the capital city Prague
. Some EuroCity
trains go also to Žilina
and Košice
.
, Russia, from 1957 Coventry
, United Kingdom, from 1957 Katowice
, Poland, from 1960 Dresden
, Germany, from 1971 Split
, Croatia, from 1976 Piraeus
, Greece, from 1997 Košice
, Slovakia, from 2001 Miskolc
, Hungary, from 2001 Pittsburgh
, USA, from 2001 Powiat Wodzisławski, Poland, from 2005 Western, Kazakhstan
, from 2008 Donetsk
, Ukraine, from 2009
Ostrava has two triangular partnerships with Coventry: one with Volgograd since 1957 and one with Dresden since 1971.
The Consulate-General of the Republic of Poland is located on Blahoslavova Street in Ostrava.
An honorary consulate of the Russian Federation is also located in Ostrava.
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
and the second largest urban agglomeration after Prague. Located close to the Polish border, it is also the administrative center of the Moravian-Silesian Region
Moravian-Silesian Region
Moravian-Silesian Region , or Moravo-Silesian Region, is one of 14 administrative Regions of the Czech Republic, until May 2001 it was formerly called the Ostrava Region . The region is located in the north-eastern part of its historical region of Moravia and in most of the Czech part of the...
and of the Municipality with Extended Competence. Ostrava was candidate for the title of European Capital of Culture
European Capital of Culture
The European Capital of Culture is a city designated by theEuropean Union for a period of one calendar year during which it organises a series of cultural events with a strong European dimension....
2015. Ostrava is located at the confluence of the Ostravice
Ostravice River
Ostravice is a river in Moravian-Silesian Region, Czech Republic. It originates in the Moravian-Silesian Beskids and then flows through Ostravice, Frýdlant nad Ostravicí, Frýdek-Místek and Paskov to Ostrava where it enters the Oder as its right tributary...
, Oder, Lučina
Lucina River
Lučina is a river in Moravian-Silesian Region, Czech Republic. It is the tributary of the Ostravice River to which it enters in Ostrava. It originates in Beskids and then flows northwestward through Horní Bludovice and Dolní Bludovice, near Havířov. Žermanice Dam is built on the river...
and Opava
Opava River
The Opava is a river in the north-eastern Czech Republic, a left tributary of the Oder river. It originates at the confluence of Bílá , Střední and Černá Opava in Vrbno pod Pradědem and runs over 119 km to the Oder at Ostrava, with some 25 km forming the border with Poland.After the 1742 First...
rivers. Its history and growth have been largely affected by exploitation and further use of the high quality black coal deposits discovered in the locality, giving the town a look of an industrial city and a nickname of the “steel heart of the republic” during the communist era
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
of Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
. Many of the heavy industry companies are being closed down or transformed, yet the city remains one of the most polluted in the EU
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
.
Etymology
Ostrava was named after the river Ostrá (meaning sharp) which today is called OstraviceOstravice
Ostravice is a village and a popular summer holiday resort in the Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic under the Moravian-Silesian Beskids to which it serves as a gate....
.
History
Ostrava was an important crossroads of prehistoric trading routes, namely the Amber RoadAmber Road
The Amber Road was an ancient trade route for the transfer of amber. As one of the waterways and ancient highways, for centuries the road led from Europe to Asia and back, and from northern Africa to the Baltic Sea....
. Archaeological finds have proved that the area around Ostrava has been permanently inhabited for 25,000 years. Circa 23,000 BC, the Venus of Petřkovice (Petřkovická venuše in Czech) from Petřkovice in Ostrava, Czech Republic, was made. It is now in Archeological Institute, Brno
Brno
Brno by population and area is the second largest city in the Czech Republic, the largest Moravian city, and the historical capital city of the Margraviate of Moravia. Brno is the administrative centre of the South Moravian Region where it forms a separate district Brno-City District...
.
In the 13th century, the Ostravice river marked the border between the Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
n duchy of Opole
Duchy of Opole
Duchy of Opole was one of the duchies of Silesia ruled by the Piast dynasty. Its capital was Opole in Upper Silesia.After Bolesław I the Tall and his younger brother Mieszko I Tanglefoot backed by Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa had retained their Silesian heritage in 1163, they divided the...
and the March of Moravia
March of Moravia
The March or Margraviate of Moravia, was a marcher state, sometimes de facto independent and varyingly within the power of the Duchy, later Kingdom of Bohemia...
under Bohemian
Kingdom of Bohemia
The Kingdom of Bohemia was a country located in the region of Bohemia in Central Europe, most of whose territory is currently located in the modern-day Czech Republic. The King was Elector of Holy Roman Empire until its dissolution in 1806, whereupon it became part of the Austrian Empire, and...
suzerainty. Two settlements arose on both sides of the river: Slezská Ostrava (Silesian Ostrava) was first mentioned in 1229, Moravská Ostrava (Moravian Ostrava) in 1267, it received town privileges
German town law
German town law or German municipal concerns concerns town privileges used by many cities, towns, and villages throughout Central and Eastern Europe during the Middle Ages.- Town law in Germany :...
in 1279. The Piast
Silesian Piasts
The Silesian Piasts were the oldest line of the Piast dynasty beginning with Władysław II the Exile, son of Bolesław III Wrymouth, Duke of Poland...
dukes of Opole in 1297 built a fortress on their side of the river. Both parts were largely settled by Germans
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
in the course of the Ostsiedlung
Ostsiedlung
Ostsiedlung , also called German eastward expansion, was the medieval eastward migration and settlement of Germans from modern day western and central Germany into less-populated regions and countries of eastern Central Europe and Eastern Europe. The affected area roughly stretched from Slovenia...
.
Until the late 18th century, Moravská Ostrava was a small provincial town with a population around one thousand inhabitants engaged in handicraft. In 1763, large deposits of black coal
Bituminous coal
Bituminous coal or black coal is a relatively soft coal containing a tarlike substance called bitumen. It is of higher quality than lignite coal but of poorer quality than Anthracite...
were discovered, leading to an industrial boom and a flood of new immigrants in the following centuries. During the 19th century, several mine towers were raised in and around the city and the first steel works were established at Vítkovice
Vítkovice (Ostrava)
Vítkovice is an administrative district of the city of Ostrava, capital of the Moravian-Silesian Region in the Czech Republic. Situated on the left bank of the Ostravice River in the Moravian part of the city, Vítkovice was a town in its own right until its incorporation in 1924.-History:The...
, acquired by Salomon Mayer von Rothschild
Salomon Mayer von Rothschild
Salomon Mayer von Rothschild was a German-born banker in the Austrian Empire and the founder of the Viennese branch of the prominent Mayer Amschel Rothschild family....
in 1843. Industrial growth was made possible by the completion of Kaiser-Ferdinands-Nordbahn
Northern Railway (Austria)
The Emperor Ferdinand Northern Railway was the name of a former railway company during the time of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. Its main line was supposed to connect Vienna with salt mines in Bochnia near Kraków...
from Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
in 1847. The 20th century saw further industrial expansion of the city accompanied by an increase in population and the quality of civic services and culture. However, during World War II, Ostrava – as an important source of steel for the arms industry – suffered several massive bombing campaigns that caused extensive damage to the city.
Since the Velvet revolution
Velvet Revolution
The Velvet Revolution or Gentle Revolution was a non-violent revolution in Czechoslovakia that took place from November 17 – December 29, 1989...
in 1989 the city has been going through major changes. A thorough restructuring of industry is taking place – coal mining in the area of the city was stopped in 1994 and a large part of the Vítkovice ironworks near the city center was closed down in 1998. Both actions improved the environment dramatically, although the Arcelor Mittal plant (ex-Nová Huť) continues to heavily pollute the Radvanice
Radvanice (Ostrava)
Radvanice is a part of the city of Ostrava, Moravian-Silesian Region in the Czech Republic. Administratively it is a part of the district of Radvanice a Bartovice. Radvanice was formerly an independent municipality, in 1941 it became a part of Ostrava....
district and the surrounding area, resulting in one of the highest concentrations of PM10 dust in Europe.
Historical population
| 1970 | 1975 | 1980 | 1985 | 1990 | 1995 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 279,209 | 300,799 | 326,929 | 327,608 | 331,466 | 324,813 | 320,041 | 310,078 | 311,419 |
Mayors
| Period | Name |
|---|---|
| 1861–1864 | Hermann Zwierzina Hermann Zwierzina Hermann Zwierzina was the first mayor of Ostrava 1861–1864 .He was born the only son of metal works owner Josef Zwierzina. During 1836–1840 he studied on the German gymnasium in Olomouc. Then he studied on the Vienna polytechnical school... |
| 1864–1873 | Alois Anderka Alois Anderka Alois Anderka was the second mayor of Ostrava 1864-1873.In 1858, he entered politics. In 1861 he was elected into the local committee and in 1864 was elected mayor.... |
| 1873–1880 | Konstantin Grünwald |
| 1880–1888 | Anton Lux |
| 1888–1901 | Adalbert Johanny |
| 1901–1918 | Gustav Fiedler |
| 1918 | Johann Ulrich (until 17 December 1918) |
| 1918–1935 | Jan Prokeš |
| 1935–1939 | Josef Chalupník |
| 1939–1940 | Josef Hinner |
| 1940–1945 | SS Sturmbannführer Emil Beier Emil Beier SS Sturmbannführer Emil Beier was a German Nazi politician and Mayor of Ostrava, between 1940 and 1945 in Czechoslovakia during the Second World War occupation .... |
| 1945 | Josef Lampa (interim, for three weeks) |
| 1945–1960 | Josef Kotas |
| 1960–1964 | Jan Buchvaldek |
| 1964–1968 | Josef Kempný |
| 1968–1971 | Zdeněk Kupka |
| 1971–1986 | Eduard Foltýn |
| 1986–1989 | Bedřich Lipina |
| 1989–1990 | Lubomír Vejr |
| 1990–1993 | Jiří Smejkal |
| 1993–2001 | Evžen Tošenovský Evžen Tošenovský Evžen Tošenovský is a Czech politician. He was elected Member of the European Parliament in the 2009 European Parliament election receiving the largest number of preference votes.... |
| 2001–2002 | Čestmír Vlček |
| 2002–2006 | Aleš Zedník |
| 2006–2014 | Petr Kajnar |
Geography and climate
Ostrava is located in the north-eastern area of the Czech Republic, very close to the PolishPoland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
(15 km (9.3 mi)) and Slovak
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
(55 km (34.2 mi)) borders. It spreads over the northern part of the natural north-south valley called the Moravian Gate (Moravská brána) with an average elevation of approximately 210 m (689 ft) above sea level
Above mean sea level
The term above mean sea level refers to the elevation or altitude of any object, relative to the average sea level datum. AMSL is used extensively in radio by engineers to determine the coverage area a station will be able to reach...
.
The local climate
Climate
Climate encompasses the statistics of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, rainfall, atmospheric particle count and other meteorological elemental measurements in a given region over long periods...
is continental temperate
Continental climate
Continental climate is a climate characterized by important annual variation in temperature due to the lack of significant bodies of water nearby...
, with hot, humid summers and mild, dry winters. The yearly average temperature is 10.2 °C (50.4 °F) (January low: -1.2 °C, July high: 25 °C (77 °F)), the yearly rainfall
Precipitation (meteorology)
In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation (also known as one of the classes of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravity. The main forms of precipitation...
is around 526 mm (20.7 in).
People and demographics
As of January 2011, the official estimated population of Ostrava was 310,464 inhabitants, living in a total of 23 districts formed by the unification of 34 original small towns and villages. Ostrava covers an area of 214 km². The population density is 1450 people per km².Historically, among the most influential ethnic groups besides Czechs in Ostrava were the Poles
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
, Germans
Ethnic German
Ethnic Germans historically also ), also collectively referred to as the German diaspora, refers to people who are of German ethnicity. Many are not born in Europe or in the modern-day state of Germany or hold German citizenship...
and the Jews. However, during and after the World War II years the situation changed completely, as most Ostravian Jews were killed or transported to concentration camps (on 17 October 1939, the first transport of Jews to a camp under the Nisko Plan
Nisko Plan
The Nisko Plan, also Lublin Plan or Nisko-Lublin Plan , was developed in September 1939 by the Nazi German Schutzstaffel as a "territorial solution to the Jewish Question"...
, and the Nazi administrative innovation known as the General Government
General Government
The General Government was an area of Second Republic of Poland under Nazi German rule during World War II; designated as a separate region of the Third Reich between 1939–1945...
was held in Ostrava – the first of its kind in Europe). After World War II, Germans were expelled
Expulsion of Germans after World War II
The later stages of World War II, and the period after the end of that war, saw the forced migration of millions of German nationals and ethnic Germans from various European states and territories, mostly into the areas which would become post-war Germany and post-war Austria...
from Ostrava according to the Potsdam Agreement
Potsdam Agreement
The Potsdam Agreement was the Allied plan of tripartite military occupation and reconstruction of Germany—referring to the German Reich with its pre-war 1937 borders including the former eastern territories—and the entire European Theatre of War territory...
. Thus, the population of the city, has become a mixture of Silesians, Moravians, Czechs, Slovaks and Poles. The mayor of Ostrava Josef Hinner opposed the deportation with the magistrate and German forces and started to organize the resistance to smuggle Jewish citizens from the city and surrounding areas. Due to his opposition, mayor Hinner was deported and placed in a concentration camp, barely surviving World War II.
The unemployment rate is 12 % (as of December 2010).
Steel industry and underground coal mines
Velvet Revolution
The Velvet Revolution or Gentle Revolution was a non-violent revolution in Czechoslovakia that took place from November 17 – December 29, 1989...
in 1989, due to unfavourable geological and political conditions which caused mining to become uneconomical in the post-communist system, and also because of ex-mayor Evžen Tošenovský
Evžen Tošenovský
Evžen Tošenovský is a Czech politician. He was elected Member of the European Parliament in the 2009 European Parliament election receiving the largest number of preference votes....
's drive to modernize the city's industries. The last minecart
Minecart
The minecart or mine cart is a transportation tool for moving ore and materials in the process of mining. Minecarts are seldom used in modern operations. Shaped like large, rectangular buckets, minecarts ride on steel tracks and are pushed or pulled by men, animals, or engines. Minecarts range...
with coal was retrieved from new Odra Mine (formerly František Mine) on 30 June 1994.
Some of the largest industrial companies lie in the city of Ostrava. The Vitkovice steel works, located in the suburb of the same name near the city center, concentrates on metallurgy
Metallurgy
Metallurgy is a domain of materials science that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements, their intermetallic compounds, and their mixtures, which are called alloys. It is also the technology of metals: the way in which science is applied to their practical use...
and machine engineering. It was established in 1828 and now it is undergoing a major transformation. The Vítkovice complex Dolní oblast is set to undergo extensive reconstruction. The giant gas container for blast furnace gas
Blast furnace gas
Blast furnace gas is a by-product of blast furnaces that is generated when the iron ore is reduced with coke to metallic iron. It has a very low heating value, about 93 BTU/cubic foot, because it consists of about 60 percent nitrogen, 18-20% carbon dioxide and some oxygen, which are not flammable....
(around 70 m wide and 33 m high) will be modified into a concert hall for 1,500 visitors, a gallery, café, etc., based on design by leading Czech architect, Josef Pleskot. Blast Furnace no 1 will become the start of a tour route, and the sixth energy central office will become an industrial museum (project authored by Václav and Helena Zemánkový). The expected date for completion of reconstruction is set for 2013.
Michal Mine whose history goes back to 1843, is an extremely valuable authentic industrial site in terms of construction and technical equipment. the museum provides visitors with the chance to look over all of the above ground work areas that a miner would have to go through to get to his shift. The tour includes, the dressing rooms, washrooms, registry, dispatching, and most importantly, the machine room, with its original and unique equipment that had worked until 1993, when the mine was permanently closed. The scene, intentionally left intact, without any artificial arrangements being made, gives the impression as if work there has just ended. Some of the rooms in the Museum house also other kinds of temporary exhibitions, often displaying works by foreign artists.
Located on the former Anselm Mine (one of the first to be established at the end of the 18th century in what is today the Petřkovice District of Ostrava), the Mining Museum was opened in the early 1990s. A unique exhibition of the Mining Museum highlights the evolution of coal mining in the Ostrava-Karvina region, as well as mining technology, and rescue services. In fact, it is the largest exhibition of its kind in the world. With the collection of miner’s lights and hand tools, visitors get a real taste of the hard work and dedication the men of the mines had. The tour includes a view of mining in the original seams with wooden braces, mining machines and belt conveyors.
Karolina
Karolina is the name of an area approximately 30 hectares in size situated 500 m (1,640.4 ft) from the city's historic square. The Karolina area was originally used for heavy industryHeavy industry
Heavy industry does not have a single fixed meaning as compared to light industry. It can mean production of products which are either heavy in weight or in the processes leading to their production. In general, it is a popular term used within the name of many Japanese and Korean firms, meaning...
. After demolition of the old coking plant and clearing the entire area, the Karolina site can now be used to extend the Ostrava city center.
In late June 2006, the Dutch firm Multi Development won the contract to develop the grounds of the former Karolina site. Multi Development plans to invest 13 billion CZK (EUR 450 million).
Many new apartment buildings, offices and shops are planned for this new city district. There will also be a new church, a high-rise building, a large park by the Ostravice River
Ostravice River
Ostravice is a river in Moravian-Silesian Region, Czech Republic. It originates in the Moravian-Silesian Beskids and then flows through Ostravice, Frýdlant nad Ostravicí, Frýdek-Místek and Paskov to Ostrava where it enters the Oder as its right tributary...
and a university campus.
Culture
Antonín Dvořák Theatre
Antonín Dvořák Theatre in Ostrava is one of the opera houses in the Czech Republic. It is a part of the National Moravian Silesian Theatre, founded in 1918.- History :...
(named after Antonín Dvořák
Antonín Dvorák
Antonín Leopold Dvořák was a Czech composer of late Romantic music, who employed the idioms of the folk music of Moravia and his native Bohemia. Dvořák’s own style is sometimes called "romantic-classicist synthesis". His works include symphonic, choral and chamber music, concerti, operas and many...
) and Divadlo Jiřího Myrona. Further there are Petr Bezruč Theatre (named after Petr Bezruč
Petr Bezruc
Petr Bezruč was the pseudonym of Vladimír Vašek , a Czech poet and short story writer who was associated with the region of Austrian Silesia.Bezruč was born in Opava and died in Olomouc.- Works :Poetry...
), Komorní scéna Aréna
Komorní scéna Aréna
Chamber Theatre Aréna is a theatre in Ostrava, Czech Republic. Founded in 1994, it continues in the tradition of the Music Theatre , which had existed since 1951.-History:...
(Chamber theatre Arena) and Divadlo loutek (Puppet theatre).
Every July there is an international world music festival Colours of Ostrava
Colours of Ostrava
Colours of Ostrava, or simply Colours, is a multi-genre festival, the biggest international music festival in the Czech Republic and one of the biggest music events in the Central Europe, held every summer in the centre of Ostrava, the third biggest city in the Czech Republic.Colours will celebrate...
taking place.
Ostrava's Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra
Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra
The Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra is a noted orchestra based in Ostrava in the northeast of the Czech Republic. It is named after the famous Czech composer Leoš Janáček. The orchestra was established in 1954 and has toured all across the world...
(formerly called the Czech Radio Orchestra) is one of Europe's better orchestras.
Ostrava was candidate for the European Capital of Culture
European Capital of Culture
The European Capital of Culture is a city designated by theEuropean Union for a period of one calendar year during which it organises a series of cultural events with a strong European dimension....
2015.
Education
- VŠB – Technical University of OstravaTechnical University of OstravaThe Technical University of Ostrava , is a university located in the city of Ostrava, Moravian-Silesian Region, Czech Republic....
- University of OstravaUniversity of OstravaThe University of Ostrava , is in the city of Ostrava, Moravian-Silesian Region, Czech Republic. Founded in 1991, it has 6 Faculties.-Organization:The university is divided into these 6 faculties and 1 institute:...
- Business School Ostrava plc
Main sights
While Ostrava is usually not in the top ten list of tourist attractions of the Czech Republic, there are a number of interesting places to see and things to do there.Some technical landmarks, such as Lower Vítkovice Area, the Michal Mine, and/or Landek Park, with its Mining Museum exhibition, have no match within the entire Czech Republic.
Another attraction, which is becoming more and more popular mainly among young people, is Stodolní Street (Stodolní ulice), actually a collection of streets just next to the center, full of bars, pubs and clubs, bringing night-life to the city and thousands of visitors all year long. There are currently around 60 places to have a drink or dance on this street, each with its own style and atmosphere. There are a few bigger events at this area throughout the year, the largest of which is the Colours of Ostrava
Colours of Ostrava
Colours of Ostrava, or simply Colours, is a multi-genre festival, the biggest international music festival in the Czech Republic and one of the biggest music events in the Central Europe, held every summer in the centre of Ostrava, the third biggest city in the Czech Republic.Colours will celebrate...
a summer music festival
Music festival
A music festival is a festival oriented towards music that is sometimes presented with a theme such as musical genre, nationality or locality of musicians, or holiday. They are commonly held outdoors, and are often inclusive of other attractions such as food and merchandise vending machines,...
hosting many musicians and groups from all over the world.
The New City Hall Viewing Tower provides visitors a panoramic view of the city and surroundings from a height of about 72 m (236.2 ft). In clear weather, the Moravian-Silesian Beskids and Jeseníky mountain ranges are visible.
The Silesian Ostrava Castle
Silesian Ostrava Castle
Silesian Ostrava Castle is a castle in Ostrava, in the northeastern Czech Republic. It was originally built in the 1280s near the confluence of the Lučina and Ostravice rivers. The castle was built for military purposes due to its proximity to the Polish border.In 1534, the gothic castle was...
is one of the city's most historic cultural monuments. The castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
was built in the eighties and nineties of the 13th century. In 1534, the gothic castle was rebuilt into a renaissance chateau. It was restored recently after many years of dilapidation caused by coal mining under the castle. Today, the castle is one of the most important tourist attraction of the city. It hosted the Colours of Ostrava music festival in 2007.
The Ostrava ZOO was founded in 1949 and officially opened in 1951; the zoo originally had only eight animals: three roes and five pheasants. Since that time, it has expanded to include 230 species of animals and, after relocation in 1956 to its current place, has grown from its original 0, 5 km2 to 3 km2 today.
The most favourite children attraction is called Petting Zoo, where children could go right to the exhibition with goats and sheep. Every day, people can go to watch special commented feedings of animals, where a worker feeds an animal and talk about the animal and answer people’s question.
The 230 species are housed in outdoor and indoor exhibits which include: African mammal house, monkey house, elephant house, 3 aviaries for birds, small Amazonia, hippo house.
The Ostrava zoo was the first in the Czech Republic to see the birth of an elephant. Two elephants were born in 2011. The elder, a male named Sethi, died after a two months. The second one, a female named Rashmi, has flourished and can be visited in the elephant pavilion.
The Miniuni is a collection of over thirty 1:25 models of Europe's prominent edifices spreading across a 1.5ha area. Some of the exhibits are Prague's Old Town Hall, London's Big Ben, Berlin's Brandenburg Gate and a dominant 12m tall Eiffel Tower. The exhibition also features the Seven World Wonders and the World's Skyscrapers. Railways with model trains and water canals with model steamers add extra fun.
The Ostrava museum was established by merging three older local museums in the Old Post-Office building after World War One. Since 1931 it occupies the Old Town Hall in Masaryk Square, the oldest existing example of original historic architecture typical of Ostrava's city core. On display are local history of Ostrava and a couple of other theme shows. Its singular feature and pride item is the 225 cm (88.58 in) tall indoor astronomical clock called the Mašek Clock. It boasts 51 different functional features and consists of four dials: clock, calender, astronomical and planetary dials.
The Fire-fighting Museum' building has been dedicated to fire-fighting since its completion in 1905. The exhibition features seven sections showing models of fire trucks and other fire-fighting hardware; model situations like fire, leaks of dangerous substances and traffic accidents; an exhibition of history and development of fire-fighting techniques and technology; breathing apparatuses and personal protection gear for chemical accident operations. Video features and documentaries show and explain the Whats and Whys of a fireman's job.
In the Ostravar brewery, an excursion route has been traced for visitors, who will be able to learn interesting things about the brewing of the Czech national drink. At the end of the route, visitors can taste their favourite brew. A great attraction of the Museum is a tap bar that is more than 60 years old. In addition to the tap-room, visitors can see a number of other interesting objects linked with brewing. There are, for example, specimens of barrels with illustrations of how they were made, transport glasses dating from the 1920s and 1930s and a historical barrelhead. All this is accompanied by historical photographs and labels.
The Ema Heap, made up of dirt, or mining waste material, from The Trinity Colliery, is now a favourite Sunday trip destination. It is 82 ha large and contains some 4 mil. cube meters of dirt. Spontaneous ignition appeared deep in its bowels in the 1960s and the invisible fire still keeps burning. Inside temperature reaches up to 1500 °C (2,732 °F) creating suitable habitats for steppe species of fauna and flora along the dump limits. Extreme temperature produces rare minerals inside this man-made singularity of nature. Visitors should follow the marked yellow path.
Sport
Ostrava has teams in the four major Czech Republic professional sports leagues (football, ice-hockey, basketball and floorball).The city's two current League football teams are FC Baník Ostrava
FC Baník Ostrava
FC Baník Ostrava is a football club from the Silesian part of the city of Ostrava, Czech Republic. It is based in Slezská Ostrava district of the city....
and FC Vítkovice
FC Vítkovice
FC Vítkovice is a football club from Vítkovice, Ostrava, Czech Republic. It was founded in 1919 and announced bankruptcy in 2011. The club won the Czechoslovak First League in the 1985–86 season....
.
FC Baník Ostrava represent the city in the Czech Republic 1. League (Gambrinus Liga
Gambrinus Liga
The Gambrinus liga is a Czech professional league for football clubs. At the top of the Czech football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 16 clubs, operating a system of promotion and relegation with the Czech 2. Liga. Seasons run from August to May,...
).
In ice-hockey, Ostrava has one team HC Vítkovice Steel represent the city in the Czech Extraliga
Czech Extraliga
The Czech Extraliga is the highest-level ice hockey league in the Czech Republic. As of 2009, it is ranked by the IIHF as the third strongest league in Europe....
and HC Poruba in second league.
The city's National Basketball League
National Basketball League (Czech Republic)
The Czech Republic National Basketball League , also called the Mattoni NBL for sponsorship reasons, is the top level professional basketball league in the Czech Republic. The league operates under a promotion and relegation system. The bottom two NBL teams from each season's standings are...
(NBL) team is the NH Ostrava.
In Ostrava are two teams in the first floorball league. 1. SC WOOW Vítkovice and FBC Ostrava.
Ostrava also supports athletics. Ostrava-Vítkovice
Vítkovice (Ostrava)
Vítkovice is an administrative district of the city of Ostrava, capital of the Moravian-Silesian Region in the Czech Republic. Situated on the left bank of the Ostravice River in the Moravian part of the city, Vítkovice was a town in its own right until its incorporation in 1924.-History:The...
hosts the Golden Spike
Golden Spike Ostrava
Golden Spike is an annual athletics event at the Městský Stadion in Ostrava-Vítkovice, Czech Republic as part of the IAAF World Challenge Meetings. It was first organized in 1961.-History:...
athletics meeting, one of the IAAF World Challenge Meetings.
Public Transport
Public transport infrastructure consists of 17 tram (streetcar), 9 trolleybusTrolleybus
A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring-loaded trolley poles. Two wires and poles are required to complete the electrical circuit...
, 59 day bus lines. Service is provided mainly by Dopravní Podnik Ostrava a.s. (Ostrava City Transportation Company).
Rail
Ostrava lies on the main rail route connecting ViennaVienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
and Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
. Ostrava, as a third largest city, has direct train connection with the capital city Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
. Some EuroCity
EuroCity
EuroCity, abbreviated EC, denotes an international train service within the European inter-city rail network. In contrast to trains with the "IC" label, "EC" trains are international trains that meet certain criteria. The EuroCity label replaces the older Trans Europ Express name for...
trains go also to Žilina
Žilina
Žilina is a city in north-western Slovakia, around from the capital Bratislava, close to both the Czech and Polish borders. It is the fourth largest city of Slovakia with a population of approximately 85,000, an important industrial center, the largest city on the Váh river, and the seat of a...
and Košice
Košice
Košice is a city in eastern Slovakia. It is situated on the river Hornád at the eastern reaches of the Slovak Ore Mountains, near the border with Hungary...
.
Air
Leoš Janáček Airport Ostrava serves a number of domestic and international destinations.Twin towns – Sister cities
VolgogradVolgograd
Volgograd , formerly called Tsaritsyn and Stalingrad is an important industrial city and the administrative center of Volgograd Oblast, Russia. It is long, north to south, situated on the western bank of the Volga River...
, Russia, from 1957 Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
, United Kingdom, from 1957 Katowice
Katowice
Katowice is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, on the Kłodnica and Rawa rivers . Katowice is located in the Silesian Highlands, about north of the Silesian Beskids and about southeast of the Sudetes Mountains.It is the central district of the Upper Silesian Metropolis, with a population of 2...
, Poland, from 1960 Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
, Germany, from 1971 Split
Split (city)
Split is a Mediterranean city on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea, centered around the ancient Roman Palace of the Emperor Diocletian and its wide port bay. With a population of 178,192 citizens, and a metropolitan area numbering up to 467,899, Split is by far the largest Dalmatian city and...
, Croatia, from 1976 Piraeus
Piraeus
Piraeus is a city in the region of Attica, Greece. Piraeus is located within the Athens Urban Area, 12 km southwest from its city center , and lies along the east coast of the Saronic Gulf....
, Greece, from 1997 Košice
Košice
Košice is a city in eastern Slovakia. It is situated on the river Hornád at the eastern reaches of the Slovak Ore Mountains, near the border with Hungary...
, Slovakia, from 2001 Miskolc
Miskolc
Miskolc is a city in northeastern Hungary, mainly with heavy industrial background. With a population close to 170,000 Miskolc is the fourth largest city of Hungary It is also the county capital of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén and the regional centre of Northern Hungary.- Geography :Miskolc is located...
, Hungary, from 2001 Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, USA, from 2001 Powiat Wodzisławski, Poland, from 2005 Western, Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
, from 2008 Donetsk
Donetsk
Donetsk , is a large city in eastern Ukraine on the Kalmius river. Administratively, it is a center of Donetsk Oblast, while historically, it is the unofficial capital and largest city of the economic and cultural Donets Basin region...
, Ukraine, from 2009
Ostrava has two triangular partnerships with Coventry: one with Volgograd since 1957 and one with Dresden since 1971.
The Consulate-General of the Republic of Poland is located on Blahoslavova Street in Ostrava.
An honorary consulate of the Russian Federation is also located in Ostrava.
People
- Kateřina BaďurováKaterina BadurováKateřina Baďurová is a Czech former pole vaulter.She finished twelfth at the 2004 Olympic Games. She also competed at the 2004 World Indoor Championships and the European Championships in 2002 and 2006 without reaching the finals.Her boyfriend is the Czech high jumper, Tomáš Janků.Her best...
- Jan BalabánJan BalabánJan Balabán was a Czech writer, journalist, and translator. He was considered an existentialist whose works often dealt with the wretched and desperate aspects of the human condition.-Partial biography:...
- Tomáš ČermákTomáš CermákTomáš Čermák is a Czech engineer and rector of VŠB – Technical University of Ostrava .- Life :Tomáš Čermák graduated in 1964 from Brno University of Technology at the faculty of electrical engineering. From 1964 to 1968 he worked as an engineer for the Vitkovice Steel Company...
- Andreas DombrowskiAndreas DombrowskiFeldwebel Andreas Dombrowski was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories. He was born in Mahrisch-Ostrau.- References :...
- Ota FilipOta FilipThis article is on the Czech novelist, there is a minor actor by the name Ota Filip who is not the same personOta Filip , is a Czech novelist and journalist. He has written in both German and Czech. His novels have also been translated into French, Italian, Spanish and Polish...
- Nikola JiráskováNessa DevilNessa Devil is the stage name of Nikola Jirásková , a Czech pornographic actress.-Career:Nessa Devil is a Czech porn performer. She first appeared in Pierre Woodman castings. She signed with Woodman Entertainment in 2007 at the age of 18...
- Artur LondonArtur LondonArtur London, , was a Czechoslovak communist politician and co-defendant in the Slánský Trial. He was born in Ostrava, Austria-Hungary to a Jewish family....
- Věra ChytilováVera ChytilováVěra Chytilová is an avant-garde Czech film director and pioneer of Czech cinema. Banned by the Czechoslovakian government in the 1960s, she is best known for her Czech New Wave film, Sedmikrásky...
- Marek JankulovskiMarek JankulovskiMarek Jankulovski is a Czech footballer who currently plays for Czech club Baník Ostrava. His former club was Milan. He was voted the 2007 Czech Player of the Year....
- Petr KalusPetr KalusPetr Kalus is a Czech professional ice hockey player currently playing with Jokerit of the Finnish SM-liiga.-Playing career:...
- Viktor KolářViktor KolářViktor Kolář is a Czech photographer, an important exponent of documentary photography. In his works, Kolář focuses mainly on depicting urban life in the Ostrava region.- Biography :Kolář was born in 1941 in Ostrava...
- Filip KubaFilip KubaFilip Kuba is a Czech professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League...
- Ivan LendlIvan LendlIvan Lendl is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player. Originally from Czechoslovakia, Lendl became a United States citizen. He was one of the game's most dominant players in the 1980s and remained a top competitor into the early 1990s. He is considered to be one of the greatest tennis...
- Mario LickaMario LickaMario Lička is a Czech footballer, currently playing for Stade Brestois in France. His position is midfielder.- Career :Lička began his footballing career at Czech club Baník Ostrava in 2002. He played at the Bazaly until January 2005, making sixty-five appearances. Lička was a member of the squad...
- Karel LopraisKarel LopraisKarel Loprais, born in Ostrava, Czechoslovakia, on March 4, 1949, is a Czech rally raid driver and multiple winner of the Rally Paris-Dakar in the truck category....
- Marek MalíkMarek MalikMarek Malík is a Czech professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently playing for HC Vítkovice Steel of the Czech Extraliga. Malík played in the National Hockey League from 1998 to 2009. He is best known for a highlight reel shootout goal while with the New York Rangers.-Playing career:After...
- Luděk MikloškoLudek MikloškoLuděk "Ludo" Mikloško is a Czech retired football goalkeeper.-Career:Mikloško started his career in his native Czechoslovakia with Baník Ostrava...
- Jaromír NohavicaJaromír NohavicaJaromír Nohavica or Jarek Nohavica is a Czech songwriter, lyricist, and poet.He was born in Ostrava and has played guitar since he was 13. He began studying at the Technical University of Ostrava but eventually left the school. He tried various jobs and eventually ended up working as a freelance...
- Roman PolákRoman PolákRoman Polák is a professional Czech ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
- Richard ŠmehlíkRichard SmehlikRichard Šmehlík is a Czech former National Hockey League defenceman. He was drafted in the fifth round, 97th overall, by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft....
- Petr ŠnapkaPetr ŠnapkaPetr Šnapka is a Czech economist.- Life :Šnapka graduated 1967 from the VŠB-Technical University of Ostrava at Faculty of Mining and Geology in the field of Economics and Organization in the mining industry. 1967/1968 he works as system analyst at OKD computer center in Ostrava...
- Evžen TošenovskýEvžen TošenovskýEvžen Tošenovský is a Czech politician. He was elected Member of the European Parliament in the 2009 European Parliament election receiving the largest number of preference votes....
- Dieter UchtdorfDieter F. UchtdorfDieter Friedrich Uchtdorf is a German former aviator and airline executive. He currently serves as the Second Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is the eleventh most senior apostle in the ranks of the Church.-Early life and education:Uchtdorf...
- Jan VeselýJan VeselýJan Veselý is a Czech professional basketball player with the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association in the United States. Standing at 6 ft 11 in , Veselý plays the small forward and power forward positions...
- Max WalterMax WalterMax Walter was a Slovak chess master.Born in Pressburg , then Austria–Hungary, he began his chess career in Czechoslovakia, after World War I.Max Walter won Czechoslovak Chess Championship at Pardubice 1923...
- Tarra WhiteTarra WhiteTarra White is an award-winning Czech pornographic actress. She is a contract performer for Private Media Group.-Biography:...