Ostrava - Ostrawa

Ostrava
Arms
Information
Country	the Czech Republic
Region	Moravian-Silesian region
Surface	214 km²
Population	287 968
Area code	59
Postal Code	702 00
website

Ostrava (NS. Ostrava) - city in The Czech Republic on the border of Cieszyn Silesia, Opavian Silesia and Moravia, at the mouth of two rivers to the Odra: Opava and Ostravice. The city is located at the northern entrance of the Moravian Gate.

Characteristic

Ostrava has been a predominantly industrial city since the 18th century, when the discovery of extensive coal deposits in the area led to an industrial boom. Ostrava quickly evolved from a small provincial town with around 1,000 inhabitants into one of the largest cities in the region. As a major steel production center, Ostrava suffered severe damage during World War II and is a sad distinction to be one of the most polluted cities in the European Union. Many parts have been rebuilt in recent years and several former industrial areas have become cultural centers and tourist attractions.

Drive

By plane

Ostrava has an international airport named 1 Ostrava Leos Janacek with regular connections to Prague (Czech Airlines, 3-4 times a day) and Dubai (Smartwings) Ryanair also has flights to Bergamo and London Luton. Hourly buses from the airport to the center of Ostrava via the main bus station, 40 minutes drive, departing between 7:15 and 10:15 pm, tickets can be purchased from drivers (35 CZK). There is also a train to the main railway station in Ostrava.

Many passengers choose Katowice Pyrzowice Airport (KTW IATA) instead. The airport is located 120 km northeast of Ostrava and can be reached via the A1 / D1 motorway in around an hour. The airport has direct connections to more than 30 destinations throughout Europe and Asia.

Tiger Express operates a shuttle bus from Katowice airport, which runs six times a day with a timetable harmonized with the airport's air traffic. Ticket prices start from € 9 one way. The journey takes 90 minutes and includes free Wi-Fi and luggage transport.

By train

• Prague:
  • 3.5 h, IC / EC train every two hours (regular fare 494Kč sold at the train station - but usually there is a discounted offer, 229Kč accompanies a group of 2 or more people, 150-300Kč if you bought online or earlier at the station).
  • 3 hours, SC Pendolino Czech Railways every one or two hours (prices as above plus CZK 100–200 of mandatory reservation fee, in total around CZK 300 when purchased online)
  • 3.5 hours, the new RegioJet operator several times a day. Tickets are usually sold online and start at 230Kč.
• Brno: 2.8 h, fast trains every hour
• Olomouc: 1h, IC / EC and SC Pendolino trains (reservation required) every two hours. Beware of high-speed trains (rychlík) from Olomouc to Ostrava, they run longer through the Jeseníky Mountains for more than 3 hours.
• Warsaw: 4.5 h, three ECs per day

In addition, there are direct connections to Vienna, Bratislava, Zilina, Krakow, Budapest and Moscow. All of them are best bought online.

There are two main stations, 2 Ostrava hl.n. in the north and 3 Ostrava-Svinov on the west end of town. High-speed and international trains stop on both. None of the stations are within walking distance of the historic city center. However, a few trains also stop at 4 Ostrava-Stodolní, located next to the old town.

By bus

The main bus station in Ostrava is 5 Ostrava ÚAN. Student Agency offers five buses a day from Brno, the travel time is 2 hours.

By car

Ostrava is an important road junction.

Communication

Trams and buses in Ostrava are cheap. A 15-minute ticket costs CZK 15, a 60-minute ticket costs CZK 24, and a 24-hour ticket costs CZK 75 (March 2012). Shuttle service is available 24 hours a day, however there is a limited service between midnight and 4:00 am. See the city line map and online timetable.

Worth seeing

• Landek Park, Pod Landekem 64 (stop "Hornické muzeum"), 4 420 596 131 803, e-mail: [email protected]. 9.00-16.00 daily. The Mining Museum, situated on the former Anselm mine (one of the first to be established at the end of the 18th century in today's Petřkovice district in Ostrava), was opened in the early 1990s. It is the largest mining museum in the Czech Republic. Coal deposits of the former area of ​​the Anselm Mine in the Landek National Nature Reserve, a world-famous site for geology, archeology, history, life sciences and mining. People have been using coal here for over 25,000 years. The unique exhibition of the Mining Museum highlights the evolution of hard coal mining in the Ostrava-Karviná region, as well as mining technology and rescue services. In fact, it is the largest exhibition of its kind in the world. The facility has sports and recreational facilities, bowling, bicycle routes and a children's corner. CZK 70 (short route) or CZK 150 (long route), double price for an English guide, book him in advance.
• Vítkovice area (Dolní oblast Vítkovice), Ruská 101 (tram stop "Důl Hlubina"), ☎ 420 604 603 166, e-mail: [email protected]. From May to October, tours depart at 10:00 AM, noon, 2:00 PM, and 4:00 PM. It was an industrial area from the first half of the 19th century. In 2002, due to its unique nature, the entire area was recognized as the site of the National Cultural Heritage. There was a full technological flow: coal mining, coking plant and iron and steel production, all of which were unique in the Czech Republic. This historic monument was listed as European Cultural Heritage in 2008. The Vítkovice Dolní Oblast complex is to undergo a major reconstruction. The huge blast furnace gas container (approximately 70 m wide and 33 m high) will be turned into a concert hall for 1,500 visitors, a gallery, a café, etc., based on the design of the leading Czech architect Josef Pleskot. Blast furnace no. 1 was to become the beginning of the tourist route, and the sixth central energy office was to become an industrial museum (designed by Václav and Helena Zemánkovi). CZK 80.
• Michal Mine (Důl Michal), Československé armády 95/413 (trolleybus stop "Michálkovice"), e-mail: [email protected]. April, October: Sat Sun; May - September: Thu - Sun; Tours start at 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, 3:00 PM, in July and August also at 5:00 PM. The Michal Mine, dating back to 1843, is an extremely valuable authentic industrial area in terms of construction and technical equipment. The area was declared a National Cultural Point in 1995. The museum now provides visitors with the opportunity to see all of the above-mentioned areas of the site that a miner will have to pass through in order to get on his shift. The tour includes wardrobes, washrooms, records, shipping and most importantly, the engine room, with its original and unique equipment, which operated until 1993, when the mine was permanently closed. The scene, left intact on purpose, without any artificial tricks, gives the impression that the work has ended there. 90 CZK, double price for an English guide, book him at least 1 day in advance.
• Castle of Silesia Ostrava (Slezskoostravský hrad), Hradní 1 (bus stop "Hradní náměstí" or stop "Důl Zárubek"), ☎ 420 596 115 967, e-mail: [email protected]. Mar - May, September - December Tue - Sun 10: 00–18: 00; June 9 - June 8 daily. The Silesian Ostrava Castle is the most historic building in the city. It was built in the second half of the 13th century near the confluence of the Lučina and Ostravice rivers, where a fortified Slavic settlement once stood. In 1872, the castle burned down, but was later rebuilt. The main cause of its destruction was coal mining, and the seams worked directly under the lock. The entire structure sank 16 meters into the ground! The castle has been reconstructed and visitors can now see inside several permanent exhibitions telling the history of the building and the city of Ostrava, an exhibition of torture devices, vaulted witch cellars, freshwater aquariums and the castle gallery. CZK 70.
• Miniuni, Výstaviště Černá louka (tram stop "Výstaviště"), ☎ 420 596 119 900, e-mail: [email protected]. Mar - May, September - October Tue - Sun 10am - 6pm, June to August 9am - 8pm daily, November to December Tue - Sun 10am - 4pm. Miniuni is an interesting attraction for children and adults. Spreading over 1.5 hectares, visitors can see more than 30 models of notable buildings in European cities such as Big Ben, the Old Town Hall or one of Berlin's most famous landmarks, the Brandenburg Gate, all dominated by the 12-meter-high Eiffel Tower. The models are built on a scale of 1:25. The Wonders of the Ancient Times has recently been added. There are railroads with little trains that run across the grounds and waterways with a steamer. Special exhibitions and entertainment events for children are regularly held here. CZK 70.
• Ostrava Zoo, Michálkovická 197 (stop "Zoo"), ☎ 420 596 241 269, e-mail: [email protected]. Sep - Mar 9-16, Apr - Aug 9-19. The Ostrava Zoo was founded in 1951. It covers an area of ​​100 hectares and is home to almost 360 different species of animals. One of the most popular attractions is the seasonal, commented feeding of animals, guided evening tours and a number of accompanying events, not only for children (Children's Day, lantern parades, Christmas tree decoration, etc.) There are several corners for children inside the Zoo complex. If there is enough snow, visitors can go cross-country skiing directly in the Zoo. CZK 90.
• Ostrava Museum, Masarykovo náměstí 1, ☎ 420 597 578 450, e-mail: [email protected]. Mon - Fri 9-15, Sat 9-13, Sun 13-15. The museum is located in one of the oldest buildings in Ostrava, the Old Town Hall on Masaryk Square. A new permanent exhibition was opened in June 2009, featuring collections of art history, city history, and the surrounding nature and landscape. A unique exhibit and pride of the Ostrava Museum is the indoor astronomical clock 225 cm high - the work of Jan Mašek. The astronomical clock has 4 parts - its own clock face, calendar and astronomical and planetary parts. CZK 60.
• The lookout tower of the New Town Hall (Vyhlídková věž), Prokešovo náměstí 6 (Nová radnice bus and trolleybus stop), ☎ 420 599 443 096, e-mail: [email protected]. 9.00-17.00 every day. The lookout tower is one of the city's most popular tourist attractions. On a clear day, you can see the entire city, the nearby Beskids and neighboring Poland. The lookout tower has dominated Ostrava's skyline since it was built in the New Town Hall (the largest in the Czech Republic) in 1930. The strict functional style of the tower creates, in the opinion of the designers, a noble lantern made of concrete, metal and glass. The tower is 298.05 meters above sea level or about 85.60 meters above ground level. The tower is equipped with an illuminated clock face, an elevator and an observation deck 72 meters above the ground. The Ostrava City Information Center, located directly below the tower, provides information about the city in several languages.

Nearest neighborhood

work

Science

Shopping

Ostrava is the trade center of the region. You can find small specialty stores, hypermarkets and shopping malls. Souvenirs are sold in the branches of the Municipal Information Center in Ostrava.

• Forum Nova Karolina, a large and modern shopping center close to the city center with many stores from international chains, a hypermarket, specialty stores and a food court.
• Laso, a mall with lots of smaller shops just off the main town square.

Gastronomy

In such a large city, the number of restaurants is naturally huge, from very famous restaurants to cheaper trattorias or pizzerias. Whether you want to enjoy classic Czech food, regional specialties or international cuisine, Ostrava probably has what you are looking for. A visit to the region would not be complete without a mug of the local "Ostravar" beer, which has been brewed in the city since 1897. The main street for dining and hanging out is Stodolní Street, in the heart of the city. There are over 60 bars and restaurants in the area, which occupy just a few buildings.

• La Petite Conversation, Chelčického 8. Mon-Thu 7-19, Fri 7-20, Sat 9-15. Close to the Stodolní tram stop, the only real Belgian cafe in Ostrava. Very good sandwiches and coffee. Sandwiches from 49 CZK.
• Café au pere tranquille (French cafe) (on Stodolní street.). Mon-Thu 7-19, Fri 7-20, Sat 9-15. Pancakes, French cuisine from 75 CZK.
• Harenda at Barborky's - stylish restaurant in the Mining Museum (in the Landek Park). Czech, mining cuisine from 15 CZK.
• Koras - culinary specialties, international cuisine (on Soukenická 9 street).
• Moravská chalupa - stylish restaurant with regional specialties (close to Stodolní street). Czech specialties from 40 CZK.

Ostrava's secret sweet treats are Katowice tubes, named after nearby Katowice in Poland - although they are probably a similar variety to the dish popular all over Poland, and not at all characteristic of Katowice. Katowice tubes consist of a sweet wafer rolled into a tube and then filled with pařížská šlehačka, both using a specially designed machine. Pařížská šlehačka, on the other hand, is a filling somewhat reminiscent of chocolate-flavored whipped cream, although it often has nothing to do with cream or chocolate when it comes to ingredients, and of course it has no obvious connection with the city of Paris, after which it is allegedly named.

Katowice tubes are usually made by specialized confectioners owning one of the unique machines that have often been run by specialized companies for decades. One of them is hidden at Hornicka Street.

Ostrava is home to the famous Stodolní Street, the largest range of bars and pubs in the country. Drinks are usually cheaper than in Prague and the atmosphere is more local.

• E99, Porážková 22 (west end of Stodolní street), ☎ 420 595 542 060. Mon-Fri 11-2. Sat 11-4. Sun Closed. Friendly pub at the end of Stodolní Street, close to the train station. Gambrinus 26Kč, Pilsner 30Kč.

Parties

• The Golden Spike of Ostrava (Zlatá tretra Ostrava), Závodní 86 (tram stop "Městský stadion"). athletics meeting, part of the IAAF World Challenge. It usually takes place in late May or early June. Usain Bolt competed here from 2007 to 2010.
• Colors of Ostrava '. International music festival The colors of Ostrava offers many national and world musical works. The festival is organized every year in the center of Ostrava and in clubs on Stodolní Street, with over 100 bands and DJs from all over the world. The pleasant summer atmosphere is enriched with a cinema presenting music videos and films, a special dance stage, drum, salsa and belly dance workshops, as well as a Children's World, especially for parents and children. He was awarded the Festival of the Year 2005.
• The May Janáček Ostrava International Music Festival (Janáčkův máj). The International Music Festival Maj Janáčka is the oldest and largest music festival in Ostrava, founded in 1975. It is organized by the City of Ostrava and the Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra. The festival attracts not only recognized musical talents from Europe and the world, but also organizes musicological conferences, exhibitions and theater performances.
• Spectaculo Interesse, Pivovarská 15. In 1995, the first International Puppet Theater Festival Spectaculo Interesse took place at the Ostrava Puppet Theater, establishing the city on the map of European puppet theater. Every two years, puppet masters come from places as diverse as France, Russia, Hungary, Switzerland, Poland, South Korea, Slovakia and Austria. The festival hosts a competition and many performances take place in a modern, purpose-built puppet theater in the city and on the streets to the public.

Accommodation

The city offers a wide range of accommodation to cover all kinds of travel budget and service levels.

• Imperial Hotel Ostrava, Tyršova 6, ☎ 420 599 099 099. Famous hotel with restaurants, relaxation center and conference facilities. It is located in the city center.
• Park Inn Ostrava, Hornopolní 3313/42, ☎ 420 595 195 000. Perhaps the most modern hotel in Ostrava and something like a flagship brand in terms of standard and quality compared to the older facilities of the chain.
• Mercure Ostrava Center Hotel, Ceskobratrska 18/1742, ☎ 420 595 606 600. The Mercure is housed in a historic building with an impressive restaurant terrace and delivers the expected standard.
• Hotel Brioni, Stodolní 876/8, ☎ 420 599 500 000. A four-star hotel right on Stodolní Street, with a unique military-themed bar.

contact

Security

While Ostrava remains a quiet and pleasant city, locals will let you know that many areas have unfortunately gained an unfortunate reputation for the widespread use of drugs.

Tourist information

Trip