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Ostrava (Czech Republic)

A partnership which has been running since 1971. It is also in the more literal sense a sporting link. Clubs of all kinds are in close contact. Coventry is a common twin city of both Ostrava and Dresden.

The puppet theatres, local transport corporations, numerous sports clubs and other groups and institutions on both sides organise joint projects on an annual basis. The Czech twin city is furthermore a regular contributor to the Czech Cultural Festival and the Regional Tourism Conference held in Dresden.

Population: 315,614

Geographical location: In the North-East of the Czech Republic, close to the three-way border with Poland and Slovakia, between the Beskids and Jesenik Mountains; administrative capital of the Moravian-Silesian region

Profile: Ostrava is the third-largest city in the Czech Republic and one of the largest conurbations in Central Europe. The first evidence of a permanent settlement dates back to 1267. Thanks to its location at the confluence of the Rivers Ostravice and Lucina, and furthermore on the famous Amber Road, an ancient route for merchants travelling between the Baltic and Mediterranean, trade and commerce blossomed from an early stage. One important milestone in the history of Ostrava was the discovery of coal in the second half of the 18th century, the trigger for the later establishing of extensive coal mines and ironworks. The city was in the 19th century one of the most important centres of industry of the Habsburg Monarchy. Over the past decades, Ostrava has often been termed the "Steel Heart of the Republic" or the "Black City", as a reference to the significance of coal mining, metallurgy, coking and the chemical industry for the development of the city. Since the so-called Velvet Revolution in 1989, Ostrava has experienced some major structural upheavals. Certain branches of industry have been discontinued and life has changed dramatically for the local citizens. The last coal was mined in 1994. Since that time, the city has developed in a new direction: Banking and the service industries continue to grow and Ostrava is today an important economic, cultural and trading centre in the Czech Republic. Sport has always played a leading role in Ostrava. Famous sportsmen, such as Ivan Lendl and Jan Zelezny, trained in the city, and Ostrava offers optimum conditions for the most varied sports: Ice hockey, football, ice skating, tennis, athletics and much more besides.

Tips: The face of the city has been transformed completely over the past two decades. Where grey, decaying houses once lined the streets, restored facades today radiate in their original architectural styles. As there were almost no stone buildings in mediaeval Ostrava, very few historical witnesses have been preserved. The oldest building in the city is the 13th-century Church of St. Wenceslas, followed by the Old Town Hall on Masaryk Square, which was first mentioned in the 16th century, but did not receive its famous tower until the 18th century. Further architecturally valuable buildings were added in the 19th and 20th centuries, among them the Hornik department store, the Elektra Palace, the former slaughterhouse, the Polish House and the ČEZ Aréna. Further attractions not to be missed are the panorama from the 72-metre tower of the New City Hall and the modern complex of the puppet theatre, which was built in 1999. Ostrava also caters admirably for culture-lovers, with museums such as the Gallery of Graphic Arts and the OKD Mining Museum, the Antonin Dvorak Theatre, the Aréna Chamber Theatre and the Ostrava Puppet Theatre, which invites enthusiasts to the international puppet theatre festival Spectaculo Interesse in October every two years. The musical life of the city is dominated by the work of composer Leoš Janácek. The Janacek Philharmonic Ostrava is a world-famous ensemble, and orchestras and musicians from all over the world gather in the city each year for the international Janacek Music Festival. Visitors are likewise recommended to explore the delights of the street Stodolni, with its countless clubs, restaurants and bars.