Sightseeing in Ostrava - what to see. Complete travel guide

Ostrava is one of the oldest cities in the country, first mentions of which appeared in 1267. Ostrava was located on the crossroads of important trade routes, so until the 18th century it was known as a major trading city. Later deposits of coal were discovered on its territory. This fact has greatly fastened the industrial development of the region.

Today several metallurgical plants operate in this city; one of the mines has been turned into a museum dedicated to the mining business. Start your acquaintance with the city from its central square. Here you can see several old buildings, including the University Rector and magnificent mansions in the Art Nouveau style. Here strict Gothic buildings neighbor to modern buildings. In 1998 was founded the Church of St. Cyril and Methodius. This church is built in accordance with best traditions of the modern architecture.

The Town Hall Square is quite an interesting place recommended for visiting. As it’s clear from the square’s name, the city’s Town Hall should be located here. Even though this beautiful monument was built in the 16th century, it is in great condition nowadays. The Town Hall stores the exhibition of the main museum, which tells the story of Ostrava. St. Wenceslas Church is a wonderful example of the Gothic style. The church was rebuilt and restored several times, but it managed to maintain its original style and elegance. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Travellers should also visit the New City Hall as one of the towers has been rebuilt into the city's largest observation area. The height of the tower estimates 86 meters, so it features a beautiful view of the city and all of its picturesque streets. Travellers with children will enjoy a tour to the new aquarium. You can also visit the city’s zoo, near which you will find an amusement park. Fans of Czech beer will surely enjoy visiting Ostravar factory – the oldest one in the Czech Republic. Of course, the excursion will be accompanied by degustation of delicious beer.

The city has a very interesting miniature park called "Miniuni - World of Miniatures". The area of the park opened in 2004 is 1.5 hectares. It accommodates many exact small-scale (1:25) replicas of the most recognizable landmarks in the world. Here you can admire the miniature Colosseum and the Eiffel Tower, see the exact copy of Big Ben and the Tower of Pisa, as well as other outstanding attractions of world significance.

One of the main historic symbols of the city is chateau Kravaře located in the vicinity of the city. Originally, the castle dating back to the 14th century was a spectacular Gothic-style monument. The Kravaře has been repeatedly restored and rebuilt over the centuries, so its original appearance has nothing to do with the architecture we see today. The historic castle walls keep a museum, the main exhibits of which are antiquarian furniture and ancient works of art.

Ostrava Gallery of Fine Art has always been one of the most visited cultural facilities in Ostrava. Currently, this gallery displays over 20,000 unique art paintings, among which there are works by Goya, Rembrandt, Durer and other great masters. This gallery has collected one of the largest collections of Czech painters' works in the country. Besides beautiful paintings, here you can admire sculptures and products created by famous local artisans.

In the very center of Ostrava, there is a magnificent old mansion - the Polish House. A large Polish diaspora exists in the city since the medieval times, and its important goal was the foundation of its own cultural center. This idea was realized only in 1900 - a beautiful cultural center for holding all kinds of entertainment events was built in the center of the city. The author of the project was the famous Polish architect Stanislav Bandrovsky, whose creation never ceases to amaze tourists with its splendor. At the beginning of the 20th century, balls were held in this mansion, many well-known musicians and Polish dancers performed here. In the middle of the 20th century, the chic mansion was converted into a hotel. You can learn more about its rich history during the tour.