OSTRAVA

History of
The earliest history of Ostrava in the Middle Ages, the development of handicraft production, coal and steel town, much of Ostrava, the return to freedom and democracy
Under the legendary Landek
Ostrava was named after the river Ostravice, which divides the city in the Moravian and Silesian part. The base word of Ostrava means „sharp, fast, swiftly flowing river.“ Settlement of land on which the city lies today, it is first attested in the Old Stone Age. Probably over 25 years ago had in their camp Landek mammoth hunters, as evidenced by numerous archaeological finds. The most significant was the discovery in 1953 found 48 mm tall statue, a torso of the female characters from hematite, which is called Petřkovice (Landek) Venus. Archaeologists have found evidence that prehistoric hunters used the coal seams resulting from the surface as a fuel. This is the first documented use of black coal in the world. The mythical Landek built in the 8th century one of its numerous fortified Slavic tribe Holasic. Sometime in the second half of the 13th century stone castle was founded here by the Czech King Premysl Otakar II.

Birth of a medieval town
The oldest villages are Polish Ostrava (today Silesian) Ostrava, which is mentioned in one of the documents of Pope Gregory IX. back in 1229th To guard the border between Poland and the Czech state was on a promontory above the confluence with the river Lučina Ostravici Silesian castle built in a deed recorded in 1297 from Today the Moravian Ostrava, whose name is first mentioned in the will of the Olomouc Bishop Bruno of Schauenburg in 1267, was awarded city status certainly before the 1279th The newly constructed town became the center for the Episcopal villages in the vicinity. Its core consisted of quadrangular square (today Masaryk Square). In 1362, King and Emperor Charles IV. granted the right to hold a 16-day annual fair. Privilege meant to increase the prestige of Ostrava, which makes the town on the left bank could Ostravice in the 14th century turn into an important point on the map of medieval peddlers. The Hussite Wars in the life of the city did not intervene too much. In 1438 he won a short period of Hussite captain Jan Čapek of San and afterwards John Talafús warrior from the Island. In 1437 the Moravian Ostrava was finally incorporated into Hukvaldy estate, whose fate was shared by up to 1848.

The boom slowed wars and disasters
The only stone building in the city, along with lock (based burgrave), St.. Wenceslas (the first written mention of 1297). The basic system of the city walls were built between 1371-1376. Town Hall on today’s Masaryk Square is first mentioned in the 1539th Underwent several structural modifications, the current appearance dates from 1859. In 1564 it demonstrated the existence of a wooden church of St. Catherine in Hrabová. In the first half of the 16th Ostrava has strengthened the position of the century with the development of crafts, especially cloth, weaving and tailoring. An important component of the economy became profitable fish farming. In 1533 the city purchased the Devil Lhota village (now Marianske Hory), and in 1555 ferry. The life of Moravian Ostrava adversely interfere with military campaigns in addition to natural disasters – floods and fires. The largest fire in 1556 virtually destroyed the houses on the square. In 1625 about half the population died due to plague. During the Thirty Years War belonged to the Moravian Ostrava most affected cities in the Czech lands. Occupied by Danish troops from Silesia in 1642 from the Swedes.

Discovery of coal and iron wheel of history turned
The revival of economic life brought on Ostrava coal was discovered in 1763 in the Valley Burn in Polish Ostrava. His appearance four years later confirmed the mining expert John James Lutz. Nevertheless, the mining began regular domain owner Francis Joseph to Count Wilczek in 1787. Connection of Galicia to the monarchy in 1772 enabled the expansion of trade in cattle and partly stimulated economic development. Rapid growth sparked agglomeration in 1828, founding the village Vitkovice Ironworks in Olomouc Archbishop Rudolf von Habsburg. Linking the North track Ferdinand in 1847 through the station in Svinov Přívoz and caused the Ostrava in the second half of the 19th century became one of the most important industrial centers of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. The boom in industry and caused the influx of population. In 1830 lived in Ostrava, less than two thousand people in fifty years, their number exceeded 13 000. Significantly increased the proportion of German and Polish-speaking population. Mainly immigrants occupied a number of Polish workers’ colonies in Ostrava, Vítkovice and other municipalities. Social and cultural life of nations living in the city in the 19th and 20 century concentrated in the Czech National House (now the Theatre by J. Myron), German House (destroyed at the end of 2nd St.. war), the Polish House and the Municipal Theatre (now Theatre Dvorak). The most important church building was completed in 1889 Basilica of the Divine Savior. After the establishment of Czechoslovakia in 1918, Ostrava, thanks ironworks and mines retained significant economic position and slowly reinventing itself in the administrative, social and cultural center.

Great Dream of Ostrava is fulfilled
The first First 1924 was created by the Great Ostrava, which brought the merger of seven Moravian communities in one unit (Moravian Ostrava, Ferry, Marianske Hory, Vitkovice, Hrabůvka, Nova Ves and Zábřeh Oder). This significantly influenced the structural development of the city. She grew up a number of stores, banks, administrative office buildings. Most attention chained 28th October 1930 officially open the new Town Hall square with 75 m high glass tower. City Life in 1929-1934 influenced significantly the global economic crisis. After the Munich agreement in the autumn of 1938 and the resignation of the border area Germany, culminating in the tragedy of Czechoslovakia Masaryk 15th March 1939 the Nazi occupation of the rest of the country. Units of the German Wehrmacht marched to the Moravian Ostrava even a day earlier. The largest industrial companies as Vítkovice Mining and Metallurgical těžířstvo or Ferdinand Northern railway fell into administration řískoněmeckého concern Göringových races and get on a war production. The approaching end of the war brought in August 1944 bombing of Anglo-American allies, which severely damaged the city. Ostrava and its inhabitants lived to see liberation 30th April 1945. Troops 4th Ukrainian Front Red Army together with the 1st Czechoslovak. separate tank brigade completed the heavy and bloody fighting in the Ostrava-Opava operations.

Steel heart of the Republic
After 1945 and during the fifties of the 20th century Czechoslovakia oriented towards the development of mining, steel and other heavy industry sectors. It became the center of Ostrava at the time called „the city of coal and iron“ or „steel heart of the republic.“ In 1949 he began to build a large industrial complex in Nova Hut Ostrava-Kunčice. Massive support for heavy industry meant an influx of new workers to Ostrava and its surroundings. In the outlying districts of the city then grew a number of new settlements, especially Poruba Zábřeh Hrabůvka, and later Výškovice Dubina. Ostrava was established in 1945 Mining University (translated from Pribram) and branches of the Pedagogical Faculty of Masaryk University in Brno. It became independent in 1959 and in 1991 was incorporated into the newly established University of Ostrava. Cultural and social life was secured by two constant scenes of today’s Theatre of Antonin Dvorak (from 1945 Regional Theatre, Theatre 1949-1990 Zdenek Nejedly) and Jiri Myron Theatre (National House, 1945-1954 People’s Theatre). Popularity especially among young audiences enjoying Peter Bezruč Theatre (founded in 1948 as a young theater) and Arena (from 1951 Music Theatre). For small audience was in 1946 opened an amateur puppet theater called Wood Kingdom, since 1953 Professional Puppet Theatre. In 1954 he began his concert activity today Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra Ostrava.

On the way to freedom and democracy
The major political and economic changes occurred after 1989. Ostrava became a statutory city, headed by the mayor, city council and the council elected in free and democratic elections. As a result of industrial restructuring has been a sharp manner subdued mining activity. The last cart of coal exported 30th June 1994 from a pit in the Odra Přívoz (formerly Mine Francis) ended more than two centuries-long history of active mining business in Ostrava. Vítkovice blast furnaces, which are significant urban landmark, burned out in 1998. In Vítkovice started to focus on engineering production. On the territory of the steel industry concentrated in Nova hut (now Arcelor Mittal). Papal Bull Ad spiritual Christifidelium issued by John Paul II. of 30 May 1996 became the seat of Ostrava, Ostrava-Opava diocese. Basilica of the Divine Saviour was elevated to a cathedral. The life of the city and many of its population dramatically affected by the flood of July 1997, known as „thousand-water“. Damage caused extensive flooding in the history of Ostrava has been estimated at more than four billion. Since 2000, Ostrava became the seat of the newly established Ostrava, Moravian-Silesian Region today.