Facts About Ostrava
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Ostrava is the third biggest city in the Czech Republic. Ostrava is the government centre of the Moravian-Silesian Region.
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Ostrava is home to two public universities: the Technical University of Ostrava and the University of Ostrava.
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The town was founded in 1267 and lies in the northeastern part of the country. Ostrava grew up on the banks of the Ostrá River, from which it took its name.
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The Estimated Population of Ostrava is 289,629.
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During the 20th century, it was known as the “steel heart” of Czechoslovakia thanks to its status as a coal-mining and metallurgical centre, but since the Velvet Revolution, it has undergone radical and far-reaching changes to its economic base.
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Ostrava is the transport and logistics hub of the north-eastern part of the Czech Republic.
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Ostrava is twinned with: Abomey, Benin; Coventry, England, United Kingdom; Donetsk, Ukraine; Dresden, Germany; Gaziantep, Turkey; Katowice, Poland; Košice, Slovakia; Miskolc, Hungary; Oral, Kazakhstan; Piraeus, Greece; Pittsburgh, United States; Shreveport, United States; Split, Croatia & Volgograd, Russia.
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The first written mention of Slezská Ostrava dates from 1229 when it was described as a settlement. The first mention of Moravian Ostrava describes it as a township (1267).
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Ostrava is situated at the meeting point of four rivers: the Odra, Opava, Ostravice and Lučina.
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Ostrava has a total area of 214 km2 and divided into 23 local authorities.
