Government
95-509: The Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra ( Janáčkova filharmonie Ostrava ) is a Czech orchestra based in Ostrava , Czech Republic . Named after composer Leoš Janáček , the orchestra performs its concerts at the City of Ostrava Cultural Centre. The roots of the orchestra date back to 1929, with the establishment of a radio orchestra in Ostrava . In 1954, the orchestra was formally established under
190-502: A parliamentary republic . On 17 November 1989 ( International Students' Day ), riot police suppressed a student demonstration in Prague . The event marked the 50th anniversary of a violently suppressed demonstration against the Nazi storming of Prague University in 1939 where 1,200 students were arrested and 9 killed (see Origin of International Students' Day ). The 1989 event sparked
285-722: A Holocaust memorial to the Jewish victims of Ostrava was built in Milada Horáková Park. During World War II the city was occupied by Germany . The occupiers operated a Gestapo prison in the city, and several forced labour camps, including three labour "education" camps, located in Moravská Ostrava, Vítkovice , and Kunčice , and the E21 subcamp of the Stalag VIII-B/344 prisoner-of-war camp in
380-706: A branch of the Olomouc-based Supreme Public Prosecutor's Office. Ostrava has several sports clubs in various sports, and has hosted many major national and international sports events. In 2014 the city was one of the European Cities of Sport. Ostrava is home to a number of top-level sports clubs, including FC Baník Ostrava (football), HC Vítkovice Steel (ice hockey), NH Ostrava (basketball), 1. SC Vítkovice and FBC Ostrava (floorball), Arrows Ostrava (baseball and softball), and VK Ostrava (volleyball). Sports venues in
475-666: A civic initiative met with the Prime Minister, who told them he was twice prohibited from resigning his post and that change requires mass demonstrations like those in East Germany (some 250,000 students). He asked them to keep the number of "casualties" during the expected change to a minimum. About 500 Slovak artists, scientists and leaders met at the Art Forum (Umelecká beseda) in Bratislava at 17:00. They denounced
570-530: A limited basis as only allowed NGOs) and published home-made periodicals ( samizdat ). Charter 77 was quashed by the government and its signed members were persecuted until the fall of the regime in Czechoslovakia. Later, with the advent of the Civic Forum, independence could truly be seen on the horizon. Until Independence Day on 17 November 1989, the populace faced persecution by the authorities from
665-418: A long-term plan to destroy the city centre entirely and to turn the land over to coal-mining. The 1990s brought a rapid decline in the city's traditional industrial sectors: iron, steel, chemicals and coal-mining. The last coal was mined on 30 June 1994, which was accompanied by major investments to rectify ecological damage done by decades of heavy industry. The projects ultimately brought major improvements in
760-506: A mass demonstration on 17 November to commemorate International Students Day and the fiftieth anniversary of the murder of student Jan Opletal by the Nazi government. Most members of SSM were privately opposed to the Communist leadership, but were afraid of speaking up for fear of persecution. This demonstration gave average students an opportunity to join others and express their opinions. By 16:00 (4:00 pm), about 15,000 people joined
855-492: A more moderate Communist, was named General Secretary. Federal Television showed pictures from 17 November for the first time and presented the first television address of Václav Havel, dealing mostly with the planned general strike. Czechoslovak TV and Radio announced that they would join the general strike. A discussion with representatives of the opposition was broadcast by the Slovak section of Federal Television. The opposition
950-580: A paramilitary organisation subordinated directly to the Communist Party) to Prague to crush the protests, but called them off. Civic Forum announced a two-hour general strike for Monday, 27 November. The first live reports from the demonstration in Wenceslas Square appeared on Federal Television (and were quickly cut off, after one of the participants denounced the present government in favour of Alexander Dubček). Striking students forced
1045-683: A petition that circulated in the summer of 1989 calling for the end of censorship and the beginning of fundamental political reform. The immediate impetus for the revolution came from developments in neighbouring countries and in the Czechoslovak capital. From August, East German citizens had occupied the West German Embassy in Prague and demanded exile to West Germany . In the days following 3 November, thousands of East Germans left Prague by train to West Germany. On 9 November,
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#17327719119121140-562: A proclamation by the students and artists to the audience, calling for a general strike on 27 November. Home-made posters and proclamations were posted. As all media (radio, TV, newspapers) were strictly controlled by the Communist Party (see Mass media in Communist Czechoslovakia ), this was the only way to spread the message. In the evening, Radio Free Europe reported that a student (named as Martin Šmíd )
1235-694: A project funding short "health breaks" for children from high-risk areas. One of the most pressing environmental problems currently facing the city concerns the oil lagoons at the site of the former Ostramo chemical plant. In 1996 the Czech government took over the site and drew up plans for a cleanup. The state-owned company Diamo was created to implement these plans. The situation has been the subject of government-level discussions, and Finance Minister Andrej Babiš visited Ostrava in March 2015. Air quality in Ostrava
1330-570: A relatively-small scale focusing on the Poruba district and featuring architecture in the Socialist realism style. Later, however, the authorities built larger-scale developments of prefabricated apartment blocks in Poruba and created a series of satellite estates to the south of the city (Ostrava-Jih). The city centre was gradually depopulated, and its people were moved out to the suburbs, as part of
1425-475: A return to the city's normal business. An interview with Martin Šmíd was broadcast to persuade the public that nobody had been killed, but the quality of the recording was low and rumours continued. It would take several more days to confirm that nobody was killed, and by then the revolution had gained further momentum. The leaders of the Democratic Initiative presented several demands, including
1520-437: A series of demonstrations from 17 November to late December and turned into an anti-communist demonstration. On 20 November, the number of protesters assembled in Prague grew from 200,000 the previous day to an estimated 500,000. The entire top leadership of the Communist Party, including General Secretary Miloš Jakeš , resigned on 24 November. On 27 November, a two-hour general strike involving all citizens of Czechoslovakia
1615-556: A special trailer. In the winter there is a similar service for skiers known as the "skibus". There are also several golf courses in the region, including the Šilheřovice golf club in the grounds of the local château, and courses in Čeladná , Ropice and Ostravice . About 30 km (19 mi) from Ostrava is another golf course in Kravaře . Ostrava has a long tradition of hosting top-level European and world championships. The Golden Spike international athletics meeting has been held in
1710-463: Is also a major railway hub, sited on Railway Corridors II and III and serving as an important centre for cargo and passenger transport between the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia. The city's largest railway stations are the main station ( Ostrava hl.n. ) and Ostrava-Svinov. These stations are important railway junctions. The main line linking Ostrava with Olomouc , Pardubice and Prague
1805-690: Is currently very poor, with high concentrations of benzopyrene . The pollution is so serious that it has been described in folklore; local people refer to "Černá Ostrava" (Black Ostrava) and have several songs about it. Ostrava has four permanent theatres: the National Moravian-Silesian Theatre (with two permanent venues, the Antonín Dvořák Theatre and the Jiří Myron Theatre), the Petr Bezruč Theatre,
1900-420: Is in the city centre. The most notable structures are theatres, banks, department stores and other public buildings dating from the turn of the 20th century, at the time of Ostrava's greatest boom. The central Masaryk Square, named after the first President of Czechoslovakia Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk , features the historic old city hall building and a Marian plague column from 1702. Nearby Smetanovo Square features
1995-475: Is mostly low-lying, with a highest point of 280 m (920 ft) above sea level. The city is situated at the meeting point of four rivers: Oder , Opava , Ostravice and Lučina . It differs from most neighbouring regions by the high concentration of industry, dense population and the geographical conditions of the Ostrava Basin. The Poodří Protected Landscape Area extends to the city's territory in
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#17327719119122090-551: Is served by three railway companies: České dráhy , RegioJet and LEO Express . Ostrava's high concentration of heavy industry created various environmental problems in the city, particularly in relation to air quality. Measurements performed by the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute show that levels of atmospheric benzopyrene and dust particles are among the highest in the country. Although Ostrava still has to contend with environmental issues,
2185-545: Is still burning deep beneath the surface, which gives the slag-heap its own microclimate . On 10 December 2019, a shooting at a hospital in Ostrava left eight people dead, including the perpetrator. Ostrava is located about 270 kilometres (170 mi) east of Prague . It lies mostly in the Ostrava Basin lowland, only the southwestern part of the municipal territory extends into the Moravian Gate . Ostrava
2280-399: Is the transport and logistics hub of the north-eastern part of the Czech Republic, located close to the borders with Slovakia and Poland, and with an airport and highway connection nearby. 25 km (16 mi) south of the city centre is an international airport, Leoš Janáček Airport Ostrava , which links the city with several European destinations (IATA code: OSR; ICAO code: LKMT). It is
2375-616: The Antonín Dvořák Theatre and the Functionalist Knihcentrum bookstore. To the west are a series of grand, imposing bank buildings and the Elektra Palace on Nádražní Street, while to the north is the New City Hall with its landmark viewing tower, overlooking the large open space of Prokeš Square. The city centre also has two notable religious buildings – the 13th-century Church of St. Wenceslaus and
2470-794: The Aréna Chamber Theatre and the Ostrava Puppet Theatre – which hosts the international Spectaculo Interesse festival every odd-numbered year and the Theatre Without Barriers festival every even-numbered year. Ostrava is home to the Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra , and hosts a number of international annual or biennial classical music festivals, including Janáček May , the St Wenceslaus Music Festival and
2565-473: The Berlin Wall fell, removing the need for the detour. By 16 November, many of Czechoslovakia's neighbours were beginning to shed authoritarian rule. The citizens of Czechoslovakia watched these events on TV through both foreign and domestic channels. The Soviet Union also supported a change in the ruling elite of Czechoslovakia, although it did not anticipate the overthrow of the Communist regime. On
2660-735: The Cathedral of the Divine Saviour , the second largest church in Moravia and Czech Silesia . Ostrava's central district contains works by architects including Karel Kotas, Josef Gočár , Ernst Korner and Alexander Graf . Poruba is a large district of Ostrava in the western part of the conurbation, noted for its distinctive 1950s Socialist realist architecture. Inspired by the grandiose buildings of Soviet cities, Poruba also incorporates historical pastiche features drawing on ancient, Renaissance and Classicist models. The main entrance to
2755-639: The Civic Forum (Občanské fórum, an equivalent of the Slovak Public Against Violence for the territory of the Czech Republic) as a mass popular movement for reforms. They called for the dismissal of top officials responsible for the violence, and an independent investigation of the incident and the release of all political prisoners . College students went on strike. On television, government officials called for peace and
2850-606: The Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic . The dissolution of Czechoslovakia occurred mainly due to national governance issues between the Slovaks and Czechs (the two major ethnicities comprising the former Czechoslovakia). The Communist Party seized power on 25 February 1948. No official opposition parties operated thereafter. Dissidents (notably Charter 77 and Civic Forum ) created Music Clubs (on
2945-573: The Ostrava Days new music festival. Since 2002 Ostrava has been the venue for the annual multi-genre music festival Colours of Ostrava , which features an international line-up of artists and attracts crowds of tens of thousands. Other cultural events in Ostrava include the film and theatre festivals One World , Ostrava Camera Eye ( Czech : Ostrava Kamera Oko ), the International Outdoor Films Festival, and
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3040-570: The border with West Germany and Austria in early December. On 10 December, President Gustáv Husák appointed the first largely non- communist government in Czechoslovakia since 1948, and resigned. Alexander Dubček was elected speaker of the federal parliament on 28 December and Václav Havel the President of Czechoslovakia on 29 December 1989. In June 1990, Czechoslovakia held its first democratic elections since 1946 . On 31 December 1992, Czechoslovakia peacefully split into two countries ,
3135-544: The 1990s, the orchestra developed a new emphasis on performance of contemporary music, including renditions of compositions by composers such as Earle Brown , John Cage , Maria de Alvear , Morton Feldman , Petr Kotik , Alvin Lucier , Pauline Oliveros , Somei Satoh , Martin Smolka , Karlheinz Stockhausen , Toru Takemitsu , Edgard Varese , and Christian Wolff . In December 2018, Vassily Sinaisky first guest-conducted
3230-421: The 2023-2024 season. In May 2024, the orchestra announced the appointment of Daniel Raiskin as its next chief conductor, effective with the 2026-2027 season. He is scheduled to hold the title of principal guest conductor from 2024 to 2026. Ostrava Ostrava ( Czech: [ˈostrava] ; Polish : Ostrawa , German : Ostrau ) is a city in the north-east of the Czech Republic and
3325-543: The Austrian empire. 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 (the fall of communism in 1989) it has undergone radical and far-reaching changes to its economic base. Industries have been thoroughly restructured, and the last coal was mined in the city in 1994. However, remnants of
3420-590: The Bohemian lands, declared his support for the students and issued a declaration criticising the current government's policies. For the first time during the Velvet Revolution, the "radical" demand to abolish the article of the Constitution establishing the "leading role" of the Communist Party was expressed by Ľubomír Feldek at a meeting of Public Against Violence. In the evening, Miloš Jakeš ,
3515-618: The Class I roads 11, 56, 58 and 59. The city has a dense public transport network consisting of trams , buses and trolleybuses . The first trams, introduced in 1894, were powered by steam engines. The network was rapidly expanded, and in 1901 it was electrified. New tram lines were built mainly to the south and east of the city centre, where they would not have to cross the narrow-gauge railways linking Ostrava with Karviná and Bohumín . Trolleybuses were introduced in 1952, as in other Czech towns and cities after World War II. Initially there
3610-557: The Moravian-Silesian Region. The District Court is based in a new building on U Soudu St. in the Municipal District of Poruba . Its jurisdiction covers the territory of the City of Ostrava. The district courts of Ostrava and Brno are the largest in the country in terms of the number of judges. In addition to these courts Ostrava is also home to regional and district Public Prosecutor's Offices, as well as
3705-574: The Polanská Meadows, both of which form part of the Poodří ( Oder Basin) nature reserve. A rare geological feature found in the city is the granite erratic boulders . Originally from Scandinavia, they were left behind after the last ice age , when the ice sheets retreated. Another feature is the Ema slag heap , an artificial hill made of mining waste (slag) that offers panoramic views. The waste
3800-740: The Prague Communist Secretary. The military informed the Communist leadership of its readiness to act (ultimately, it was never used against demonstrators). The military and the Ministry of Defense were preparing for actions against the opposition. Immediately after the meeting, however, the Minister of Defence delivered a TV address announcing that the army would never undertake action against the people and called for an end to demonstrations. The entire Presidium, including General Secretary Miloš Jakeš , resigned, and Karel Urbánek ,
3895-549: The Realistic Theatre was declared and other theatres quickly followed. The theaters opened their stages only for public discussions. At the initiative of students from the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague , the students in Prague went on strike. This strike was joined by university students throughout Czechoslovakia. Theatre employees and actors in Prague supported the strike. Instead of going on stage, actors read
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3990-805: The Summer Shakespeare Festival (held on an outdoor stage at the Silesian Ostrava Castle ). Folklore festivals include the Harmony ( Czech : Souznění ) international festival of Advent and Christmas traditions and crafts, Folklore Without Borders, and the Irish Cultural Festival. Ostrava has several museums and galleries: There are four urban monument zones in Ostrava – Moravská Ostrava (the historic centre), Ostrava-Poruba, Ostrava-Přívoz, and Ostrava-Vítkovice. Much of Ostrava's architectural heritage
4085-590: The West, having supported Alexander Dubček during the Prague Spring , opposing Soviet military occupation , promoting religion, boycotting (rigged) parliamentary elections or signing Charter 77 or associating with those who did. These rules were easy to enforce, as all schools, media and businesses belonged to the state. They were under direct supervision and often were used as accusatory weapons against rivals. The nature of blacklisting changed gradually after
4180-479: The attack against the students in Prague on 17 November and formed Public Against Violence , which would become the leading force behind the opposition movement in Slovakia. Its founding members included Milan Kňažko , Ján Budaj and others. Actors and members of the audience in a Prague theatre, together with Václav Havel and other prominent members of Charter 77 and other dissident organisations, established
4275-445: The border of the two historic provinces of Moravia and Silesia. The wider conurbation – which also includes the towns of Bohumín , Havířov , Karviná , Orlová , Petřvald and Rychvald – is home to about 500,000 people, making it the largest urban area in the Czech Republic apart from the capital Prague . Ostrava grew in importance due to its position at the heart of a major coalfield , becoming an important industrial engine of
4370-519: The capital of the Moravian-Silesian Region . It has about 280,000 inhabitants. It lies 15 km (9 mi) from the border with Poland , at the confluences of four rivers: Oder , Opava , Ostravice and Lučina . Ostrava is the third largest city in the Czech Republic in terms of both population and area, the second largest city in the region of Moravia , and the largest city in the historical land of Czech Silesia . It straddles
4465-555: The chairman of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, gave a special address on Federal Television. He said that order must be preserved, that socialism was the only alternative for Czechoslovakia, and criticised protest groups. Government officials, especially the Head of the Communist Party Miloš Jakeš, kept their hard-line position. During the night, they had summoned 4,000 members of the " People's Militias " ( Lidové milice ,
4560-746: The city every year since 1961. The Ostrava Marathon was established in 1954 and has been held annually since 1974. In 2004, 2015, and 2024 Ostrava co-hosted (with Prague) the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship at the Ostrava Aréna . The Trade Union Stadium was a 60,000 capacity stadium that existed between 1954 and 1999. It was used primarily for motorcycle speedway but also hosted the Spartakiad in 1955 and 1960. Major sporting events to have been hosted in Ostrava include: The first mayor of Moravian Ostrava
4655-703: The city include athletics facilities, football pitches and stadiums, ice rinks and ice stadiums, multi-purpose sports halls, tennis courts, squash clubs, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, among others. The most important facilities are operated by the city-owned company SAREZA. The company's outdoor swimming pool in Ostrava-Poruba is the largest facility of its kind in Central Europe. Ostrava has opportune conditions for cycling, with its generally flat terrain and an extensive network of cycle routes. There are also several popular leisure and recreation areas in
4750-570: The city with a distinctive architectural heritage include Přívoz (with its grand Art Nouveau buildings) and the Jubilee housing development ( Czech : Jubilejní kolonie ) in Hrabůvka, built as a workers' housing complex in the 1920s. Ostrava's Regional Court is based in a historic building on the Ostravice embankment (Havlíčkovo nábřeží) in the city centre. Its jurisdiction extends to the whole of
4845-403: The city's environment and quality of life. Ostrava became an important tourist centre that offered easy access to the nearby Hrubý Jeseník and Moravian-Silesian Beskids mountains. As well as hundreds of hectares of recultivated former mining land, the city also has numerous natural landscape features of interest, many of which are protected nature reserves. They include the Polanský Forest and
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#17327719119124940-436: The city's industrial past are visible in the Lower Vítkovice area, a former coal-mining, coke production and ironworks complex in the city centre which retains its historic industrial architecture. Lower Vítkovice has applied for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List . Ostrava is home to various cultural facilities including theatres and galleries. Various cultural and sporting events take place in Ostrava throughout
5035-400: The demonstration. In the end, however, the students moved through the city peacefully and sent a delegation to the Slovak Ministry of Education to discuss their demands. New movements led by Václav Havel surfaced, invoking the idea of a united society where the state would politically restructure. The Socialist Youth Union (SSM/SZM, proxy of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia ) organised
5130-458: The demonstration. They walked (per the strategy of founders of Stuha movement, Jiří Dienstbier and Šimon Pánek ) to Karel Hynek Mácha 's grave at Vyšehrad Cemetery and – after the official end of the march – continued into the centre of Prague, carrying banners and chanting anti-Communist slogans. At about 19:30 (7:30pm), the demonstrators were stopped by a cordon of riot police at Národní Street. They blocked all escape routes and attacked
5225-411: The discovery of extensive deposits of high-quality bituminous coal on the Silesian bank of the Ostravice River. In 1828, the owner of the local estates, Rudolf Jan, the archbishop of Olomouc , established an ironworks , which was named after him as the Rudolfshütte. Later, the ironworks passed into the ownership of the Rothschild family and became known as the Vítkovice Ironworks . The company became
5320-417: The division of the city into 22 boroughs, effective 24 November that year. On 1 January 1994, Plesná separated from Poruba and became a separate borough. Since then, the city has been divided into 23 boroughs, further divided into 37 administrative parts: The city's coat of arms features a blue shield with a rearing silver horse standing on a green lawn. The horse wears a golden saddle and a red coverlet. At
5415-483: The driving force behind Ostrava's industrial boom. By the second half of the 20th century, the city was nicknamed the country's "steel heart". In 1931 the Jewish community in Ostrava numbered 6,865 (5.4% of the population). About 8,000 Jews from the Ostrava district were murdered in the Holocaust during the German occupation in World War II . The Nisko Plan included the first deportation train transports of 1,301 Jews from Ostrava on 17 and 26 October 1939. In 1994,
5510-438: The eve of International Students Day (the 50th anniversary of Sonderaktion Prag , the 1939 storming of Prague universities by the Nazis), Slovak high school and university students organised a peaceful demonstration in the centre of Bratislava . The Communist Party of Slovakia had expected trouble, and the mere fact that the demonstration was organised was viewed as a problem by the Party. Armed forces were put on alert before
5605-472: The first airport in the Czech Republic to have its own rail link, which opened in 2015. The road infrastructure of the region is centred on the D1 motorway , which runs from Prague via Brno and Ostrava into Poland. Ostrava is 360 km (220 mi) from Prague by motorway, 170 km (110 mi) from Brno, 90 km (56 mi) from the Polish city of Katowice , and 310 km (190 mi) from Vienna . Other major roads which pass through Ostrava are
5700-437: The first demonstrations in Bratislava occurred. The first official meeting of the Civic Forum with the Prime Minister took place. The Prime Minister agreed to personally guarantee that no violence would be used against the people; however he would "protect socialism, about which no discussion is possible". An organised mass demonstration took place in Wenceslas Square in central Prague (demonstrations recurred there throughout
5795-405: The first signs of thawing relations began to appear between Communist Czechoslovakia and Israel , with meetings held on shared issues, including Jewish religious freedom, the memory of the Holocaust and ties of remaining Czechoslovak Jews with the Diaspora , including the strong Jewish community in the United States. Reform-minded attitudes were also reflected by the many individuals who signed
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#17327719119125890-399: The first time. The editorial staff of Slovakia's Pravda , the central newspaper of the Communist Party of Slovakia, joined the opposition. A successful two-hour general strike led by the civic movements strengthened what were at first a set of moderate demands into cries for a new government. The strike took place throughout the country between 12:00 and 14:00, supported by a reported 75% of
5985-458: The following days). Actors and students travelled to factories inside and outside Prague to gain support for their colleagues in other cities. A mass demonstration erupted in Hviezdoslav Square in downtown Bratislava (in the following days, it moved to the Square of the Slovak National Uprising). The students presented demands and asked the people to participate in the general strike planned for Monday, 27 November. A separate demonstration demanded
6080-437: The golden rose probably comes from the family coat-of-arms of the bishop of Olomouc Stanislav I Thurzo . This explanation is supported by most modern literature. Another theory suggests that the Bishop granted Ostrava the right to use the horse in its coat-of-arms out of gratitude for the assistance that the town provided to the people of the Bishop's estate in Hukvaldy when the estate was being looted and pillaged. Apparently
6175-436: The help came so quickly that the pillagers did not have time to attach bridles to their horses before making their escape. There is also a legend which tells of a siege of Ostrava during which the besieged townspeople released unbridled horses to run in circles around the town. This is said to have confused the attacking armies so much that they fled. In 2008, Ostrava's new marketing logo was unveiled. Designed by Studio Najbrt,
6270-434: The introduction of Mikhail Gorbachev 's policies of Glasnost (openness) and Perestroika (restructuring) in 1985. The Czechoslovak Communist leadership verbally supported Perestroika, but made few changes. Speaking about the Prague Spring of 1968 was taboo. The first anti-government demonstrations occurred in 1988 (the Candle Demonstration , for example) and 1989, but these were dispersed and participants were repressed by
6365-453: The logo "OSTRAVA!!!" is used in public presentations of the city both in the Czech Republic and abroad. The three exclamation marks are meant to symbolise the dynamism, energy and self-confidence of Ostrava and its people. The light blue colour of the city's name is based on the heraldic tradition, while the exclamation marks are a contrasting darker blue. The first written mention of Slezská Ostrava (Silesian Ostrava) dates from 1229, when it
6460-461: The name of the Ostrava Symphony Orchestra, with Otakar Pařík as its first chief conductor under that name, and gave its first concert under that name on 3 May 1954. In 1962, the orchestra changed its name to the Státní filharmonie Ostrava (Ostrava State Philharmonic Orchestra), then with Václav Jiráček as chief conductor. In 1971, the orchestra changed its name to its current form, the Janáčkova filharmonie Ostrava (Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava). In
6555-473: The opposition. The new Communist leadership held a press conference, including Miroslav Štěpán while excluding Ladislav Adamec, but did not address the demands of the demonstrators. Later that day, Štěpán resigned as Prague Secretary. The number of participants in the regular anti-government demonstration in Prague-Letná reached an estimated 800,000 people. Demonstrations in Bratislava peaked at around 100,000 participants. Prime Minister Adamec met with Havel for
6650-400: The orchestra. He returned for a second guest-conducting engagement at the start of the 2019-2020 season. In April 2020, the orchestra announced the appointment of Sinaisky as its next chief conductor, effective with the 2020-2021 season. Petr Popelka became principal guest conductor as of the 2020-2021 season. Sinaisky concluded his tenure as chief conductor of the orchestra at the close of
6745-424: The part of Poruba built at this time is through a grand triumphal arch. The Vítkovice district was for several decades the centre of the local iron and steel industry. The influx of workers led the company to build housing for its employees, plus civic amenities, a town hall and a church. The historic parts of the district are built in the company's distinctive style featuring red-brick façades. Other districts of
6840-459: The police. By the late 1980s, discontent with living standards and economic inadequacy gave way to popular support for economic reform. Citizens began to challenge the system more openly. By 1989, citizens who had been complacent were willing to openly express their discontent with the regime. Numerous important figures as well as ordinary workers signed petitions in support of Václav Havel during his imprisonment in 1989. Already in early 1989,
6935-416: The population. The Ministry of Culture released anti-Communist literature for public checkouts in libraries, effectively ending decades of censorship . Civic Forum demonstrated its capacity to disrupt the political order and thereby establish itself as the legitimate voice of the nation in negotiations with the state. The civic movements mobilised support for the general strike. The Federal Assembly deleted
7030-613: The present-day district of Petřkovice. After the war, the city's German-speaking population were expelled in accordance with the Potsdam Agreement . 231 German-speaking citizens were killed in a massacre at an internment camp, known as the Hanke Lager Massacres . The liberation of Ostrava by the Red Army led to the city entering its greatest period of expansion. Initially, the new housing projects were on
7125-480: The provision in the constitution referring to the " leading role " of the Communist Party, officially ending Communist rule in Czechoslovakia. President Gustáv Husák swore in the first government in 41 years that was not dominated by the Communist Party. He resigned shortly afterward. The victory of the revolution was topped off by the election of rebel playwright and human rights activist Václav Havel as President of Czechoslovakia on 29 December 1989. The event
7220-521: The region surrounding Ostrava; the Beskids and Jeseníky Mountains (about 30 km (19 mi) and 60 km (37 mi) from Ostrava respectively) are popular with skiers in the winter season, and hikers, cyclists and anglers from spring to autumn. A special "cyclebus" shuttles between Ostrava and the Beskydy Mountains from May to September, enabling cyclists to transport their bikes on
7315-531: The release of the political prisoner Ján Čarnogurský (later Prime Minister of Slovakia) in front of the Palace of Justice. Alexander Dubček addressed this demonstration – his first appearance during the Velvet Revolution. As a result, Čarnogurský was released on 23 November. Further demonstrations followed in all major cities of Czechoslovakia. Cardinal František Tomášek , the Roman Catholic primate of
7410-613: The representatives of the Slovak government and of the Communist Party of Slovakia to participate in a dialogue, in which the official representatives were immediately put on the defensive. Employees of the Slovak section of the Federal Television required the leaders of the Federal Television to provide true information on the events in the country; otherwise they would initiate a strike of TV employees. Uncensored live reports from demonstrations in Bratislava began. The evening news showed factory workers heckling Miroslav Štěpán ,
7505-427: The resignation of the government, effective 25 November, and the formation of a temporary government composed of non-compromised members of the current government. Students and theatres went on "permanent" strike. Police stopped a demonstration from continuing toward Prague Castle, which would have entered the striking theatres. Civic Forum representatives negotiated unofficially with Adamec without Havel, and Adamec
7600-509: The secret police. Thus, the general public did not openly support the dissidents for fear of dismissal from work or school. Writers or filmmakers could have their books or films banned for a "negative attitude towards the socialist regime". They also did not allow Czechs and Slovaks to travel to other non-communist countries. Following this they banned music from foreign countries. This blacklisting included children of former entrepreneurs or non-Communist politicians, having family members living in
7695-458: The situation has improved over time. In 2015 ArcelorMittal, then one of the biggest polluters in the region, implemented 13 major ecological investment projects worth CZK 3 billion. One new installation filters out 61 tonnes of dust per year. The City of Ostrava is also involved in a range of projects focusing on environmental improvements, including a web portal, www.zdravaova.cz , which enables citizens to monitor current air quality indicators, and
7790-721: The southwest. Ostrava is 20.5 km across from north to south (Antošovice–Nová Bělá), and 20.1 km across from east to west (Bartovice–Krásné Pole). Ostrava has an oceanic ( Köppen : Cfb ) or humid continental ( Dfb ) climate, according with the isotherm 0 °C/-3 °C, the second most common in Europe (the average temperature in month most cold is −1 °C (30 °F)). The climate features hot, humid summers and relatively mild winters, with an average annual temperature of 10.2 °C (50.4 °F) (January: −1.2 °C (29.8 °F) July: 23.5 °C (74.3 °F)) and average annual precipitation of 580 mm. Ostrava
7885-455: The students. Once all the protesters dispersed, one of the participants, secret police agent Ludvík Zifčák, was lying on the street. Zifčák was not physically hurt or pretending to be dead; he simply fainted . Policemen carried his motionless body to an ambulance. The atmosphere of fear and hopelessness gave birth to a hoax about a dead student named Martin Šmíd . The story was made up by Drahomíra Dražská as she awaited treatment after she
7980-427: The top right of the shield there is a golden rose with green leaves and a red core. The horse in the coat-of-arms wears no bridle. The oldest known depiction of this coat-of-arms is on a seal dating from 1426. The first coloured version dates from 1728. The horse is often interpreted as a symbol of Ostrava's position on a major trade route, or as a figure taken from the coat-of-arms of Ostrava's first vogt (reeve), while
8075-675: The two historic provinces of Moravia and Silesia and on the ancient trade route from the Baltic Sea to the Adriatic Sea known as the Amber Road . Its location helped the town to grow and flourish. However, Ostrava began to decline in importance after the Thirty Years' War , and it was occupied by Danish forces in 1626, and by Swedish forces from 1642 to 1650. A turning point in Ostrava's history came in 1763 with
8170-793: The year, including the Colours of Ostrava music festival, the Janáček May classical music festival, the Summer Shakespeare Festival and NATO Days . Ostrava is home to two public universities: the Technical University of Ostrava and the University of Ostrava . In 2014 Ostrava was a European City of Sport. The city co-hosted (with Prague) the Ice Hockey World Championships in 2004 , 2015 , and 2024 . On 14 September 1990, Ostrava's City Authority approved
8265-412: Was Hermann Zwierzina . The list of mayors and other top city officials of the time includes: Ostrava is twinned with: Velvet Revolution [REDACTED] Opposition Supported by: [REDACTED] United States Hardliners: Moderates: Dissident leaders: The Velvet Revolution ( Czech : Sametová revoluce ) or Gentle Revolution ( Slovak : Nežná revolúcia )
8360-471: Was a non-violent transition of power in what was then Czechoslovakia , occurring from 17 November to 28 November 1989. Popular demonstrations against the one-party government of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia included students and older dissidents. The result was the end of 41 years of one-party rule in Czechoslovakia , and the subsequent dismantling of the command economy and conversion to
8455-532: Was described as a settlement. The first mention of Moravian Ostrava (Moravská Ostrava) in 1267 describes it as a township. Ostrava grew on the banks of the Ostrá River (now the Ostravice ) from which it took its name. The river still divides the city into two main parts: Moravian Ostrava (Moravská Ostrava) and Silesian Ostrava (Slezská Ostrava). The settlement occupied a strategic position on the border between
8550-492: Was held. In response to the collapse of other Warsaw Pact governments and the increasing street protests, the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia announced on 28 November that it would relinquish power and end the one-party state . Two days later, the federal parliament formally deleted the sections of the Constitution giving the Communist Party a monopoly of power. Barbed wire and other obstructions were removed from
8645-495: Was hurt during the riot. Dražská worked at the college and shared her hoax with several people the next day, including the wife of journalist Petr Uhl , a correspondent for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty . This incident mobilised the people and triggered the revolution. That same evening, students and theatre actors agreed to go on strike. Two students visited Prime Minister Ladislav Adamec at his private residence and described to him what happened on Národní Street. The strike at
8740-473: Was killed by the police during the previous day's demonstration. Although the report was false, it heightened the feeling of crisis, and persuaded some hesitant citizens to overcome their fear and join the protests. Theatres in Bratislava , Brno , Ostrava and other towns went on strike. Members of artistic and literary associations as well as organisations and institutions joined the strike. Members of
8835-564: Was one trolleybus route which encircled the city centre. The network was gradually expanded in the 1950s and 60s, replacing the narrow-gauge railways . A route to the Fifejdy housing estate was built in the late 1970s. The last expansion of the trolleybus network came in the mid-2010s, when a route was built out to the new terminal in Hranečník. 17 tram lines currently operate in Ostrava. There are 52 bus lines and 14 trolleybus lines. Ostrava
8930-562: Was represented by Ján Budaj, Fedor Gál and Vladimír Ondruš, while the Communists were represented by Štefan Chudoba (director of Bratislava automotive company), Peter Weiss (secretary of the Institute of Marx-Leninism of the Communist party of Slovakia) and the director of Steelworks Košice . It was the first free discussion on Czechoslovak television since its inception. As a result, the editorial staff of Slovak newspapers started to join
9025-442: Was sympathetic to the students' demands. However, he was outvoted in a special cabinet meeting the same day. The government, in an official statement, made no concessions. Civic Forum added a demand: the abolition of the "ruling position" of the Communist Party from the Constitution. Non-Communist newspapers published information that contradicted the Communist interpretation. The first mass demonstration in Prague (100,000 people) and
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