Světová místa Moravskoslezského kraje

Just as the Hradčany hill is an unmistakable part of Prague, so too does the Lower Vítkovice Area symbolize Ostrava. The romantic seat of Czech kings versus the industrial beauty of mines and steel mills. The outlines of these two places somewhat resemble one another, wouldn't you say?

If today a Turk visited Štramberk, a picturesque town at the foot of the Beskydy mountains, perhaps he could be reminded of his home town, Istanbul. That is because the dominating feature of Štramberk is the Trúba Tower, which conspicuously resembles the Galata Tower in the Turkish metropolis. Rather than a baklava, though, the locals are likely to serve you the local gingerbread delicacy - "Štramberk ears"!

Do you know that it would not have taken much and Ostrava’s New City Hall tower would have looked like the famed tower in Florence? The Palazzo Vecchio was in fact inspiration for one of the architects, who wanted to spice up the tower with elements of Italian Renaissance. The idea did not catch on, but you can, with a large dose of imagination and exaggeration, see the similarity even today.

Hradec nad Moravicí will make you feel like you're in a Walt Disney fairytale. But did you know that this beautiful chateau had to wait a long time before the first fairytale movie was shot here?

It is crystal-clear that our region lives and breathes automobiles. And it has for quite a while now. If you are a fan of cars, your steps will most likely first take you to Kopřivnice. The town at the foot of the Beskydy mountains is linked with the phenomenal Tatra brand. The gems of the automobile world that can be found here will leave you as amazed as if you were in the French automobile museum in Mulhouse.

The Ringstrasse in Vienna is supposedly the most beautiful boulevard in the world. The grand street, lined with sumptuous palaces and wide parks, was a dream come true for the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I. It was also the pride of Austria-Hungary. Did you know Opava had its own Ringstrasse?

Gaze onto the peaceful surface of the Slezská Harta dam and perhaps it will take you to England's largest national park, Lake District. If the dam could talk, though, it would say it was not interested in being compared. It is unique.

Are you attracted to hiking in the mountains among wild waterfalls and steep cliffs? Don't go looking too far away - just like Austria has its Bärenschützklamm gorge, which attracts tourists from all over the world, so do Jeseníky have their Bílá Opava river.

There are two love stories. The first describes the passionate love that enchanted a high-ranking church clerk. The other tells the tale of the love of science and the desire to change society for the better. Mirabell and Kunín, aside from love, are also connected through the famous European architect Hildebrandt.

Did you know that people in Ostrava made their own hills? If you find that hard to believe, go take a walk on mound Ema. The hill is very close to the city's zoo and was formed by piling up waste rocks, called overburden, from the nearby coal mines. All the mound needed was "just" several million tons of extracted rock and Ostrava's Vesuvius, as the locals call it, was born!

The French river Loire is not the only European waterway to flow under a beautiful chateau. The Czech river Raduňka is tough competition; some could even easily confuse it with Azay-le-Rideau, one of the most frequented chateaus on the Loire.

A suspension bridge made of manually tied ropes. Bright-colored prayer flags flutter at the ends of the bridge. In the Himalayas, similar bridges are used to transfer up to 150 kilograms of cargo on yaks. The only difference is that you are not in the Himalayas, but rather in the Sky Walk, only a few steps away from the Pustevny peak in Beskydy.

When riding on the Osoblaha steam locomotive, you will fell just like Harry Potter on his trip to Hogwarts. The fairytale ride on the narrow-gauge railway from Třemešná ve Slezsku to Osoblaha offers spellbinding views of this forgotten region.

Grandiose construction, megalomanic plans, the showcase of socialist realism. The "New Ostrava" project remains a source of fascination even now, 70 years after its initiation. Especially since the inspiration came from cities as different as St. Petersburg and Paris.

Czechoslovakia had good relations with France since the first Czechoslovak republic was founded. The younger democracy has also taken much inspiration from the land of the Gallic rooster. One such inspired aspect was the construction of fortified structures that were supposed to protect the country from Nazi Germany. The fortification was brought to perfection – see for yourselves the unique structures in Bohumín and Darkovičky.

Did you know that you could experience the atmosphere of Copenhagen in Ostrava as well? In the same way you can discover the beautiful nooks of Denmark's capital from the seat of your bike, you can also sit down in the local stylish establishments or go for a stroll along the Ostravice river waterfront. Discover "Little Copenhagen"!

For a small moment, transport yourself to the industrial city of Manchester! Discover Vítkovice, a district of Ostrava, boasting well-preserved red brick architecture. Have a listen to the stories of industrialist families, who fulfilled their visionary dreams in both Ostrava and Manchester.