Socialist Realism in Poruba
When American and French filmmakers were shooting for the film Babylon A. D. scenes set in a Russian city, the crew and Hollywood actors came to Ostrava
The Poruba district of the city is built in the flamboyant style of the 1950s and is reminiscent of the boulevards and apartment blocks of Moscow, and without much modification it can be the backdrop for a film set in Russia. If you want to learn about the architectural style called sorela (socialist realism), Poruba is the ideal place.
The streets are wide and the entrances to the courtyards are formed by high, slender arches. Some of the houses are reminiscent of ancient temples, including the fact that they are decorated with columns. The facades of these apartment buildings are one big gallery of scenes of people’s lives during the building of socialism. Raise your heads and you will see children chasing butterflies, a girl with a pram, a boy on a scooter… As such a coherent set of 1950s architecture is exceptional, this part of the city is a conservation area.
Similar architecture can be seen in nearby Havířov, which was built at the same time as Poruba.
Although Poruba has its roots in the thirteenth century, its development did not begin until after the Second World War. The new Ostrava, the city of the future, was created here. The site was chosen primarily because Poruba was not undermined and yet it was not right next to the steelworks, steelworks and chemical plants that were expanding massively at the same time.
Not only the locals, but also visitors to this Ostrava district appreciate the largest natural swimming pool in the Czech Republic and Central Europe in summer and the ski resort at Skalka in winter. The old Poruba attracts visitors with its church and the castle, which is now a restaurant. The countryside around Poruba is ideal for cycling and in winter cross-country skiers find an active rest here. The Klimkovice spa with its unique salt water is also nearby.
Contact
OSTRAVAINFO!!! - pobočka Věž
Prokešovo náměstí 1803/8
702 00 Ostrava
E-mail: vez@ostravainfo.cz
Web: http://www.ostravainfo.cz/
Tel.: +420 599 443 096
