Historical centre of Vítkovice
The core of Ostrava's Vítkovice district is built entirely of red brick. Here, visitors can see, in its best preserved form, how the development of industry affected people's lives.
The adjacent streets formed the thoroughfare for the ironworks employees to and from work. The side streets were then where the ironworks workers lived. The original country houses with their gardens, barns and sheds were replaced by streets of apartment blocks, again made of red brick. But you will also find the former market, school and original pubs. Vítkovice also had a hospital, the premises of which now house a new modern hospital.
Paradoxically, the greatest construction development of Vítkovice occurred during the economic crisis in the 19th century. The owners called the 33-year-old Paul Kupelwieser to the management of the company. He gradually transformed the chaotically formed Vítkovice, i.e. the original village in whose neighbourhood the factory was built, into a Vítkovice where the factory and the residential area formed a mutual symbiosis. The factory began to take care of its employees not only by giving them work. It provided them with all the facilities, education, rest.
Thanks to this, Vítkovice could become an independent town. The development after the Second World War then reversed the balance between the factory and the residential area in favour of the factory, when the swelling Vítkovice Ironworks became too much in the face of Vítkovice. In recent years, however, it has been possible to gradually restore the original character of this charming part of Ostrava with a touch of old England.
Today, Vítkovice is an urban conservation area and visitors can be guided by information boards. Vítkovice can thus be a gateway to explore the industrial history of Ostrava. It is a short walk to Dolní Vítkovice and the centre of Ostrava.
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
