Ostrava is very easy to reach by car, train and plane. The city combines reminders of mining and iron production with nature trails, science exhibitions and viewpoints. When choosing a hotel, you can consider which of these themes you want to shape your stay: industrial heritage, geology, science, or a mix of different discoveries. This lets you plan your trip around your interests without committing to a set itinerary in advance.
Mining history in exhibitions and guided tours
Former mining sites in Ostrava house museums and are part of the city’s industrial heritage. At Landek Park, the mining exhibition includes an underground mine ride in the original mine cage. There is also a unique collection of breathing apparatus showing its development from 1883 to the present day. The visit thus combines the history of mining with a look at the development of protective equipment.
Dolní Vítkovice offers a different way to explore industrial history. The site was once shaped by coal mining and iron production and now serves as an educational, social and cultural centre. Guided tours cover the history of coal mining or the operation of blast furnaces. The Science and Technology Centre there has interactive exhibitions for children and adults. Historical subjects and scientific discoveries are therefore presented side by side, while offering distinct experiences.
Landek: geology and nature trails
At the Landek National Natural Monument, coal-bearing strata of Carboniferous type, formed 250 million years ago, are exposed at numerous coal-seam outcrops. A nature trail covering natural history and mining history also runs through the natural monument. Geology and industrial history therefore meet in the same protected area, while the trail explores both perspectives.
Another option for nature lovers is the Botanical Park at Ostrava Zoo. It has three botanical nature trails with a total length of six kilometres. This gives you a specific point of reference when planning a walk; access and route conditions may change. The trails in the Botanical Park and the trail at the Landek National Natural Monument are different ways to take your interests in nature and learning into account in Ostrava.
Viewpoints and science
The Bolt Tower is a 20-metre extension of Blast Furnace No. 1. Its observation platform, 80 metres above ground, offers views of Vítkovice. The New Town Hall observation tower offers a different perspective: a lift takes you to a height of 73 metres, from where you can see Silesian Ostrava, Moravian Ostrava, and the districts of Přívoz, Mariánské Hory, Vítkovice and Poruba. The figures distinguish both the heights of the viewpoints and the places each one overlooks.
The Ostrava Planetarium offers a regular programme for visitors of all ages. Its focus is on astronomy, natural sciences and technology. Those who want to give science special prominence will find a different kind of visit here than on tours of former industrial sites or on botanical nature trails.
The castle and hotels in Ostrava
Slezskoostravský Castle is a stone fortress dating from the 13th century. Its interior rooms house exhibitions on the history of the castle, the city and the wider region. The castle thus adds another historical focus to the industrial heritage. Exhibition content and the availability of guided tours may change.
The specific destinations offer different points of reference for planning. Before you set out, check current connections, tour times, programmes, access and trail conditions, as these may change.
Discover more destinations: Horní Lhota, Olbramice, Čavisov, Šenov, Dolní Lhota, Zbyslavice, Vřesina, Velká Polom.
For the wider travel overview: Ostrava-City District.
