Dolní Vítkovice opened the revitalized space under the furnace

Ostrava – Today, another area in the Lower Vítkovice (DOV) industrial complex in Ostrava has been opened to visitors. The revitalized space beneath the blast furnace is meant to serve not only visitors but could also be used in the future for various standalone events. This was stated today by the executive director of DOV, Petr Koudela.

"In general, we are trying to make more and more spaces accessible in Lower Vítkovice. This one became available because it was actually under a functioning blast furnace, now called the Bolt Tower. During the season, we often see lines of visitors gathering in front of (the adjacent) visitor center looking for a spot to hide in the shade," Koudela said. The newly modified covered and barrier-free space is expected to provide these visitors with a facility. According to Koudela, it can also be used for standalone events or as support during large events that take place in the area. Koudela did not rule out the possibility of seasonal refreshments being added to the site in the future. The modification of the area, covering 800 square meters, cost approximately one million crowns.

Another structure will be opened in DOV in a few weeks. It will be the coke oven building in the middle of the complex, which was reconstructed for around 12 million crowns. Until now, the building has been fenced off and inaccessible. "We want to have everything ready for the Colours of Ostrava festival (the festival starts on July 17), when we will make the coke oven accessible in some manner. Essentially, this is the accessibility of a new exhibition. In addition to being part of organized tourist tours, it can be a new space for holding meetings or I can imagine theater or film festivals there," Koudela stated. According to him, the building has been renovated almost to its original condition.

Last year, the industrial areas of Lower Vítkovice in Ostrava were visited by 1,655,514 people. This is a visitor record; in 2017, there were 1.5 million visitors. The industrial areas, which include institutions such as the Gong auditorium, the World of Technology, or the Mining Museum in Ostrava-Petřkovice, are the most visited places in the Moravian-Silesian Region and are among the most popular tourist destinations in the Czech Republic.