Opava experienced devastating floods last year, yet it is again nominated for Historical City

Ostrava - Opava experienced devastating floods last year, yet it is once again nominated for Historical City of the Year. Mayor Tomáš Navrátil (ANO) believes that this time they will succeed and win the national title. Opava received the nomination and victory in the regional round, for instance, for the ongoing repair of the Breda department store and the reconstruction of the former building of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Opava, where the library of Petr Bezruč is now located. Both buildings were designed by architect Leopold Bauer. Last year, the city hall invested over 40 million crowns from the budget into the restoration of monuments.

Opava has already won in the regional round and will compete for the title on April 15 against 15 other cities in the finals. Among these is the city district of Prague 1, Prachatice, and Uherské Hradiště.

"I am very pleased that the city of Opava has once again been honored with the title of Historical City of the Year. It is an important moment for all my colleagues who strive to return the historical and cultural beauty of the city center, caring for the city's assets and the legacy of our ancestors," said Navrátil. He also highlighted the care provided by private property owners and experts in heritage care. "The efforts they dedicate to their surroundings are thus crowned by the fact that Opava has repeatedly succeeded in evaluations focused on heritage zones. I personally perceive this not only during my travels around the city but also from the favorable feedback of those who come to Opava, whether for work or as tourists," he added.

Opava is among the oldest cities in the Czech Republic. In the Middle Ages, it was an important center under the protection of the Přemyslids and became the capital of Austrian Silesia. In 1820, it hosted the Congress of the Holy Alliance. It has survived devastating fires, military raids, and extensive bombings in 1945. The city has the oldest museum in the country and the largest painting of Saint Wenceslaus in the world.

The year 2024 brought contrasts to the city. On one hand, the celebration of 800 years of the city, but also catastrophic floods. The river that gave Opava its name brought devastation. The damage caused by the flood in Opava in mid-September is estimated to exceed 12 billion crowns. Water flooded a large part of the city, several city districts, and also areas along the river Opava's course in the center. This includes, for example, the housing estate Kateřinky with 12,000 inhabitants. In total, there were nearly 7,000 properties affected.

However, the historical center with the heritage zone was not affected by the floods. According to the mayor, the city deserved its regional victory due to the restoration of significant monuments. For example, the ongoing reconstruction of the Breda department store. The building, which the city purchased in poor condition in 2022, now has new windows and facade. There is also the reconstruction of the former Chamber of Commerce and Industry building, where the library of Petr Bezruč is now located. Among the positively evaluated projects is the complete reconstruction of the parking lot on Masařská Street in the historical center of Opava.

The most heritage-listed objects are found in Opava's city heritage zone. It includes extensive monastery complexes, significant churches, noble palaces, city houses, as well as public buildings, banks, a theater, and a technical monument, which is an electricity transformer station. Among the oldest objects is the co-cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary at Rybí Trh, whose reconstruction was completed this year with the restoration of the interior and individual chapels.

A significant cultural complex is also the Dominican monastery with the Church of Saint Wenceslaus, where concerts, balls, exhibitions, and other cultural events take place. On the opposite side of the heritage zone is the Minorite monastery.