About this place
The Monument of Miloš Sýkora stands in Slezská Ostrava, a district of Ostrava in the Czech Republic, on Bohumínská street near its junction with 28. října street — right next to the bridge that today carries the name of the man it honors. It is a small but locally significant memorial, listed as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic.
Who was Miloš Sýkora?
Miloš Sýkora was born on 15 November 1920 and worked in Ostrava as a lathe operator. He died on 30 April 1945, the very day the city was liberated from German occupation. That day he played a decisive role in saving one of Ostrava's bridges: he prevented the detonation of explosives that retreating German forces had planted to destroy the crossing. Because of his action, the bridge — which today links the two historic parts of the city — survived, and it has since been named in his honor: Most Miloše Sýkory (Miloš Sýkora Bridge).
Where exactly is the monument?
The monument stands in Slezská Ostrava, on Bohumínská street, close to the junction with 28. října street, essentially right beside the Miloš Sýkora Bridge. Its coordinates are 49.837682, 18.297148, making it an easy addition to a walk through central Ostrava that crosses the river separating the city's older districts.
Who created it, and when?
The monument was made in 1965. Its main author was sculptor Konrád Babraj, working together with co-author Miloš Bartoň. The piece is modest in scale — 75 cm high, 210 cm wide and 60 cm deep — which points to a compact commemorative relief rather than a large freestanding statue. Because of its historical significance, it has been registered as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic.
Why is it worth a stop?
The monument connects Ostrava's wartime history with the local identity of the Slezská Ostrava district. Walking from the memorial toward the Miloš Sýkora Bridge shows how the city chose to commemorate one documented act by an ordinary resident — not with grand gestures, but with a lasting mark on both the streetscape and the city's place names. For visitors interested in the final days of the Second World War in this part of Czech Silesia, it is an authentic, low-key stop worth including on a city walk.
Frequently asked questions
What does the monument in Slezská Ostrava commemorate? It commemorates Miloš Sýkora, an Ostrava lathe operator who, on 30 April 1945, the day the city was liberated, prevented the German-mined bridge from being blown up and died that same day.
Who designed the monument? It was created by sculptor Konrád Babraj together with co-author Miloš Bartoň, and was made in 1965.
How large is the monument? It measures 75 cm in height, 210 cm in width and 60 cm in depth — a compact commemorative form rather than a monumental statue.
Where exactly can I find it? On Bohumínská street in Slezská Ostrava, near its junction with 28. října street, right next to the Miloš Sýkora Bridge.
Is the monument legally protected? Yes, it is listed as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic.
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