Náměstí Družby

Náměstí Družby is a square and urban park in the Ostrava district of Poruba, regarded as the central space of the district's fourth housing zone. It was laid out in 1963, and its name — "Friendship Square" — reflects the era's official narrative of cooperation between Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union. Today it functions as a everyday green retreat for local residents and a landmark for anyone exploring Poruba's postwar architecture.

What does Náměstí Družby look like?

The square has an unusual triangular layout, standing out from the otherwise regular, modernist grid of Poruba's housing blocks. A House of Culture was originally planned for its center, but that building was never constructed. Instead, the southern part of the square holds a park of roughly 10,000 square meters, while the northern part, separated by a wide road, is occupied by the Bohemia shopping center. The whole space is arranged on two height levels connected by steps, with granite paving contrasting against the park's greenery.

What changed after the reconstruction?

In 2022 the square underwent a thorough renovation. The greenery was refreshed, paths and surfaces were rebuilt, and a fountain with six water jets was installed in front of the Bohemia shopping center. The goal of the reconstruction was to turn the square back into a genuine meeting and relaxation spot rather than just a passage between residential blocks and shops. New tree and shrub plantings added shade and made the area noticeably more inviting for people walking through.

Who is this square for?

Náměstí Družby is most valued by Poruba residents looking for a quiet break close to home — benches in the park section and the fountain draw families with children, especially on warm days. Visitors interested in Poruba's socialist-era modernist architecture will find the square a good example of 1960s urban planning built around a central service-and-recreation hub for a housing estate. It also works well as a rest stop during a longer walk through Poruba, combining shopping at the nearby center with a moment of relaxation among greenery.

How do you get to Náměstí Družby?

The square sits at the heart of Poruba, a district well connected to central Ostrava by tram and bus. Thanks to its proximity to the Bohemia shopping center, the surrounding area has a solid service infrastructure, making it easy to pair a visit to the square with other errands in the district.

Frequently asked questions

Where does the name Náměstí Družby come from? The name dates back to 1963 and refers to the idea of friendship and cooperation between the former Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union, a common naming pattern for public spaces of that period.

Is there anything to see beyond the greenery? Yes — a distinctive feature is the fountain with six water jets in front of the Bohemia shopping center, along with the square's triangular layout and its two height levels linked by steps.

When was the square last renovated? The main reconstruction took place in 2022 and covered the greenery, paved surfaces, and the installation of the fountain.

Is it a good place to rest while exploring Poruba? Yes, the roughly 10,000-square-meter park in the southern part of the square offers benches and shade, making it a convenient stop during a longer walk through the district.