New City Hall

New City Hall in Ostrava stands as one of the most recognisable landmarks of the Czech-Silesian region and remains the largest town hall complex in the whole of the Czech Republic. Located in the heart of Moravská Ostrava, the building was raised to give the growing industrial city an administrative seat worthy of its ambitions.

Why did Ostrava need a new town hall?

The old town hall could no longer keep pace with a rapidly expanding industrial city, so in 1923 the municipality announced an architectural competition for a new building. Architects Kolář and Rubý submitted the winning entry, yet the jury judged Vladimír Fischer's proposal to be stronger and recommended that the two teams combine efforts on the final design. Over the course of the project, the concept shifted away from traditional, classical forms toward the stylised language of emerging Modernism.

When was it built and what did it cost?

Construction work began in November 1924, with the main building phase carried out between 1929 and 1930. The town hall was ceremonially opened on 28 October 1930, deliberately timed to coincide with the twelfth anniversary of Czechoslovak independence, underlining how much prestige the city placed on the project. The final bill came to 52 million crowns - a striking figure given that an average monthly wage in the 1930s was around 800 crowns.

What does the building look like?

The central block is flanked by two perpendicular wings and crowned by a viewing tower. The complex remains the largest town hall building in the Czech Republic today, and at the time of its construction it was the largest in the whole of Czechoslovakia. The tower itself rises 85.6 metres above ground, making it the tallest town hall tower in the country - a scale that sets Ostrava's building apart from comparable structures elsewhere in Czechia.

Can visitors go up the tower, and what is the view like?

The observation terrace sits at a height of 73 metres and is open to visitors every day. Access begins at the building's main entrance, from where a barrier-free lift carries guests up to the sixth floor; free binoculars are provided on site. From the terrace, the panorama takes in the Moravian-Silesian region and the Silesian-Moravian Beskids, along with the Moravian Gate and the Oderské vrchy hills. On a clear day the view extends as far as Poland, the Hrubý Jeseník massif with Moravia's highest peak, Praděd, and the summits of the Malá Fatra range.

What should visitors know before going?

Tickets for the viewing tower start from a few dollars per person, with discounts available for children and seniors, and free admission for children under six. Tickets can be booked online in advance or bought directly at the town hall. In 2019 the building was declared a national cultural monument, confirming its status as one of the most significant architectural works of interwar Czechoslovakia.

Frequently asked questions

How old is Ostrava's New City Hall? The building opened in 1930, with construction running from 1924 to 1930.

Is it the tallest town hall tower in the Czech Republic? Yes - at 85.6 metres, it is the tallest tower of any town hall in the country.

Is the observation deck worth visiting? Yes - on a clear day, the terrace at 73 metres offers views stretching from Ostrava's rooftops to mountain ranges as far as the Polish border.

Is the building a protected monument? Yes, it has been a Czech national cultural monument since 2019.