New City Hall

The New City Hall in Ostrava is a modernist public building standing on Jan Prokeš Square, right in the centre of the city. It was constructed between 1925 and 1930 and has served as the seat of Ostrava's municipal government ever since. Today it ranks among the city's most important landmarks and is widely regarded as one of its symbols, recognisable even to people who have never set foot in Ostrava before.

What is housed inside the New City Hall?

The building is not only the seat of city administration. Several distinct institutions share the same premises. Alongside the city government, the building hosts the district office of Moravská Ostrava and Přívoz, the local authority responsible for that part of the city. The Moravian-Silesian Research Library also operates here, holding collections of regional importance, together with the Ostrava Information Centre, which visitors to the city rely on for practical information. Rounding out this mix of functions is a branch of the Czech Savings Bank, occupying a commercially accessible part of the building.

This combination of administrative, cultural, informational and banking functions under one roof keeps the New City Hall active throughout the day. It is not merely a representative facade but a genuinely used point on the city's map, drawing both residents handling official business and visitors exploring Ostrava.

Why is it considered a symbol of the city?

Its status as one of Ostrava's symbols stems chiefly from the building's importance within the city's architectural landscape and from its central position on Jan Prokeš Square. For nearly a century, the New City Hall has served as a landmark within the urban space and as the structure most closely identified with Ostrava's administration. The fact that so many municipal functions are concentrated here, rather than scattered across the city, further reinforces its role as a central point of Ostrava.

The building's significance was formally confirmed in 2024, when the New City Hall was granted the status of a national cultural monument of the Czech Republic. This is the highest form of heritage protection within the Czech legal system, reserved for structures of exceptional historical and cultural importance to the entire country, not just to a region or a single city. The designation confirms that the New City Hall is regarded not as a local curiosity but as part of national heritage.

When was the building constructed?

Construction took place between 1925 and 1930, placing the building firmly in the interwar period, when Ostrava was developing rapidly as a major industrial centre of the region. The erection of a new, imposing seat of municipal government at that time reflected the city's growing importance and the need for a representative administrative centre that could match its ambitions.

Where exactly is the New City Hall located?

The building stands on Jan Prokeš Square, in the centre of Ostrava, within the district of Moravská Ostrava and Přívoz — the same district for which its office is housed inside this very building. Its location at the very heart of the city makes the New City Hall easy to reach and a natural point of reference when exploring central Ostrava.

Frequently asked questions

What does the New City Hall in Ostrava serve as today? It is the seat of Ostrava's municipal government as well as several other institutions: the district office of Moravská Ostrava and Přívoz, the Moravian-Silesian Research Library, the Ostrava Information Centre, and a branch of the Czech Savings Bank.

When was the New City Hall built? The building was constructed between 1925 and 1930.

Is the New City Hall a protected monument? Yes. Since 2024 it has held the status of a national cultural monument of the Czech Republic and is considered one of the symbols of Ostrava.

Where is the New City Hall located? On Jan Prokeš Square, in the centre of Ostrava.

Can visitors get tourist information at the New City Hall? Yes, the building houses the Ostrava Information Centre, which visitors exploring the city can use.