Karvina is a city with a rich history which can be admired in the city center today. Although Karvina is thought to be a modern city, in the oldest part of town called Frystat, you can see a beautiful chateau with a park and the historic square with a unique cast-iron fountain and town houses. The historic centre is complemented by the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, whose origins date back to the 14th century.

The current site of Karvina was a strategic location on the mercantile route from Hungary to the Baltic Sea and therefore commerce, crafts and services were founded here. The biggest development of the area occurred in the mid-18th century due to the discovery of coal. The city was connected by the Northern Railway thanks to Emperor Ferdinand and became an important industrial center of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The estate was visited by the most important rulers, including the heir to the throne, Franz Ferdinand d’Este and the German emperor Wilhelm II .

The historic center of Karvina consists of an urban conservation zone with a pleasant atmosphere of old streets. The chateau has been restored and attracts lovers of history to one of the finest permanent exhibitions in the region. Visitors go to admire Darkov spa with the dominant Darkov Bridge, the undermined areas of the Karvina region as well as to the leaning Church of St. Peter of Alcantara.

One of the world’s most famous models, Petra Nemcova, was also born here along with the athlete Sarka Kašpárková. The Olympic champion, javelin thrower Dana Zátopková, also spent the first six years of her life here.

More about the city: WWW.KARVINA.CZ