Reinventing Ostrava: geographer Jan Hradecký on the city’s changing landscape

Ostrava, once the industrial heart of Czechoslovakia, is redefining itself for the 21st century. In this weekend’s edition of Czechia in 30 Minutes, geographer Jan Hradecký of Ostrava University explains how the city is balancing its heavy industry heritage with efforts to restore nature and protect against climate change.

For many, Ostrava is still synonymous with coal mines, steel mills, and the smokestacks that once dominated its skyline. But today, this northeastern Czech city is writing a new chapter — one that embraces both its industrial history and its connection to nature.

In the latest Czechia in 30 Minutes, host Vít Pohanka speaks with Jan Hradecký, a geographer at Ostrava University, about how Ostrava’s landscape has been shaped by its industrial past and how it is now adapting to new environmental challenges.

Hradecký’s research focuses on the ecology of water systems and the ways communities can protect themselves against the growing risks of flooding. As he explains, climate change is bringing more frequent and severe floods to the region, making sustainable water management an urgent priority.

But Ostrava offers more than just lessons in resilience. Even as the city contends with the legacy of heavy industry and a shrinking population, its proximity to natural landmarks like the Beskidy Mountains and the Poodří protected landscape area offers unique opportunities for recreation and conservation.

Cities like Ostrava remind us that industrial centers don’t have to be at odds with nature. There’s a balance to be found, and Ostrava is working to strike it.