Opava

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City in the Czech Republic

title: "Opava" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["opava", "cities-in-silesia", "cities-and-towns-in-the-moravian-silesian-region"] description: "City in the Czech Republic" topic_path: "geography" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opava" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary City in the Czech Republic ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
nameOpava
settlement_typeStatutory city
image_skylineHorni-namesti1.jpg
image_captionHorní Square
image_flagOpava Flag.svg
image_shieldOpava CoA.svg
subdivision_typeCountry
subdivision_name
subdivision_type1Region
subdivision_name1Moravian-Silesian
subdivision_type2District
subdivision_name2Opava
pushpin_mapCzech Republic
pushpin_relief1
pushpin_map_captionLocation in the Czech Republic
coordinates
leader_titleMayor
leader_nameTomáš Navrátil
leader_partyANO
established_titleFirst mentioned
established_date1195
area_total_km290.57
elevation_m257
population_as_of2025-01-01
population_footnotes
population_total55109
population_density_km2auto
timezone1CET
utc_offset1+1
timezone1_DSTCEST
utc_offset1_DST+2
postal_code_typePostal code
postal_code746 01
website
::

| name = Opava | other_name = | settlement_type = Statutory city | image_skyline = Horni-namesti1.jpg | image_caption = Horní Square | image_flag = Opava Flag.svg | image_shield = Opava CoA.svg | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = | subdivision_type1 = Region | subdivision_name1 = Moravian-Silesian | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name2 = Opava | image_map = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Czech Republic | pushpin_relief = 1 | pushpin_map_caption = Location in the Czech Republic | coordinates = | coordinates_footnotes = | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Tomáš Navrátil | leader_party = ANO | established_title = First mentioned | established_date = 1195 | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 90.57 | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = 257 | population_as_of = 2025-01-01 | population_footnotes = | population_total = 55109 | population_density_km2 = auto | timezone1 = CET | utc_offset1 = +1 | timezone1_DST = CEST | utc_offset1_DST = +2 | postal_code_type = Postal code | postal_code = 746 01 | area_code_type = | area_code = | website = | footnotes = Opava (; , ) is a city in the Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 55,000 inhabitants. It lies on the Opava River. Opava is one of the historical centres of Silesia and was a historical capital of Czech Silesia.

Administrative division

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b8/Opavské_současné_městské_části.png" caption="City parts of Opava (shown in color)"] ::

Opava consists of eight self-governing city parts in the suburbs and the central part that is directly administered. In addition, Opava consists of 14 municipal parts, whose borders do not respect the boundaries of the city parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census):

  • undivided Opava
    • Město (3,485)
    • Předměstí (22,212)
    • Kateřinky (12,795)
    • Kylešovice (7,311)
    • Jaktař (2,182)
  • Komárov (1,323)
    • Komárov (1,323)
  • Malé Hoštice (1,710)
    • Malé Hoštice (1,710)
  • Milostovice (305)
    • Milostovice (305)
  • Podvihov (754)
    • Komárovské Chaloupky (155)
    • Podvihov (599)
  • Suché Lazce (1,034)
    • Suché Lazce (1,034)
  • Vávrovice (1,317)
    • Vávrovice (1,036)
    • Předměstí (237)
    • Jaktař (44)
  • Vlaštovičky (385)
    • Vlaštovičky (385)
  • Zlatníky (333)
    • Zlatníky (333)

Etymology

The city is named after the Opava River. The name of the river arose from the old Celtic words apa, opa, i.e. 'water'.

Geography

Opava is located about 27 km northwest of Ostrava. Most of its territory lies in the Opava Hilly Land within the Silesian Lowlands, but it also extends to the Nízký Jeseník range in the southeast and northwest. The highest point of the municipal territory is Hůrka at 530 m above sea level.

Opava is situated at the confluence of the Opava and Moravice rivers. The Opava River flows through the city centre.

Stříbrné Lake is an artificial lake on the outskirts of the city created by the flooding of the former gypsum quarry. It is used for recreational purposes.

Climate

|location = Opava, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1961–present |metric first = Y |single line = Y |Jan record high C = 14.5 |Feb record high C = 20.3 |Mar record high C = 24.2 |Apr record high C = 28.3 |May record high C = 31.8 |Jun record high C = 35.1 |Jul record high C = 35.8 |Aug record high C = 37.1 |Sep record high C = 33.2 |Oct record high C = 25.7 |Nov record high C = 21.7 |Dec record high C = 16.5 |year record high C = 37.1 |Jan high C = 2.2 |Feb high C = 4.0 |Mar high C = 8.4 |Apr high C = 14.8 |May high C = 19.4 |Jun high C = 22.9 |Jul high C = 25.5 |Aug high C = 25.3 |Sep high C = 19.6 |Oct high C = 13.9 |Nov high C = 8.0 |Dec high C = 3.2 |year high C = 13.9 |Jan mean C = -0.8 |Feb mean C = 0.3 |Mar mean C = 3.6 |Apr mean C = 8.8 |May mean C = 13.5 |Jun mean C = 16.9 |Jul mean C = 18.8 |Aug mean C = 18.3 |Sep mean C = 13.4 |Oct mean C = 8.9 |Nov mean C = 4.6 |Dec mean C = 0.4 |year mean C = 8.9 |Jan low C = -4.1 |Feb low C = -3.4 |Mar low C = -0.8 |Apr low C = 2.6 |May low C = 7.0 |Jun low C = 10.5 |Jul low C = 12.1 |Aug low C = 11.8 |Sep low C = 8.1 |Oct low C = 4.7 |Nov low C = 1.3 |Dec low C = -2.6 |year low C = 3.9 |Jan record low C = -29.4 |Feb record low C = -26.7 |Mar record low C = -27.0 |Apr record low C = -11.6 |May record low C = -3.5 |Jun record low C = -1.0 |Jul record low C = 3.0 |Aug record low C = -0.2 |Sep record low C = -4.0 |Oct record low C = -8.4 |Nov record low C = -19.4 |Dec record low C = -28.8 |year record low C = -29.4 |precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation mm = 20.6 |Feb precipitation mm = 19.7 |Mar precipitation mm = 30.5 |Apr precipitation mm = 38.2 |May precipitation mm = 67.8 |Jun precipitation mm = 82.1 |Jul precipitation mm = 82.8 |Aug precipitation mm = 61.9 |Sep precipitation mm = 64.0 |Oct precipitation mm = 44.1 |Nov precipitation mm = 33.1 |Dec precipitation mm = 23.8 |year precipitation mm = 568.6 |Jan snow cm = 15.2 |Feb snow cm = 15.8 |Mar snow cm = 8.7 |Apr snow cm = 2.8 |May snow cm = 0.0 |Jun snow cm = 0.0 |Jul snow cm = 0.0 |Aug snow cm = 0.0 |Sep snow cm = 0.0 |Oct snow cm = 0.5 |Nov snow cm = 5.2 |Dec snow cm = 12.9 |year snow cm = 61.0 |humidity colour = green |Jan humidity = 80.0 |Feb humidity = 77.7 |Mar humidity = 74.7 |Apr humidity = 70.0 |May humidity = 72.2 |Jun humidity = 73.2 |Jul humidity = 71.5 |Aug humidity = 72.6 |Sep humidity = 78.3 |Oct humidity = 80.0 |Nov humidity = 81.9 |Dec humidity = 81.8 |year humidity = 76.2 |Jan sun = 56.5 |Feb sun = 78.9 |Mar sun = 129.5 |Apr sun = 188.2 |May sun = 217.2 |Jun sun = 219.2 |Jul sun = 237.8 |Aug sun = 232.4 |Sep sun = 163.4 |Oct sun = 115.1 |Nov sun = 61.5 |Dec sun = 48.3 |year sun = 1748.1 |source 1 = Czech Hydrometeorological Institute |source 2 = NOAA}}

History

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dc/Troppau_F.J.Platz.jpg" caption="Opava in 1900"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6f/Troppau-Rathaus-1.jpg" caption="City hall"] ::

The first written mention of Opava is from 1195. In 1224, Opava received town privileges. After the Duchy of Troppau was established, Opava became its capital.

In 1427–1431, the duchy was ruled by the Hussites. In 1485, it was acquired by Matthias Corvinus and ruled by the Hungarians until 1526. In 1613, Karl I of Liechtenstein became Duke of Opava and merged the duchy with the Duchy of Krnov.

After the majority of Silesia was annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia during the War of the Austrian Succession after 1740, the remaining Silesian territory still under the control of the Habsburg monarchy became known as Austrian Silesia, with its capital in Opava (1742–1918). The Congress of Troppau took place here from 24 October to 23 December 1820.

According to the Austrian census of 1910, the town had 30,762 inhabitants, 29,587 of whom had permanent residence there. The census asked people for their native language, which showed that 27,240 (92%) were German-speaking, 2,039 (6.9%) were Czech-speaking and 274 (0.9%) were Polish-speaking. Jews were not allowed to declare Yiddish, and most of them thus declared German as their native language. The main religious group was Roman Catholics with 28,379 (92.2%), followed by Protestants with 1,155 (3.7%) and Jews with 1,112 (3.6%).

After the defeat of Austria-Hungary in World War I, Opava became part of Czechoslovakia in 1919.

In 1938, Opava was ceded to Nazi Germany as a result of the Munich Agreement. It was administered as a part of Reichsgau Sudetenland. On 22 April 1945, Opava was liberated by the Soviet Red Army at the cost of enormous war damage. In 1945–1946, the German population was expelled under terms of Beneš decrees and the city was resettled with Czechs. On 1 January 1946, the municipalities of Jaktař, Kateřinky and Kylešovice were joined to Opava. After the war, entire new residential areas and industrial plants were built.

While the Duchy of Opava has ceased to exist, the title of Duke of Troppau continues, with Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein being the current incumbent.

Demographics

|align=none|cols=3 |1869|27011 |1880|32105 |1890|35698 |1900|42043 |1910|47361 |1921|49366 |1930|54263 |1950|40663 |1961|48091 |1970|53269 |1980|58778 |1991|62815 |2001|61382 |2011|58351 |2021|55146 |source=Censuses}}

Economy

Opava is home especially to the engineering, food, paper and pharmaceutical industries.

The largest non-industrial employers are the hospital and the psychiatric hospital.

Culture

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d5/Opava,_Horní_náměstí,_divadlo_a_konkatedrála,_01.jpg" caption="Silesian Theatre and Co-Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary"] ::

Opava is an important cultural centre of Opavian Silesia. The Silesian Theatre in Opava was founded in 1805.

Education

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/88/Historická_výstavní_budova_v_roce_2012.jpg" caption="Silesian Museum"] ::

Opava is home to the Silesian University, the only public university in the country not situated in a regional capital. It was established in 1991.

Sport

The city's football club SFC Opava currently plays in the Czech National Football League, the second tier of the Czech football league system.

Sights

One of the two main landmarks of Opava is the city hall on the Horní Square and its white tower, known as Hláska. A one-storey city hall and the tower were built in 1614–1618. However, the less representative town hall building around the tower was demolished in 1902 and replaced with a new one in the Neo-Renaissance style.

The second main landmark is the Co-Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. It is the largest building in the Czech Republic built in the so-called Silesian Brick Gothic style. A solid prismatic tower was built in the late 13th century and a higher south tower was built in the early 14th century, both towers were originally intended as part of a city hall. The church building between the towers dates from the mid-14th century. In 1996, the church became the second Episcopal church of the Ostrava-Opava diocese, and therefore a co-cathedral. With 102 m, the southern church tower is the highest tower in Silesia.

There are three monuments, protected as national cultural monuments of the Czech Republic. Besides the co-cathedral, there is the Chapel of the Holy Cross, which dates from 1394, and the Petr Bezruč City House of Culture; a Neo-Renaissance house, built in 1908–1910 according to the design by Leopold Bauer.

The Silesian Museum, founded in 1814, is the oldest public museum in the Czech Republic. It has about 2,400,000 exhibition items and is the third largest museum in the country.

Notable people

Twin towns – sister cities

Opava is twinned with:

References

References

  1. (2025-05-16). "Population of Municipalities – 1 January 2025". [[Czech Statistical Office]].
  2. "Členění města – městské části". City of Opava.
  3. (2022). "Public Census 2021 – basic data". [[Czech Statistical Office]].
  4. Šlezingr, Radim. (2020-12-21). "Poutavá historie města Opavy. Seznamte se s ní s historiky Slezské univerzity". [[Silesian University in Opava]].
  5. "Stříbrné jezero". City of Opava.
  6. "Teplota vzduchu v jednotlivé kalendářní dny". Czech Hydrometeorological Institute.
  7. "Průměrná teplota vzduchu v jednotlivé měsíce v jednotlivé roky". Czech Hydrometeorological Institute.
  8. "Srážkové úhrny v jednotlivé měsíce v jednotlivé roky". Czech Hydrometeorological Institute.
  9. "Množství nového sněhu v jednotlivé měsíce v jednotlivé roky". Czech Hydrometeorological Institute.
  10. "Průměrná relativní vlhkost vzduchu v jednotlivé měsíce v jednotlivé roky". Czech Hydrometeorological Institute.
  11. "Délka slunečního svitu v jednotlivé měsíce v jednotlivé roky". Czech Hydrometeorological Institute.
  12. "Opava Climate Normals 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
  13. "Town history". City of Opava.
  14. Ludwig Patryn (ed): ''[http://www.sbc.org.pl/dlibra/docmetadata?id=11734 Die Ergebnisse der Volkszählung vom 31. Dezember 1910 in Schlesien]'', Troppau 1912.
  15. (2015-12-21). "Historický lexikon obcí České republiky 1869–2011". [[Czech Statistical Office]].
  16. (2021-03-27). "Population Census 2021: Population by sex". [[Czech Statistical Office]].
  17. "Naše historie a současnost – v České republice". Teva Czech Industries s.r.o..
  18. "Historie Slezského divadla". Silesian Theatre in Opava.
  19. "Opava". CzechTourism.
  20. "Town Hall Hláska". City of Opava.
  21. "Co-cathedral of the Assumption of Virgin Mary". City of Opava.
  22. "Výsledky vyhledávání: Kulturní památky, obec Opava". National Heritage Institute.
  23. "The Historical Exhibition Building". Silesian Museum.
  24. "Partnerská a spolupracující města". City of Opava.

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opavacities-in-silesiacities-and-towns-in-the-moravian-silesian-region