Lower Vítkovice

Lower Vítkovice (Dolní oblast Vítkovice), also known as Ostravian Hradčany (ostravské Hradčany), is located near the centre of Ostrava. It consists of a black coal mine, coke ovens and a blast furnace for the production of raw iron. It was built as early as the first half of the 19^th century. Rudolf’s Smelter, named after Archbishop of Prague Rudolf Habsburg, was opened in 1830. A coke oven was built in 1831 and six years later the first blast furnace using coke began working. Five more furnaces were built later on and the Hlubina mine was opened. The industrial complex was functional until as late as 1998. It is now an industrial heritage monument. A blast furnace, a gas holder, the energy exchange building and the Hlubina mine are open to visitors. The World of Technology building was built in 2014, housing several exhibitions for children and adults, as well as laboratories, a cinema, a theatre and classrooms. There are plans to use the other parts of the complex as well, e.g. to build a library or university facilities. In 2002, the complex was added to the list of national cultural monuments and it has been a part of European cultural heritage.

Furnace No. 1, now accessible, was in operation from 1871, although it went through several renovations and its current appearance dates from 1988, when it became the most efficient furnace in Europe. At the beginning of the 21^st century, the complex was modified to allow access to the observation and interaction perimeter. In 2015, a bar and a café were opened in the 77.7-metre-tall furnace called Bolt Tower. Another accessible part is the gas holder from 1921, now rebuilt into the multifunctional hall Gong. The holder’s cap was removed, allowing for the creation of a multifunctional hall containing conference rooms, a foyer, cloakrooms, a gallery and a large hall. Architectural modifications, the World of Technology building and the city-planning aspects were designed in 2011–2012 by architect Josef Pleskot.