Karviná
Karviná (Czech pronunciation: [ˈkarvɪnaː] ( listen); Polish: ', German: Karwin) is a city in Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic, on the Olza River. It is administrative center of Karviná District. Karviná lies in the historical region of Cieszyn Silesia and is one of the most important coal mining centers in the Czech Republic. Together with neighboring towns it forms industrial Ostrava-Karviná Coal Basin.
It has 65,141 inhabitants (2001 census). 8.5% of the population are Slovaks and 8% of the population are Poles.[1] Polish population is historically declining. In the past the town had a significant German community. There is also a growing Roma community.
History
Till 19th century it was a low importance village of Cieszyn Silesia, lying near the important town of Fryštát. Discovery of coal led to rapid development of Karviná and surrounding villages, railroad tracks were soon built. After the split of Cieszyn Silesia in 1920 it became a part of Czechoslovakia as a main mining center of the country. In 1923 it gained city rights. In October 1938 was annexed by Poland, together with whole region known as Zaolzie and during World War II was a part of Nazi Germany. After the war it again became a part of Czechoslovakia. In 1948 Karviná, Fryštát and the surrounding villages of Darkov, Ráj and Staré Město were merged into one city named Karviná. The coat of arms of Fryštát was chosen as the coat of arms of Karviná and Fryštát became the historical center of this industrial city.
The period after WWII is characterized by economic orientation on heavy industry. Currently the town ranks among the ones with the dense heavy industry but slow restructuralization of heavy industry influence and the development of other spheres of economic acitivites. At the same time Karviná is the center of education in this region with its wide range of specialized secondary schools and, especially, the Faculty of Commerce and Business of Silesian University. Since 1995 Karviná became the member of the national network of statutary towns in the Czech Republic.
Karviná is also an important cultural and educational center of the Polish minority in the Czech Republic.
Sport
Karviná as a multi-ethnic city of Cieszyn Silesia was a home to many football clubs, which were established by particular ethnic groups after World War I. At that time many football clubs of Polish, German, Czech and Jewish communities were founded. Most known and strongest Polish club was PKS Polonia Karwina founded in 1919. After World War II German and Jewish clubs were not re-established. Czech and Polish clubs still existed until 1950s, when as a part of communist unification of sport life in Czechoslovakia Czech clubs were joined to ZSJ OKD Mír Karviná and Polish Polonia Karwina incorporated into that club. Today, the only football club in the city is MFK Karviná, playing the second division.
Karviná is also home to successful handball club, HCB Karviná, which became twice Czechoslovak champions and nine times Czech champions. Other sport clubs in the city include ice hockey team SK Karviná, playing in the lower division; and the athletics club.
People
- Jaroslav Bába, Czech athlete
- Emanuel Grim, Polish Catholic priest and writer
- Louis Kentner, Hungarian pianist
- Eva Kurfürstová, Czech alpine skier
- Gustaw Morcinek, Polish writer
- Petra Němcová, Czech model
- Wacław Olszak, Polish mayor of Karviná (1929–1936)
- Wilhelm Przeczek, Polish writer
- Denisa Ščerbová, Czech athlete
- Radek Štěpánek, Czech tennis player
- Dana Zátopková, Czech athlete
International relations
Twin towns — Sister cities
Karviná is twinned with:[2]
References
- Cicha, Irena; Kazimierz Jaworski, Bronisław Ondraszek, Barbara Stalmach and Jan Stalmach (2000). Olza od pramene po ujście. Český Těšín: Region Silesia. ISBN 80-238-6081-X.
External links