Ráj (Polish: Raj, German: Roj, lit. paradise) is a district of the city of Karviná in Karviná District, Moravian-Silesian Region, Czech Republic. It was a separate municipality but in 1948 became administratively a part of the city of Karviná.
It lies in the historical region of Cieszyn Silesia and was first mentioned in a written document in 1447 as Ray. It has a population of 17,142 (2001).[1]
The hospital is located there, as well as the football field, home of the local team MFK Karviná. In the past a Renaissance château was located in Ráj. It was built in 1563-1570 together with the surrounding park. In the 1750s the château was reconstructed to the Baroque style and remained so until its destruction. In 1899 the château was bought by the local wealthy Larisch-Mönnich family, who owned it until 1945. After World War II it was confiscated, and after communist takover of power in Czechoslovakia it passed to the coal company, who used it as the dormitory for miners. In 1955 a hospital was relocated there. The château dilapidated quickly and the hospital was forced to leave the building in 1968. Communist authorities neglected the landmark and finally it was demolished in 1980.
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