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Ostrava is situated at an altitude of 220 m on the river Ostravica (Ostrawitza) near its mouth into the river Odra (Oder). Moravská Ostrava (Mährisch-Ostrau) on the left bank of the Ostravica river had been mentioned first in 1267, Slezká Ostrava (Schlesisch-Ostrau) on the other side of the river already had been mentioned in 1229. (Moravská) Ostrava was located in a favourable location, on the so-called Amber Road, the ancient trading route leading from the Baltic see through Central Europe down to the Mediterranean Sea.

The discovery in 1763/67 of hard coal (lignite) in Slezká Ostrava was of crucial importance. Systematic coal mining was started in 1780 and was the basis for the industrial development of Ostrava during the 19th century. One of the oldest iron-working factories was opened in Vítkovice (Witkowitz) in 1829. When Ostrava was connected to the railroad Kaiser-Ferdinand-Nordbahn in 1846/47 (see also Bohumín), the station was built in Přívoz (Oderfurt, see below). Ostrava became the busiest railroad junction of the Austrian Monarchy. The mining, metallurgy, machining and chemical industries earned Ostrava the nickname 'Black Ostrava'.

In 1974–1976, 33 of the surrounding villages and communities, including Vítkovice and Slezká Ostrava, became part of Ostrava. Coal mining was terminated in 1994. Today, Ostrava is the administrative seat of the Moravskoslezký (Ostravský) region. With a population of about 320,000 inhabitants it is the third-largest city in the Czech Republic.

The picture on the glass box no.828 [left] shows the old Bahnhofstraße (Nádražní ulice, Station Street).

Glass no.1817 [left] shows the avenue Třída Československých legií (Avenue of the Czechslovak legions).