KOPŘIVNICE

The town of Koprivnice is situated in the eastern part of the Novy Jicin district at the foothills of the Radhost – Beskydy Mountains on the small stream Koprivnicka. The town becomes its special character from the three hills – Cerveny kamen {728 meters – Red Stone}, Bila Hora {557 meters – White Hill} and Kotouc {324 meters - Disc}.

The area was populated probably as early as the Older Age Stone. However, the beginning of the Koprivnice history goes back to the second half of 13^th century when the castle Schauenstein {coll. Sostyn} was built about 1.5 kilometers {one mile} away from the today’s center of the town.

The township Koprivnice, which originated as a settlement round this castle, had maintained its rural character for a long time. It began to expand after 1850 when a saddler Ignac Sustala began here – at his hereditary bailiff – house – the first handmade production of road carriages, later also of equipages. The workshop grew into factory, in 1882 the firm – already renamed to Sustala and Company – launched the production of railway wagons and in 1897 the first automobile in the then Austro-Hungarian Monarchy called Präsident was built in the and lorries.  In the past Koprivnice also became famous for the production of delightful faience – Koprivnice majolica and earthenware – when in 1812 Jan Raska had founded here a factory producing chinaware. Early in 20^th century Koprivnice became a market town and in 1948 it was raised to the rank of town and since then it has belonged to the youngest towns in the area.  

The present Koprivnice is one of the most significant towns in the Novy Jicin district having pronounced industrial character and gradually developing additional fields producing conditions for a comfortable life of its inhabitants and visitors.

Its dominant feature is the Tatra Stock – Joint Company producing lorries, which have won leading placing in world competitions such as Rally Paris – Dakar. A typical urban factor is the morn house building in the center and in the outskirt housing estates. This demonstrates the development of the town, which passed through the arrival of new employees for the Tatra Company.

Tourists can visit two museums at Koprivnice. At the Tatra Technical Museum, you will find the replica of the Präsident together with other Tatra make cars and lorries produced in Koprivnice since 1897 until the present times. This museum was moved to new exhibition premises in the town center in October 1997. In front of the building, there is laid open the boast of strela {Slovakian Shot}. A Hall of Glory for the Olympic champions Dana and Emil Zátopek has also been established within the museum building.

The second museum in Koprivnice – Museum Fojtstvi {the Bailiff – House - Museum} is situated in the Ignac Sustala parental house where you can find a permanent exposition dedicated to Ignac Sustala and some other prominent fellow countrymen, further and exposition of archeology and ethnography. A genuine jewel among the archeological exhibits is the bronze treasure from the middle of 8^th century B.C. and the so-called Sostyn Venus from the early 14^th century found at the Sostyn castle. The attic part of the building has been restructured into an exhibition room and in the former bailiff’s barn; there are exposed samples of road carriages and britzkas produced in the first Sustala’s workshop. The adjacent area of the old cemetery incorporating the Sustala’s family chapel is also touristicly interesting.

One of the most interesting sights at Koprivnice is the earlier mentioned ruin of the gothic castle Sostyn from the middle of 13^th century and the St. Bartholomew Church built in the pseudogothic style in 1894.

Koprivnice is also the birthplace of several prominent personalities. Let us remember at least the Olympic champions Zdenka Vermirovska and Emil Zatopek, the world famous painter and illustrator Zdenek Burian or the racing driver Josef Vermirovsky.

Cultural and social activities take place in the House of Culture, Catholic House, Puppet Theatre, rock-club Nora Café and in the movie theatre Puls.

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