| Ostrava is the largest city in North Moravia and the administrative centre of the region. The first records of settlement date from the 13th century, when the so-called Amber Route, an important trade artery, led through the area from the Baltic coast to the Mediterranean. The settlement started to develop quickly in the 18th century, when high quality black coal deposits were discovered, and the fastest industrial and population growth occurred in the 20th century.
Since 1989 the city's face has changed radically. Ostrava has become an important cultural, trade and sporting centre. Coal mining within the city was stopped in 1994.
Ostrava's fiscal stability is attested by the "A" rating granted to the city by Standard & Poor's. The last few years have also seen a rapid growth in tourist potential, helped by the city's favourable location close to the Polish and Slovak borders, its wealth of unique industrial architecture and other sights, the rich historical and cultural heritage of the region and the sporting opportunities offered by the nearby mountains and countryside.
In terms of population, Ostrava is the Czech Republic's third city, and in terms of total area its second city. It is an important transport centre, with a highly developed public transport network, five railway stations and an international airport at Mošnov. The city's two universities (the VŠB Technical University and the University of Ostrava) have a combined total of over 15 000 students.
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