The town of Kopřivnice lies in Czechia's north-eastern corner not far from Nový Jičín. The natural coordinates are the Kopřivnička rivulet and the Radhošťské Beskydy piedmont. It is characteristic for the three peaks around: the Červený Kámen (728 m), the Bílá Hora (557 m), and the Kotouč (324 m). The settlement emerged in the mid l3th century around the Schauenstein (or, Šostýn) Castle. The oldest written testimony dates back to 1382. The consolidated population (including Mniší, Vlčovice, and Lubina) is 24,000. Kopřivnice's fame is linked with the TATRA truck and car factory foundcd back in 1850. That year, Ignác Šustala took up the manufacturing of light, horse-drawn buggies and coaches. The rooms are now housing the Bailiwick Museum with a pennanent exhibition devoted to Šustala and with other archaeological and ethnographic exhibitions. The first shops of the future TATRA factory were erected in 1853 by Šustala, and the"Präsident", the first car ever built in the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, roared out of the gate in 1897. A replica is shown among many other TATRA vehicles in the Technical Museum. Another part of the Museum shows local ceramics, majolica, and memories of famous natives. Let us name three: Zdeněk Burian, the painter who illustrated works on primeval fauna and nature; Emil Zátopek, the runner and holder of five Olympic gold medals; and Josef Veřmiřovský, the car racer. The list indicates how important a role sports and physical fitness are playing in. Kopřivnice's life style. Sports facilities (outdoor and indoor swimming-pools, summer and winter stadiums, a ski-lift, and many more) are open to anybody all year round. Moreover, Kopřivnice's geographical situation is as if predestined for walks and long hiking trips to admire the forests and natural scenic sights of the Beskids.

The Bailiwick Museum

T. G. Masaryk Square with the St Bartholomew's Church

Town centre with the Magistrate