The new embankment in Olomouc came to life with music and was named after Rector Jařab

Olomouc - The new riverbank by the Morava River near the center of Olomouc came alive today for the first time with music, food stalls, and a cultural program, where just recently the only sound heard was the clatter of construction machinery working on flood protection measures. More than a hundred people attended the ceremonial opening of the riverbank, named after the first post-November rector of Palacký University, Josef Jařab. For the public, there is a accompanying program and excursions by the tourist boat Ololodí available throughout the day until the evening, and there should be plenty of activity on the riverbank in the following weekends as well. The riverbank plays an important role in flood protection for Olomouc, and during normal water levels of the Morava River, it will serve as a recreational area.

The section of the riverbank on the right bank of the Morava River from the bridge near Bristol to the bridge on Kosmonautů Avenue was named after Jařab. "We recently lost a significant figure of the post-revolutionary life of the city and the university, former rector, Professor Josef Jařab. Therefore, we decided to name this place after him – The Riverbank of Josef Jařab. We all certainly wished to address this situation much later. However, the newly created riverbank and the continuing bank up to the bridge at Kosmonautů Avenue offer a dignified place through which Professor Jařab will continue to remain a part of the city," said Mayor Miroslav Žbánek (ANO). Jařab passed away at the beginning of May at the age of 85.

By the end of this year, the city hall will check the interest of the public as well as operators of food and cultural events regarding the riverbank, over which two new bridges are arching at Komenského and Masarykova streets. "If operators of food stalls are interested in renting space at the riverbank, they can fill out a land lease application, which they can find on our website," stated Karin Vykydalová, the head of the cultural and tourism department at the Olomouc city hall.

According to the deputy mayor Viktor Tichák (ProOlomouc and Pirates), some stallholders have already requested to use the space on the riverbank for the entire summer season. "We have demand until the end of August, so there will definitely be something happening here on the weekends. How well it will succeed and whether it will inspire other stallholders is yet to be seen," he remarked. He pointed out that the riverbank is in a flood area, so it is subject to a special operating regime. Stalls and furniture must be cleared by 10 PM each day. In the event of increased water levels and threatening flood alerts, the riverbank will be completely closed.

The riverbank is 370 meters long and 12 meters wide. It is paved with granite stone, which is resistant to flood flows. The riverbank is part of flood protection measures. Their construction near the center of Olomouc began in the spring of 2018 and cost 730 million crowns. The investment included the construction of two bridges on Komenského Street and Masarykova Avenue, the construction of dikes and flood walls, as well as the widening of the Morava River bed and the banks.