Where Old Stories Come Back to Life

The Napoleon trail cannot be missed and it takes you from the railway station in Šlapanice to Ponětovice. The hill in Prace is a short walk from here. The Cairn of Peace – the first peace memorial in Europe – was erected on the hill in memory of all victims of the Battle of Austerlitz (known as Slavkov in Czech). The museum in the vicinity of the cairn offers the multimedia exhibitions “The Battle of the Three Emperors” and “Austerlitz Phenomenon”. Don’t worry, this is not a traditional display of dates and facts, you can expect a moving and extraordinary experience! The whole building is a centre for many memorial activities, as it is located approximately in the middle of the former battlefield.

From Prace, bike trail 5097 leads through a landscape of scenic views to the Zlatá Hora hill. The ancient Reconciliation Cross and Krchůvek – the last resting place of thousands of fallen soldiers – call for peace among all. In Křenovice is a statue of Marshal Kutuzov, who was Napoleon’s Russian adversary.

The trail will take you to Slavkov. Replenish your energy levels! In the Slavkov brewery, where beer is brewed in front of guests’ eyes in the heart of the restaurant or at the U Tří Císařů (At the Three Emperors) confectionery, where artisanal desserts make mouths water. You are already expected by the Baroque jewel of the Slavkov Chateau, which was successively used by all the three military leaders for overnight lodgings in 1805. In addition to the magnificent interiors, you can also admire the vast gardens built in the Parisian style, which are freely accessible to the public.

Just like Slavkov, the nearby town of Bučovice relives its past every year as well – the chateau was defended by a handful of townspeople against Swedish troops in 1645.