Slavkov u Brna Live Cam

Slavkov near Brno, abroad known as Austerlitz, is situated about 22 km from Brno in South Moravia in the Czech Republic. It was established on the cross-roads of the trade pathways from Brno to Bucovice, Hodonin and Vyskov. At the end of the 12th century the Order of German Knights built a fortified residence there which belonged among the richest order’s estates in the Czech kingdom. Concerning tourism, Slavkov near Brno has advantageous position as a natural centre of its region. It is bounded by the „Historical Zone of Slavkov’s Battlefield" on the west and by the „Landscape park Zdanicky Forest" on the east. History is well balanced with culture and nature there. What is Slavkov like today and what it has got to offer, you can see for yourself on this page. We look forward to your visit.

Slavkov near Brno - abroad known as Austerlitz - entered the world history thanks to the Napoleonic battle. Its chateau plays an important role in the history of art in Central Europe because it is well-preserved and has a valuable interior. Slavkov was established on the cross-roads of the trade pathways from Brno to Bucovice, Hodonin and Vyskov. It was owned by the king but at the end of the 12th century it was given to the Order of German Knights who built their fortified residence there. They administered the area, which belonged among the richest order’s estates, until its confiscation by Czech king Zigmund Luxembourg (in the 15th century). The settlement expanding around the castle was granted the town seal and its own emblem (the oldest preserved in the Czech Republic) by king Wenceslas IV.

The town’s appearance was radically changed at the turn of the 16th and 17th century. The Gothic style of architecture was replaced by the Renaissance one which can still be seen on some houses with portals and entrance halls arched by reticulated vaulting especially in the square. The chateau complex was completed during the Baroque period according to the project of Domenica Martinelliho from Luccy (1650 - 1718). It was constructed in three building stages and finished under duke Wenceslas Kounic-Rietberg in 1769. More then 60 years of its construction greatly influenced the interiors, which represent an Italian noble life style from early Baroque to Classicism.

Kounics’ social and political ambitions together with their good taste for art helped them to make their chateau a unique example of Central Europe, Flemish and Italian art schools in the mid 18th century. Their gallery was the most frequently visited one and therefore the most affluent in Europe of that time. Unfortunately, the collections were severely damaged during the Napoleonic Wars and as a result of big fire in 1897. Nevertheless, some outstanding works of fine art from 17th and 18th centuries can be seen in the chateau opened to the public now.

The town’s built-up areas are supplemented with nice tree alleys which create town’s specific character. Significant state and conference minister Vaclav Antonin Dominik, who worked for duke Kounic-Rietberg (1711 - 1794), attracted the attention of the ruling family - the Habsburgs - to Slavkov’s chateau and deserves credit for making it known in Central Europe. The French emperor Napoleon I. stayed in the chateau in 1805 and his proclamations after the Slavkov Battle made Slavkov (called Austerlitz then) renown all over the world.

Location: the Czech Republic, Southeast Moravia

The landscape park „Zdanicky forest" is placed in the hills of the same name near the river Litava. It has a varied landscape; there are patches of forests, pasture-lands, orchards, meadows and occasional clusters of trees and bushes. The varied landscape offers varied flora and fauna. The ridges of Zdanicky forest are covered with deciduous forests - hornbeam groves including other deciduous trees and conifers scattered here and there. Beech forests can be found higher up. The slopes of ridges projecting onto the valley provide the shelter to many botanical valuable and interesting plants. The original forest, the fact that the area is rich in plants, animals and micro-organisms as well as special places suitable for amphibian’s multiplying are the motive for protection of this national landscape park. Many protected, rare plant species grow here for example orchids.

There are an excellent conditions for cycling, especially in the forest where the whole network of paths guarantees access to various places of interest (cars are forbidden). They consist of asphalt roads, ordinary roads and paths. Board, accommodation and other services offered attract also tourists on foot. The visitor to landscape park can see botanical, zoological and geological places of interest. The area has also very interesting ethnography. The ridges of Zdanicky forest form a natural border between Moravian Slovacko and Little Hana. There are many archaeological finding-places and historical places of interest.

Bucovice offers a Renaissance castle with a beautiful arcade courtyard on which 96 stone columns stand, a Baroque fountain 8 m high chiselled out of one piece of stone in 1607.

Zdanice is situated on the south slopes of Zdanicky forest, surrounded by vineyards, orchards, meadows with rare plants and well-preserved forests. There are a nice little castle, museum, astronomical observatory, chain of various shops, services and plenty of opportunities to get bed and board there. The area of Landscape Park Zdanicky Forest is adjacent to a Zone Of Historical Interest Slavkov Battle Field, and together they make an interesting complex.

The chateau - Slavkov near Brno

Slavkov entered the world history thanks to the Napoleonic battle while the chateau took an important place in the history of art in Central Europe because of its cultural value. The architecture of the chateau complex together with its interiors reflect not only the development of art styles from Baroque to Classicism but also typical feudal lifestyle. Moreover, Slavkov chateau is considered to be a brilliant example of social status, diplomatic and political roles which its founders - the Kounic family - held over a few generations. They were one of many important families which created history of Austrian monarchy and their residence shows how sophisticated taste for art they had.

Literature of facts

The literature of facts documentary centre was set up in the Historical Museum in Slavkov near Brno in 1989 as the first and the only centre of its kind in the Czech Republic. It is placed on the second floor of Slavkov’s castle. It is opened to the public from Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and to scholars on Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 a.m.

The centre has gathering and documentary character. It collects, compiles, saves and makes available information and materials which have something to do with the literature of facts concerning the Czech territories. It also gathers documents about authors who are devoted to this theme and informs the public about their writings in form of books and magazine articles.

Book catalogue, personal authors catalogue, card-index of annotated bibliographical sources, writers correspondence, newspaper and magazine cuttings, off-prints and literary inheritance, which are all connected with the literature of facts, are available to scholars.

At the beginning of 1997, the documentary centre had 102 Czech and Slovac literature of facts authors registered, possessed 600 volumes of this genre, 70 volumes of bibliographical notes and 5 volumes of literature of facts edition series.

The centre is closely linked with the Literature of Facts Authors’ Club, which was set up in Slavkov castle in 1984 on M.A. Miroslav Ivanov’s initiative.

Annual meetings of literature of facts authors, which have professional as well as social orientation, take place in Slavkov in September since 1985. Their significance has been increased by awarding a prestigious prize of E.E.Kirsch for publishing lately. A nice reminder of these meetings are graphic sheets of our top painters and illustrators such as Milan Albich, Adolf Born, Zdena Burgetova, Karel Chaba, Josef Istler and others.

The literature of facts documentary centre has as the main aim to spread its activities abroad and include also foreign authors which would make Slavkov near Brno the Europe database of literature of facts.

Literature of facts and Slavkov near Brno

The significance of these meetings, which are the base for professional and social contact of people with the same literary orientation, has continuously been increasing. Eight years ago the strong need for stable documentary and study background was felt. Consequently in 1989 the literature of facts documentary centre was opened in Historical Museum which is placed in Slavkov’s castle. The centre co-operates with Literature of Facts Authors’ Club situated in Prague. The club, whose president is M.A. Miroslav Ivanov since its establishment, is also a collective member of literary association called Community of Czech Writers. Club’s board meets in Prague although on few occasions the meeting’s place had to be changed due to circumstances. Apart from little changes the board works in its original form.

The centre is a place of documentary and gathering character and serves to scholars and people interested in literature of facts. It provides only reference services with the exception of books which can be borrowed home. Its main function is to collect, compile, save and make available information and materials which have something to do with the literature of facts concerning the Czech territories. It also gathers documents about authors who are devoted to this theme and informs the public about their writings in form of books and magazine articles. The gathered documents form the basis of book catalogues, authors catalogue of newspaper and magazine cuttings (it includes 102 names, 1150 articles), personal authors card-index with annotated notes, general bibliographical card-index, writers correspondence, a fund of off-prints, documentation from individual meetings of literature of facts authors and last but not the least literary inheritance from significant writers. The library consists of 600 volumes of literature of facts; mostly of Czech origin. Literature of facts edition series includes 5 volumes published so far and reference library has 70 volumes of bibliographical notes.

The names of Czech literature of facts (LF) authors can be found in „The Club of LF Authors’ Dictionary". This dictionary came out in April 1996 and includes 56 authors with brief bibliography of their work. Its intended additional edition should include names of new authors who joined the Club and new works of all members. The intention of the Documentary Centre is to register all writings and materials concerning this live, very much in demand genre, develop co-operation with the Club of LF authors, gradually extend its activities abroad and include also foreign authors which would make Slavkov Documentation Centre the Europe database of literature of facts now and as well as in the future.

European historical re-enactment network

The European Historical Re-enactment Network (EHRN) was founded in September 1998 in Spetses. The whole idea and initiative was conceived at the Municipal Development Enterprise of Spetses in February 1998 with the unanimous support of the Municipal Council, which granted to the corporation the entire responsibility of representing the Municipality in the Network's activities. In September 1998, the Municipality of Spetses invited a number of Municipalities from eight European countries, aiming toward the foundation of the Network and the drawing up of the foundation declaration and the formation of the initial activities program. By unanimous decision of the nine attending Municipalities, the founding proclamation was approved, which expresses the purposes of forming the Network, which were:

• The preservation and promotion of the European historical heritage.
• Contributing to the ideal of European integration.
• The promotion of the mutual understanding of the European cultures and the consciousness of their common characteristics, through the development of tourism, information technology, educational and cultural exchanges.

On the basis of the above-mentioned purposes, the municipalities that participated in the founding symposium agreed that their activities should centre on the following aims:

• To establish a framework for a permanent form of communication and co-operation.
• To establish an annual program of initiatives in sectors such as education, tourism, conferences, exhibitions, productions, etc.
• To publicise the aims, objectives, initiatives and actions of the Network throughout Europe by means of information technology.
• To jointly submit applications to participate in the programs of the European Union that cover one or more of the objectives of the Network.
• To seek the enlargement of the Network with other cities, towns and regions who subscribe to the objectives of the Network.

In October 1998, a meeting of the Municipalities in the Network took place in Brussels, with the purpose of drawing up the Charter and of establishing the process for the official and legal validation of its functions.

Following the approval of the charter, the Network proceeded to a series of promotional actions of its activities and the strengthening of ties between its members.

In the intervening time, two more municipalities were added to the network, apart from its founding members. (Brussels, Belgium, and Bailen, Spain).

Today, the network comprises eight towns (two are capital cities of European Union countries) from six European countries.

The towns are: Brussels (Belgium), Dublin & Cork (Ireland), Bailen (Spain), Spetses & Hydra (Greece), Tewkesbury (U.K.), and Slavkov-Austerlitz (Czech Republic).

In February 2000, the official presentation of the Network to European Union representatives took lace in Brussels.

The significant support and assistance on behalf of the responsible departments of the E.U. are a token of actual recognition of the activities of the Network to date, and create auspicious conditions for its future development.

To date, two General Assemblies have taken place. (The Presidency is rotated every General Assembly). In chronological order, the Presidency of the Network has been held by Spetses (1998-99), Cork (1999-2000), and Bailen (2000-2001).

In the Chapter titled "Today…" you may get information regarding the Networks immediate activities.