Austerlitz – Castle, History and Castle Park

Austerlitz combines castle history, an important historic garden, protected urban architecture and various opportunities for active days. If you would like to combine culture with walks, golf or a day at the swimming pool, Slavkov u Brna offers several different ways to enrich your trip.

Slavkov–Austerlitz Castle and Napoleon

Slavkov–Austerlitz Castle has been declared a national cultural monument. The former stables house the permanent exhibition “Slavkov and Europe in the Age of the Napoleonic Wars”, which is open to visitors. It displays original personal belongings of Napoleon Bonaparte, including his personal sabre and a travel necessaire used by him before the Battle of Slavkov. The history of the castle itself is also part of Europe’s collective memory: an armistice was signed here on 6 December.

Historic Town Centre

The urban heritage conservation zone of Slavkov u Brna preserves the cultural-historical, architectural, urban-planning and natural values of the originally medieval and later modern historic town centre. The town hall was built in the Renaissance style, but has a Gothic core and is considered virtually the oldest building in the town. Panský dům is a Renaissance building with a Gothic core that was later altered in the Baroque and Neoclassical styles. Above its entrance, a Renaissance grille with floral and animal motifs and the coat of arms of the Kounic family has been preserved. Remains of the town walls can be found especially by the cemetery, near the former Clock Gate complex and at the castle garden; the town fortifications once included four town gates.

Chapels and Religious History

Notable ecclesiastical buildings include the Church of the Resurrection of the Lord, a late Baroque building by Jan Ferdinand Hetzendorf von Hohenberg. The Chapel of the Holy Cross in the castle was built during the final construction phase of Slavkov Castle under Václav Antonín Kounic. It closes off the southern wing of the castle and extends through all above-ground floors; it can be visited as part of the “Historic Halls” castle tour. The cemetery chapel of Saint John the Baptist “na Špitálce” stands on the site of a hospital built by the Teutonic Order in the 13th century. Its present form dates from 1743. Beneath the southern part of the chapel is the Kounic family crypt, built in 1795, with seven coffins; in 1890, it was confirmed that the mortal remains of Chancellor Václav Antonín Kounic lay beneath it.

Castle Park, Golf and Walking

The 15.5-hectare castle park of Slavkov u Brna is one of the most important historic gardens in Moravia. Admission is free. A six-hole practice golf course is available in the lower section. In addition, the Austerlitz Golf Resort in Slavkov u Brna operates an 18-hole golf course. There, you can play golf all day without being a member of a golf club and without proof of a handicap, for a small fee. For a walk around the town, the illustrated Slavkovský Špacírek is a good option. The walking guide leads to important sights and monuments and includes eleven stops.

Swimming Pool and Getting There

Koupaliště Slavkov has a 50-metre swimming pool, a non-swimmer pool and a children’s pool. Slavkov u Brna lies on the Brno–Veselí nad Moravou railway line. The railway station is approximately 1.3 km from Slavkov–Austerlitz Castle, providing a useful point of reference when planning your journey.

Compare More Destinations

If you would like to compare other destinations in addition to Austerlitz: Velešovice, Studnice, Lovčičky, Lysovice, Milešovice, Hoštice-Heroltice, Chvalkovice and Krasensko.

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