Šanov – Aviation History and Trails in the White Carpathians

Šanov lies in a basin below the ridge of the White Carpathians, on the border between Moravia and Slovakia. The village combines a distinctive landscape with traces of aviation history and several routes through the surrounding area. If you are looking for accommodation in Šanov, you will be choosing a base from which to combine culture, hiking, cycling and regional discoveries.

Memories of the air battle and distinctive works of art

An important part of the village’s history is the air battle over the White Carpathians in 1944. An American B-17G bomber was shot down over Šanov, and nine airmen lost their lives. In the centre, a monument commemorates the airmen as well as the victims of the First and Second World Wars. A station on the Bojkovická educational trail also provides information about Šanov and its memorial trees.

The “Letecká bitva nad Bílými Karpaty” Museum displays parts of downed American bombers, documents, and the equipment of pilots and crews. Visits are possible by prior arrangement. In the forest above Šanov, the “Letecké srdce” sculpture stands at the site where the aircraft crashed. Sculptor Jaroslav Koléšek created it in 2002. The “Po stopách letecké bitvy o Bílé Karpaty” themed educational trail also includes the “Big Time” monument.

Hiking trails with different route options

For route planning, the Bojkovická educational trail offers two options: the long circular route is 24 km long, while the short circular route is 16 km. The trail runs from Bojkovice railway station via Pitín, Hostětín and Šanov to the “Na koncích” border ridge at an elevation of 652 m. This allows you to explore the area either on a longer circular route or along a route passing through several villages and ending at a precisely designated destination.

Blue- and green-marked hiking trails lead from Šanov. The green-marked trail runs from the village centre past a 19th-century half-timbered barn and the “Letecká bitva nad Bílými Karpaty” Museum. One hiking route also passes a viewpoint overlooking the Vizovice Hills. Those who want to combine historical and landscape impressions will find various points of interest along the trails, without separating the village’s history from the experience of its landscape.

The signposted themes extend beyond Šanov as well. One route connects 15 wooden sculptures distributed across the cadastral areas of Hostětín, Pitín, Šanov and Rokytnice. The “Po stopách letecké bitvy o Bílé Karpaty” educational trail runs through the Bojkovsko and Slavičínsko microregions and partly through Slovak territory. The Šanov–Horná Súča tourist route leads through Šanov, over the ridge of the White Carpathians, and connects Tenčín and its surroundings with the Bojkovsko microregion at a short distance.

Rest area, farm and seasonal attractions

At the edge of Šanov lies Na Mlýně, a family-run rest area located directly on the Stezka Českem and popular cycling routes. Refreshments made from local ingredients are served there. School groups can tour the entire grounds, and children can feed the sheep and llamas. This stop complements the hiking and cycling experiences with a tangible stay in the local surroundings.

Šanov also has a ski slope that depends on natural snow. Information about operating hours is available on the municipality’s website. If you are planning a winter activity, you should take this seasonal note into account when choosing your accommodation and excursions.

Other places in the surrounding area

For further orientation, you can also compare Machová, Velký Ořechov, Všemina, Valašské Klobouky, Zlin, Bratřejov, Veselá as well as Újezd and Valašských Klobouk.

For the higher-level travel overview: Zlín District.