Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Prace

Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Prace is a small Roman Catholic church standing at the heart of the village of Prace, in the Brno-venkov District of the South Moravian Region. From the outside it looks like a typical rural Moravian parish church, but its tower once played a role in one of the most famous confrontations of the Napoleonic era — the Battle of Austerlitz, fought in December 1805 in the fields surrounding the village.

What is the history of the church in Prace?

A Romanesque church originally stood on this site, built around 1274. That early structure did not survive the turmoil of the Thirty Years' War and was eventually destroyed. On its foundations, between 1728 and 1730, the current Baroque, single-nave church was built, and it still dominates the village skyline today.

What is the church's connection to the Battle of Austerlitz?

The hill on which Prace sits, together with the surrounding fields, became the central point of the Battle of Austerlitz in December 1805 — one of the defining engagements of the Napoleonic Wars, fought between Napoleon's army and the combined forces of Russia and Austria. During the battle, the local church tower was used by Russian troops as an observation post to monitor enemy movements across the surrounding heights. French artillery fire struck the tower, damaging it so badly that it had to be rebuilt afterward; the replacement tower was lower than the original. This chapter of history still draws military-history enthusiasts and visitors exploring the nearby Austerlitz battlefield memorials.

What changes did the church undergo in later centuries?

The building continued to be expanded during peacetime as well. In 1884, a chapel and a sacristy were added, enlarging the church's usable space to meet the needs of a growing parish. Another significant stage in the building's history came in the early 1930s, when it underwent a thorough renovation.

Is the church protected as a heritage monument today?

Yes, the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Prace is listed as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic. This protection covers both the Baroque structure from 1728–1730 and the later 19th-century additions, which together document the successive stages of development of a rural South Moravian parish.

What should visitors look out for in Prace?

The church serves as a natural landmark for anyone exploring the area around the former Austerlitz battlefield (Czech: Slavkov u Brna). Its modest single-nave form and distinctive tower stand out in the village skyline, and its position on a hill that played a pivotal role in the battle gives the site a historical significance that goes beyond its religious architecture alone.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the church located? In the village of Prace, in the Brno-venkov District of the South Moravian Region, right next to the former Austerlitz battlefield.

When was the current church built? The present Baroque church was built between 1728 and 1730, on the site of an earlier Romanesque church from around 1274 that was destroyed during the Thirty Years' War.

What is the church's link to the Battle of Austerlitz? In 1805, its tower was used by Russian forces as an observation post and was damaged by French artillery fire; it was later rebuilt at a lower height.

Is the building a protected monument? Yes, the church is listed as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic.

Did the church change after that? Yes, a chapel and sacristy were added in 1884, and the building underwent a thorough renovation in the early 1930s.