Slavkov Castle in Slavkov u Brna

Slavkov Castle is one of the grandest Baroque palace complexes in Moravia and a national monument of the Czech Republic, best known as the place where the Battle of Austerlitz (the Battle of the Three Emperors) concluded in 1805. The former seat of the Kaunitz family now serves as a heritage site, museum, and venue for concerts and exhibitions.

Where did this palace come from, and who built it?

The first fortress on this site was raised by the Teutonic Knights in the early 13th century. In the early 16th century the estate passed to the Moravian noble house of Kaunitz, who rebuilt it in Renaissance style. The push for a Baroque rebuild came at the end of the 17th century from Dominik Ondřej Kounic, and construction of the present-day palace, with 115 rooms, began in 1696 to a design by the Italian architect Domenico Martinelli. The finishing work was only completed more than fifty years later, under Prince Wenzel Anton of Kaunitz-Rietberg.

What makes the Historical Hall so distinctive?

At the heart of the castle is the oval Historical Hall, completed in the 1760s and decorated with illusionistic wall paintings by Josef Pichler. The room was built with a particular acoustic effect in mind: groups of people standing close together could not overhear each other's conversations, which mattered greatly during sensitive political negotiations. It was here, on 6 December 1805, that a truce between Austria and France was signed following the Battle of Austerlitz.

What role did the castle play in 1805?

The town rose to international prominence during the War of the Third Coalition, when the strategically decisive Battle of the Three Emperors was fought just west of Slavkov and Brno. The armies of France, Austria and Russia clashed there, with their rulers present in person — Napoleon I, Emperor Francis I of Austria, and Tsar Alexander I of Russia. The signing of the truce in the castle's Historical Hall permanently tied the building to one of the pivotal moments of European military and diplomatic history.

What can visitors see inside today?

Almost the entire first floor of the castle is open to the public. It houses part of the once-extensive Kaunitz gallery, whose origins date back to the first half of the 17th century. The interiors are filled with frescoes, stucco work, sculpture and paintings, with the Hall of Ancestors, the Rubens Hall and the Chapel of the Holy Cross counting among the most notable rooms.

Why does the castle hold national monument status?

Slavkov Castle is listed as a national monument of the Czech Republic, a status that reflects its importance both as an example of Baroque residential architecture and as a site tied to events of European historical significance. The complex stands in the town of Slavkov u Brna, in Moravia, close to Brno.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Slavkov Castle located? In the town of Slavkov u Brna in Moravia, Czech Republic, right next to Brno.

Who built the present-day castle, and when? Construction of the current 115-room palace, designed by Domenico Martinelli, began in 1696 at the initiative of the Kaunitz family, with finishing work continuing for more than fifty years.

What happened in the castle's Historical Hall? On 6 December 1805, following the Battle of Austerlitz, a truce between Austria and France was signed there.

Why does the 1805 Battle of Austerlitz matter so much? It was the decisive battle of the War of the Third Coalition, personally commanded by Napoleon I, Francis I and Alexander I, and its outcome shaped the course of the Napoleonic Wars.

What protected status does the castle have? It is registered as a national monument of the Czech Republic.