About this place
The Monument to General Valhubert stands beside the road connecting route II/130 with the village of Tvarožná in South Moravia, Czech Republic, right in the heart of the Austerlitz battlefield. A stone obelisk topped with a bronze plaque commemorates a French general who fell in this area during one of the most famous battles of the Napoleonic era.
Who was General Valhubert?
Jean-Marie Mellon Roger Valhubert was a French brigadier general in Napoleon's army, born on 22 October 1764 in Avranches, Normandy. During the Battle of Austerlitz (the Battle of the Three Emperors) on 2 December 1805, he was gravely wounded near what is now Tvarožná: a shell fragment shattered his leg, and he fell, unable to get up until soldiers came to his aid. He died of his injuries a few days later, on 3 December 1805, in Brno (then known as Brünn) — the only French general to die in that city. He was originally buried in Brno's municipal cemetery, on the site now occupied by the Tyršův sad park.
How and when was the monument built?
The monument was unveiled on 24 November 2000, on the eve of the 195th anniversary of the Battle of Austerlitz. It was funded by the municipality of Tvarožná, as recorded in the inscription on its base: "FUNDED BY THE MUNICIPALITY OF TVAROŽNÁ / 24.11.2000." The centerpiece is a stone obelisk fitted with a bronze plaque — an enlarged casting of one side of a commemorative medal bearing the general's portrait, designed by artist Milada Othová.
What can visitors see at the site?
A linden tree was planted next to the monument in 2004 and now shades the small, grassy memorial plot. Three flagpoles stand alongside it, flying the flags of the Czech Republic, the European Union, and the municipality of Tvarožná. Together they form a modest but well-kept memorial site, typical of the many commemorative points scattered across the Austerlitz battlefield around Tvarožná, Prace, and Santon hill.
Why does this site matter to local history?
Tvarožná lay at the very center of the fighting on 2 December 1805 — some of the fiercest clashes of the battle, in which Napoleon's army defeated the combined Austrian and Russian forces, took place in and around this village. The Valhubert monument is one of more than a dozen memorial sites along the so-called Austerlitz battlefield trail, which also includes Santon hill, the Cairn of Peace, and numerous chapels and crosses honoring the dead from both sides of the conflict.
How do you get to the monument?
The monument stands beside the road linking route II/130 with the center of Tvarožná, close to the road toward Jiříkovice. It makes a convenient stop for anyone touring the Austerlitz battlefield by car or bicycle, with several other memorials tied to the events of December 1805 located nearby.
Frequently asked questions
Where exactly is the Valhubert monument located?
Beside the road connecting route II/130 with the village of Tvarožná in South Moravia, near the road toward Jiříkovice.
When was the monument unveiled?
On 24 November 2000, ahead of the 195th anniversary of the Battle of Austerlitz.
Who was General Valhubert?
A French brigadier general fatally wounded during the Battle of Austerlitz on 2 December 1805, who died a few days later in Brno.
Who paid for the monument?
The municipality of Tvarožná, as noted in the inscription on the obelisk's base.
What does the plaque on the monument depict?
A bronze plaque cast as an enlarged version of a commemorative medal bearing the general's portrait, designed by artist Milada Othová.
Are there other Austerlitz battle sites nearby?
Yes, the area around Tvarožná, Prace, and Santon hill is dotted with monuments, chapels, and crosses commemorating the 1805 battle.
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