Pracký kopec

Pracký kopec is a modest hill next to the village of Prace in South Moravia, roughly 15 km east of Brno. Today it looks like quiet farmland and woods, but this rise was the decisive ground of the Battle of Austerlitz on 2 December 1805, also remembered as the Battle of the Three Emperors. On its summit stands the Mohyla míru (Cairn of Peace), one of the most recognizable monuments to military history in Central Europe.

What will you see on the hill?

The centerpiece is the Mohyla míru, a stone monument shaped like a truncated pyramid, about 26 metres tall, built between 1910 and 1912. It was designed by architect Josef Fanta, with sculptural work by František Anýž and Čeněk Vosmík. A globe topped with a cross of joined arms — a symbol of reconciliation — crowns the structure. Inside is a small chapel with a marble altar, and beneath the floor lies an ossuary holding the remains of soldiers recovered from the old battlefield. Next to the monument stands a museum pavilion with the permanent exhibition "Fenomén Austerlitz" (Phenomenon Austerlitz), expanded between 2006 and 2010, which traces the course of the 1805 campaign and the fates of soldiers from all three armies.

Why does this hill matter historically?

The Pratzen Heights were the pivotal terrain of the battle fought on 2 December 1805 between Napoleon's army and the combined Russian-Austrian forces. Around eleven in the morning, the French IV Corps broke through the allied center here, a move that decided the outcome of the battle and secured one of Napoleon's greatest victories. The monument itself was raised at the initiative of a Brno priest, Alois Slovák, and conceived as the first peace memorial in Europe — meant not to celebrate the victors, but to honor the fallen of all three armies who fought on these slopes.

How do you get to Pracký kopec?

The hill sits about a kilometre south of the village of Prace, close to the town of Slavkov u Brna (historically Austerlitz). The easiest way to reach it is by car or bicycle — the drive from Brno takes under 20 minutes. The site forms part of a wider protected battlefield landscape, crossed by a marked trail linking several monuments and memorial points from the 1805 campaign. It's a popular route for walkers and cyclists who want to combine history with views over the Moravian countryside.

When is the best time to visit?

The hill and the grounds around the monument are open all year, but the museum pavilion keeps seasonal opening hours, so it's worth checking before a visit if seeing the interior matters to you. Spring and autumn are the most rewarding seasons for a walk here, when the surrounding fields turn green or golden and the views are at their best. The monument draws around 30,000 visitors a year, with a noticeable spike around the anniversary of the battle in early December, when historical re-enactments are held in the region.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Mohyla míru? It is a stone monument shaped like a truncated pyramid, built between 1910 and 1912 on Pracký kopec to commemorate those who fell at the Battle of Austerlitz. It is considered the first peace monument in Europe.

Why is this site historically significant? On 2 December 1805, the French IV Corps broke through the center of the Russian-Austrian line here, deciding the outcome of the Battle of Austerlitz — one of Napoleon's greatest victories.

Is there anything to see inside the monument? Yes — a chapel with a marble altar, and an ossuary holding the remains of soldiers found on the former battlefield.

How far is Pracký kopec from Brno? The hill lies about 15 km east of Brno, near the town of Slavkov u Brna, and can be reached by car in around 20 minutes.