The Václav Peřina Monument in Kožichovice

The Václav Peřina monument is a modest memorial mound tucked away in Lorenzovy Sady, on the cadastral territory of Kožichovice near Třebíč. It marks the spot where a pilot died in a tragic accident during an air show in 1931. The site sits well off the main tourist trails, but for anyone interested in aviation history or offbeat local landmarks, it's an unusual and atmospheric stop on a trip around the Třebíč area.

What happened here?

On 6 September 1931, Třebíč hosted an air show — a public display of aerobatics that drew crowds from across Czechoslovakia at the time. During the performance, pilot Václav Peřina, flying an Aero A-18 aircraft, lost control and struck the slope above the Kožichovice stream in Lorenzovy Sady at high speed. The plane burst into flames on impact, and Peřina died on the spot at around 4:30 pm. The crash shocked the local community and became one of the enduring symbols of the risks early sport aviation carried.

How was the monument created?

A year after the crash, in 1932, a mound was raised at the accident site — named Mohyla Václava Peřiny, or Václav Peřina's Mound, after the pilot. It was meant to permanently mark the place of the tragedy and remind later generations of the life lost in the pursuit of aviation. A propeller salvaged from Peřina's wrecked aircraft was originally mounted on top of the mound as a tangible relic of the event. Over the years, however, that propeller was stolen, a fate that befell many similar metal memorial fittings in the postwar decades. In 1978, as part of restoration work at the site, a new metal propeller was installed in its place.

Where exactly is the mound located?

The monument stands in Lorenzovy Sady, on a rise above the stream that runs through Kožichovice, close to the cadastral boundary with Třebíč. It's a secluded spot, partly wooded, away from any buildings or main roads. Reaching the mound isn't straightforward — a steep, unmarked path leads uphill to it, and part of the surrounding land is privately owned, which further limits easy access for visitors.

Who is this place for?

The Václav Peřina monument isn't built for mass tourism — it's better described as a memorial site visited by aviation history enthusiasts, local history buffs, and Třebíč residents wanting to learn about lesser-known chapters of their region's past. Its value lies in its authenticity and its direct connection to a specific, well-documented event from nearly a century ago, rather than in any developed infrastructure or signage.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Václav Peřina? He was a pilot who died in a plane crash during an aerobatics show in Třebíč on 6 September 1931, when his Aero A-18 aircraft struck the slope above the stream in Lorenzovy Sady.

When was the monument built? The mound was raised in 1932, a year after the accident, at the crash site itself.

What sits on top of the mound? A metal propeller — the current one dates from 1978 and replaced the original propeller from the wrecked aircraft, which was stolen.

Is the monument easy to reach? No — access is via a steep, uncomfortable uphill path, and part of the surrounding land is privately owned.

Where exactly is the mound? In Lorenzovy Sady, on the cadastral territory of Kožichovice, above the Kožichovice stream, close to the border with Třebíč.