Vzpomínka padlým a zemřelým vojákům

Vzpomínka padlým a zemřelým vojákům ("Remembrance of the Fallen and Deceased Soldiers") is a small war memorial in Hostěnice, a village on the edge of the Moravian Karst, a short drive northeast of Brno. It honors villagers who died in the First World War, and later came to commemorate victims of the Second World War as well.

Where is it located?

The memorial stands in front of the local school building in Hostěnice, making it an easy landmark for anyone passing through the village on foot or by bike. Hostěnice itself lies in the Brno-venkov district of the South Moravian Region, roughly 18 km from Brno, in a hilly, heavily forested area bordering the Říčky nature park and the protected Moravian Karst landscape area. A marked hiking trail and several cycling routes pass through the village, connecting it both to the Moravian Karst and, to the south, to the historic battlefield of Austerlitz (Slavkov u Brna).

What does the memorial show?

The inscription reads "1914–1918 V upomínku padlým a zemřelým vojínům" ("1914–1918, in memory of the fallen and deceased soldiers"), followed by the names of twelve villagers who did not return from the war: Jan Boudný, Fr. Motal, Fr. Gric, Jos. Mesrle, Ant. Hloušek, Jan Pitrák, Ant. Hájek, Ant. Paděra, Jos. Hájek, Balt. Říčánek, Rud. Hájek and Fr. Říčánek. Two surnames appear twice on the list (Hájek, Říčánek), a reminder that in a village this size, the war often claimed more than one man from the same family. The memorial follows a pattern seen across Czech villages after 1918, when communities placed modest plaques or stones to their fallen neighbors, typically in a central, visible spot — here, the space in front of the school.

Why this village?

Hostěnice is a small village, home today to fewer than 800 people, with its first written mention dating back to 1371. Besides the World War I memorial, the village also has a separate 1945 liberation monument, and the Baroque Chapel of St. Anne, built in 1748 in the forest on a hill north of the village. Having several memorial sites within such a small community shows how deeply the twentieth century's conflicts left their mark even on the smallest villages in the region.

When to visit?

Since the memorial stands in an open space in front of the school, it's easiest to see it while walking or cycling through the village — spring and summer are the most comfortable seasons, when days are longer and the routes leading toward the Moravian Karst are at their most accessible. Hostěnice works well as a stop on the way to the region's better-known attractions, such as the caves and chasms of the Moravian Karst, without requiring a detour.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the memorial in Hostěnice? In front of the local school building, in the central part of the village.

Who is commemorated on the memorial? Twelve residents of Hostěnice who died during the First World War, between 1914 and 1918; over time it also came to honor victims of the Second World War.

Are there other memorial sites from this period in Hostěnice? Yes, the village also has a separate 1945 liberation monument dedicated to fallen liberators.

Is it worth combining a visit with other nearby attractions? Yes — Hostěnice sits on the edge of the Moravian Karst, along routes leading both into that region and toward the Austerlitz battlefield area to the south.