The Cairn of Peace
Europe's first peace monument (1910-1912), for the dead of all three armies together.
JialiangGao, www.peace-on-earth.org — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Martin Strachoň — CC BY-SA 4.0 · JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD — CC BY-SA 3.0 · JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD — CC BY-SA 3.0
Weeks later Austria signed the Peace of Pressburg and ceded extensive territory, and the Third Coalition against France collapsed. In August 1806 Francis II declared the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, which had lasted more than eight hundred years, keeping only the title Emperor of Austria. Austerlitz ended a political entity centuries old.
By car it is about half an hour east. The usual order is the Cairn of Peace and its museum first to understand the battle, then the Pratzen Heights, then Slavkov Château where the armistice was signed. Half a day to a full day depending on your interest. Public transport is awkward, as the sites are in fields rather than towns.
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The countryside east of Brno where the Battle of Austerlitz was fought on 2 December 1805, known as the Battle of the Three Emperors because three were present: Napoleon, Francis II of Austria and Tsar Alexander I of Russia. It is considered Napoleon's greatest military victory and is still among the most studied battles in war colleges. He deliberately weakened his right wing to tempt the allies into attacking it, and when they moved against it their centre on the Pratzen Heights was left exposed; he stormed it with his held-back troops and cut their army in two. The battle was over within hours, and it led to the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire months later. The site today is open farmland with monuments and museums, foremost the Cairn of Peace — a memorial of 1910-1912 raised to the dead of all three armies together, the first peace monument in Europe, holding a museum about the battle. Visiting needs a car, as the sites are scattered across the countryside. In early December an annual re-enactment draws thousands.
Europe's first peace monument (1910-1912), for the dead of all three armies together.
Where Napoleon cut the allied army in two, still taught in war colleges.
In early December with thousands taking part — an entirely different experience.
East of Brno, around Slavkov u Brna, about twenty kilometres