Saint Urban as a military observation post
Austerlitz battlefield at your fingertips
If you follow the green trail from Slavkov up to the Saint Urban Chapel, you will enjoy a magnificent view. The chapel stands on a hill. The hill's slopes were once covered with vineyards, which is why it is dedicated to Pope Urban, the patron saint of winegrowers, orchardists and gardeners.
In the memorable year 1805 it served as a guardhouse for French soldiers. They watched from there the advance of the allied Russian-Austrian army stretching from Olomouc to Brno. The building was used as a warehouse and stable. It was from here they fired a warning shot from a cannon on 28 November 1805, announcing to the Austerlitz garrison the enemy's advance towards Brno and Bučovice. Well, the French certainly did not treat the beautiful building with respect. They damaged it badly and later the ruin was later demolished. 60 years after the Battle of Austerlitz, it was restored thanks to a local collection.
