Austerlitz: the grand battle re-enacted

Traditional commemorative events for the observation of the Battle of Austerlitz on 2 December 1805.

Anyone who enjoyed playing at soldiers as a kid, who loves history, or who just wants to see something special should certainly head for the South Moravian town of Slavkov u Brna at the end of November. Here, the re-enactment of the famous Battle of the Three Emperors will take place. Nearly a thousand enthusiasts will do battle in period uniforms.

Already 204 years have passed since Napoleon crushed the Russo-Austrian army at Slavkov (also known to the world as Austerlitz) in South Moravia. The Battle of the Three Emperors has entered the history books, and every year thousands of military history buffs arrive to commemorate the battle. This year, the traditional re‑enactment event will take place during 27–30 November.

The main program is scheduled for Saturday, 28 November. Spectators will witness a ceremonial military roll-call ending with a troops review at Slavkov square, the redeployment to the battlefield, and finally the re-enactment of the Battle of the Three Emperors. Some 800 “soldiers” (members of re-enactment clubs from a number of European countries) and 40 horses will take part in the event, and 15 cannons will be deployed. At night, visitors can look forward to a celebratory procession of the troops and fireworks.

In the surroundings of Slavkov, the events of 1805 are remembered not only through the annual battle re-enactment. A history trail of the Battle of Austerlitz, which also leads across the hillock with the Cairn of Peace monument. will guide those interested through the places where the battle took place. A multimedia exhibit entitled “The Battle of the Three Emperors – Slavkov/Austerlitz 1805” can be seen here. The exhibition “Virtual Battle”, which reveals the events of 1805 in an innovative form and makes use of virtual reality components, is being presented once again at the Castle of Slavkov. Commentary is available in 5 languages (Czech, English, French, Russian and German).

Another tip for fans of military history:
Though Army park Ořechov u Brna, the largest military museum in the Czech Republic, is open only from May to October, the event “Colmar Pocket” will be held here on 30 January 2010. The event is a commemoration of the fighting on the Western Front in the winter of 1944/45. Visitors can tour a camp from the period and see with their own eyes what fighting in winter was like at that time.