Přestanov: Chapels and memorial sites of the 1813 battle

When looking for a hotel for your stay in Přestanov, you can focus on local history and the memorial sites of the 1813 battle. Several monuments and chapels give the town a distinctive historical character. At the same time, its historical roots go back further: Přestanov was founded as a village in the 12th century and was first mentioned in writing in 1348. Its founding and its first written mention refer to different points in time. The town’s earlier history and the memory of the battle therefore stand side by side as themes.

Memorial sites of the 1813 battle

A yellow-marked hiking route starts in Přestanov and passes through the memorial sites of the 1813 battle. The mass grave in Přestanov contains the recovered remains of nearly 10,000 of the more than 20,000 soldiers killed in the fighting. The French Monument stands beside Juchtová Chapel and was erected in 1911. The “Ruský pomník” monument also commemorates the 1813 battle: it consists of a cast-iron pyramid topped by a figure of Nike, with lions at its base.

The Baroque Juchtová Chapel lies on the axis of the main battle line, where Russian artillery and infantry guard units stopped the major French attack. It stands about 500 metres northwest of Přestanov, at a crossroads where the roads to Unčín and Stradov branch off. Its approximate location and the directions of the roads help place this memorial site in its geographical context.

Chapels and architectural history

The Chapel of Saint Anthony of Padua stands in the centre of Přestanov. The rectangular building has a gabled roof and a semicircular apse beneath a conical roof. This description links the floor plan to the different roof forms: the rectangular structure is followed by the semicircular apse. The altar holds a Baroque sandstone statue of Saint Anthony dating from 1726. The location, architectural form and sculpture offer different perspectives on the same building.

The town centre also contributes to Přestanov’s historical context. The town is part of the “Území bojiště u Přestanova, Chlumce a Varvažova” protected landscape and heritage zone. The medieval and modern-era town centre is also an archaeological area with documented or reasonably expected finds. The designation therefore covers both documented finds and those that can reasonably be expected. Together with the chapels and monuments, this reveals a historical focus that extends beyond the 1813 battle.

Hiking route, bus and cycling route

The route to the battlefields can be reached from the centre of Ústí nad Labem by city bus 81 to Přestanov; the sightseeing route starts there. Check the bus timetable for the day of your trip. For cycling plans, Route 3009 passes through Přestanov. It runs from Adolfov via Unčín and Chlumec, then continues south to Radejčín. The hiking route focuses on the memorial sites, while the cycling route described here places Přestanov within a longer route.

Přestanov is therefore a good choice for a stay focused on local history, religious buildings and remembrance of 1813. The dates of the village’s founding and first written mention provide the historical timeframe; the chapels, mass grave and monuments give remembrance specific places. When planning your trip, you can choose between the sightseeing route and the cycling route described here, depending on your interests.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Habrovany, Trmice, Perštejn, Homole U Panny, Velké Chvojno, Petrovice u Chabařovic, Malé Březno Nad Labem, Tisá.

Back to the main travel overview: Okres Ústí Nad Labem.