Cairn of Peace Memorial, Peace memorial in Prace, Czech Republic
The Cairn of Peace is an Art Nouveau memorial on Pracky Hill, built from rubble stone as a four-sided truncated pyramid over 26 metres high. It is topped by a 10-metre copper cross on a globe, and four shield-bearers at the corners represent France, Austria, Russia and Moravia. A 10 x 10 metre chapel with a marble altar and an ossuary lies inside.
The memorial was built between 1910 and 1912 on the initiative of Brno priest Alois Slovák, designed by architect Josef Fanta. Its opening and chapel consecration, planned for 1914, were postponed by World War I until 1923. Funding came largely from public collections and donations, including contributions from Austria-Hungary, Russia and France.
The memorial has become a pilgrimage site for those reflecting on the human cost of warfare, with the chapel below serving as a quiet space for contemplation. Visitors from different nations gather here to pay respects to soldiers from opposing armies who died on the same battlefield.
The site has seasonal opening hours that vary between summer and winter months, so check before planning a visit to avoid disappointment. The location sits on a hill, so visitors should expect stairs and walking paths when reaching the top and exploring the underground chambers.
The chapel under the floor is 10 by 10 metres and has diagonal acoustics: a whisper in one corner is heard at the same volume in the opposite corner. The ossuary beneath it holds remains found on the battlefield, and the four trees around the memorial, planted from 2002 to 2005, honour Alois Slovák, France, Russia and Austria.
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