A visit to the Bedřichov viewpoint and the site of the battle of Kolín (1757) – 3 km to 17 km

• The Seven Years’ War, which occurred in the middle of the 18th century (1756-1763), was arguably the first true “World War”, with conflict raging across Central Europe, North America, Africa and Asia. All the major European powers at that time (Great Britain, France, Russia, Prussia, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Spain and Sweden) were involved in the conflict, which eventually cost the lives of over a million soldiers and civilians.
• In Europe, the main players were Prussia led by Frederick the Great and the Habsburg ruled Austrian Empire. The first significant battles of the war were actually fought in Bohemia, with Frederick -who was trying to establish preeminence in Central Europe – sending his vaunted Prussian troops marching towards Vienna.
• After a major, but inconclusive, battle near Lovošice beside the river Labe (Elbe) in late 1756, Frederick’s army returned to Bohemia in the Spring of 1757. His troops besieged Prague after winning the bloody battle of Štěrbohol (sometimes called the battle of Prague) on 6 May 1757. See the following page, for a walk near the Štěrbohol battle site and here for an extensive walk near Lovosice.
• Leaving half his army to continue the siege on 18 June 1757, Frederick accompanied his troops as they marched down the imperial road from Prague towards Vienna, in an attempt to meet and destroy the Austrian reserve army led by Marshal Leopold Daun. Daun’s army lay in wait near the town of Kolín, some 40 km east of Prague. The Austrians occupied the low hills to the south of the imperial road and the full size of the army was hidden from view. Frederick’s troops were also outnumbered and poorly controlled during the battle.
• The result was a stunning victory for the Austrians, while the Prussians lost nearly half their forces, some 14000 men. Frederick was obliged to lift the siege of Prague and retreat from Bohemia altogether. He never returned. It was also the high point in the war for the Habsburgs, which actually ended six years later without any major territorial gains for any of the powers (except the British which secured territory from the French in North America).
• The battlefield site near Kolín has two memorials that are worth visiting on a short exploration of the area. The first is on the low hill of Bedřichov, where there is also a modern viewing tower. This was the site of one of Frederich’s command posts. The second (complete with an Austrian Empire double-headed eagle) is near the Křečhoř village, which saw the heaviest fighting. The Austrian troops occupied (and may have refortified) an old probably Slavic hillfort. The perimeter walls are still partly visible. See here for a good description of the battle.
• Starting in the village of Nový Ves I, just outside Kolín (where there is a parking area and bus or train connections the main town) it is only a short – under 2 km – walk up to the memorial and tower on Bedřichov hill. From there it is a somewhat longer – 5 km – walk to the Austrian memorial in Křečhoř (with a slightly unpleasant short section along the busy main road, which was once the imperial highway used by Frederich’s marching troops).
• There is no obvious circular route, so if parking in Nová Ves it is best to return the same path. For refreshments, there is a pub in the center of Nova Ves, usually with an ice cream stall in the summer months. For a one way trip, there are occasional buses back to Kolín from Křečhoř, or it is a pleasant 10 km walk in open countryside back to Kolín (note the stylish Café TRADICE 1894, just before the main square). Note – if preferring just a quick trip, the short walk up to Bedřichov and a climb of the tower gives a good insight into the battlefield terrain.

Note: click ‘Show on Mapy.com’  to go to a full screen version of the route directly on the mapy.com site. This can be used for on line navigation, saved or exported as a GPX file.

Directions

• Starting in Nová Ves, the whole route (to Bedřichov, Křečhoř and then on to Kolín) is entirely on the YELLOW marked hiking trail. It is well signposted throughout the route