Discover Šanov

Šanov lies in a valley basin below the ridge of the White Carpathians, on the border between Moravia and Slovakia. Monuments and a museum in the village commemorate the 1944 air battle; trails lead from Šanov into the surrounding countryside. Hiking, cycling routes and the history of the village offer different focuses for your trip. If you are planning a stay, you can decide whether you would like to visit memorial sites, choose a route or combine the two.

Memorial sites commemorating the air battle

During the 1944 air battle over the White Carpathians, an American B-17-G bomber was shot down over Šanov; nine airmen lost their lives. A monument in the centre of Šanov commemorates the airmen and the victims of the First and Second World Wars.

The “Letecká bitva nad Bílými Karpaty” Museum displays parts of downed American bombers, documents, and equipment used by pilots and crew members. Visits are possible by prior arrangement. In the forest above Šanov, at the site where the aircraft crashed, stands the sculpture “Letecké srdce,” created by sculptor Jaroslav Koléšek in 2002.

The monument in the centre commemorates the victims of both world wars, while the museum and sculpture highlight the history of aviation. This lets you connect the general memorial sites in the centre with the specific memorials commemorating the air battle.

Educational trails and hiking routes

The Bojkovická educational trail has a long circular route of 24 km and a short one of 16 km. The short route is 8 km shorter than the long one. The trail runs from Bojkovice railway station via Pitín, Hostětín and Šanov to the “Na koncích” border high point at 652 m. One stop provides information about Šanov and its memorial trees.

The “Po stopách letecké bitvy o Bílé Karpaty” educational trail passes through the Bojkovsko and Slavičínsko microregions, as well as partly through Slovak territory. In Šanov, it also includes the “Big Time” monument. While the Bojkovická educational trail offers two circular routes of different lengths, this trail passes through several subregions and crosses the national border.

The Šanov–Horná Súča tourist route also passes through Šanov and over the ridge of the White Carpathians. One hiking route passes a viewpoint overlooking the Vizovice Highlands. Another route links 15 wooden sculptures spread across the cadastral areas of Hostětín, Pitín, Šanov and Rokytnice. So, alongside historical themes, you can choose from a variety of routes and art in the landscape.

Cycling routes, a rest stop and seasonal options

At the edge of Šanov, the family-run Na Mlýně rest stop is located right on Stezka Českem and popular cycling routes. It serves refreshments made with local ingredients. If you are cycling, the rest stop is a place to pause along these routes.

For organised school trips, the Na Mlýně farm offers a special programme: children can feed sheep and llamas, and groups can visit the entire site. These activities are described in connection with school trips and can therefore be distinguished from the general cycling and hiking options.

Šanov also has a ski slope, which depends on natural snowfall. If you plan to use it, check the current conditions and operating hours in advance.

Discover more destinations: Bohuslavice U Zlína, Zádveřice-Raková, Lípa, Dobrkovice, Ostrata, Machová, Hrobice, Halenkovice.

Go to the main travel overview: Zlín District.