Salaš U Velehradu: Views, Nature and History

When planning a trip, you can explore different interests around Salaš: views of the Chřiby Mountains, a protected habitat of forest tufa springs, church architecture and history, and the memory of the Salaš tragedy. The Rozhledna Salaš, the Salašské pěnovce Natural Monument, the Chapel of St. John of Nepomuk in Salaš, and the memorial to the victims of the tragedy each represent a different focus. This allows you to organise these themes around landscape, nature, sacred architecture, or commemorative culture.

Observation tower and marked access

The Rozhledna Salaš is located in the municipality of Salaš u Velehradu and offers beautiful views of the Chřiby Mountains. Its shape is also striking: two interlocking sevens form the tower’s silhouette. The views and design appeal to different interests; the panorama looks out over the mountains, while the unusual shape adds a distinctive architectural touch.

The marked walking route to the tower leads from Velehrad to Salaš along a blue-marked trail. From the signpost in the lower part of Salaš, the route continues to the upper part of the village along a yellow-marked trail. This change of trail marking is a useful point of reference when planning your route; follow the signs along the way. Bus services run from Staré Město via Velehrad to Salaš. For the climb to Rozhledna Salaš, the Obecní úřad stop is recommended. Check the current timetable before travelling.

Forest tufa springs and a protected habitat

The Salašské pěnovce Natural Monument lies in the cadastral area of Salaš u Velehradu, above a right-bank tributary of the Salaška and about 1.2 kilometres northwest of Salaš. The protected feature is a habitat of forest tufa springs. Two smaller forest tufa springs are located in the upper part of the slope. This precisely defines the focus of the natural monument: a specific spring habitat and its position on the slope. The contrast with the observation tower is clear: there, the views of the Chřiby Mountains take centre stage; here, the protected spring habitat is the main attraction.

The chapel and its history

The Chapel of St. John of Nepomuk in Salaš is a subsidiary church of the Velehrad Basilica and is dedicated to St. John of Nepomuk. Construction began in May 1933, and the chapel was solemnly consecrated on 8 October that year. The sequence of construction and consecration in the same year gives its history a clear timeframe. Its church affiliation and dedication provide a distinct cultural and historical point of interest alongside the views and nature.

The Salaš tragedy took place on 29 April 1945 in Vápenice near Salaš. Nineteen men and one woman were executed; most were residents of Salaš. The memorial to the victims includes monuments bearing the names of all the victims. Its present form dates from 1985. The two years serve different purposes: 1945 marks the historical event, while 1985 marks the memorial’s present form. The victims’ names also give the commemoration an individual dimension.

Discover more destinations: Horní Němčí, Zlámanec, Bánov, Traplice, Stříbrnice, Březolupy, Stary Hrozenkov, Slavkov

For the broader travel overview: Okres Uherské Hradiště.