After seeing the venue for the first time, we really fell in love with it, and your feedback assures us that you Obscene Extreme fans will too. The cooperation with the dragon city, Trutnov, has been absolutely great in the many years we've been organizing OEF, and we're happy to give the city of Trutnov a space at the festival for an information stall to present the history of the Battlefield and the whole city with the dragon on its emblem. You can also read a little bit of Trutnov's history here.
❓ Where the name Bojiště (The Battlefield) comes from?
➡️ The grounds where the festival takes place is the actual place of a real battlefield which took place on 27 June 1866 as a part of the Austro -Prussian War. This was the only battle in which Austrian troops gained victory nevertheless Austrian empire lost the entire war.
❓ A few details about the Austro-Prussian War of 1866.
➡️ In this war, it was mainly a question of which of the two rivals, i.e., the Austrian Empire or the Kingdom of Prussia, would gain the upper hand in the German Confederation.
➡️ As a result of the final victory of the Prussian troops, Prussia gained a leading position in the German Confederation. As a result, Austro-Hungarian empire emerged. These events predestined the present appearance of Europe.
➡️ The fiercest battles took place on the Šibeník and on the Janský vrch (Jánský hill) near the chapel of St. John the Baptist. The commander of the Austrian troops, General Ludvík Gablenz, is buried on the Šibeník (even though he did not fall in the battle). The cast iron pylon with its grave and the lookout tower is open to the public every summer. There is a small military cemetery surrounding the Jánská kaple (the chapel of St. John the Baptist).
➡️ Almost 4,790 Austrian soldiers and 1,340 Prussian soldiers were killed, injured or lost in the battle. The short-term victory was redeemed by streams of blood.
➡️ An educational trail which can be found next to the Bojiště grounds is dedicated to the battle. The descriptive texts are in Czech, Polish and German.
❓ What effects did the battle have on the town of Trutnov?
➡️ For the Prussians to justify the unexpected attack by the Austrian troops, they blamed the inhabitants of Trutnov. They allegedly deceived them by claiming that there were no soldiers in the city and also, they apparently poured hot water and oil from the windows on the Prussians. For the "betrayal", the Prussians dragged the mayor and several important townspeople into captivity. The captivity lasted 80 days and until the last moment it was not clear how the prisoners would end up. But they returned home.
➡️ It is interesting that already at that time the means of an information war were used. Throughout the whole Prussia, there was a belief that the people of Trutnov betrayed the Prussians.
❓ Why is Trutnov called the city of the dragon?
➡️ The dragon is the central figure of the heraldic emblem of the city. The mythical origins of the city are associated with the legend of killing the dragon. The Dragon Gallery (http://www.galeriedraka.cz) is dedicated to this legend and the dragon.
➡️ Dragons can be found in the city, in the park and the forest park. You can have a go with our search game.
❓ What are the interesting places in Trutnov?
➡️ You can take a “Town statues walk” which will take you through the national heritage town centre.
➡️ There is an exhibition of the castles, chateaux, and cottages of the Trutnov region in the Krkonoše museum.
➡️ The Trutnov Gallery organizes exhibitions of modern art.
➡️ The Weaving Museum in Dům pod jasanem (the House under the Ash tree) in Trutnov-Voletiny introduces the local tradition of textile production.
➡️ The well-maintained forest park is interwoven with paths, playgrounds, outdoor exercise equipment and gazebos.
❓ Where can you find more information?
➡️ Information stand at the festival venue.
➡️ Trutnov Tourist Information Centre, Krakonošovo nám. 72, phone +420 499 818 245, e-mail: info@ictrutnov.cz
