242nd anniversary of Napoleon Bonaparte

These were about 180 this year, comming from the Czech republic, Slovakia, Austria and Belgium.

They built their tent camps in the park of the Austerlitz castle and worked on saturday morning on details of their basic instruction. The french troops focused also on the skirmish maneuvers prescribed by the marshall Davout 1811, with signals of a cornet. The common french-austrian maneuvers were held as a preparation for the next year, the bicentenary of the 1812 campaign.

In the afternoon a re-enactement battle took place in front of three or four thousands visitors. The french superiority in numbers, especially in the artillery, Napoleon’s favourite arm, made them win the battle of the first day of the event.

At 9.15 pm the french troops paraded behind the castle, Napoleon’s anniversary was celebrated by solemn artillery fire and fireworks with music (Tchaikovski’s Overture 1812) directed by Ivan Martinek.

On sunday the maneuvers continued and a second battle took place; the coalition commanders were able to take lesson from saturday, a successful charge of their cavalry has overriden the french artillery, and, despite important losses, they were able to pay the French back their previous victory.

The weather was good and appreciated by thousands of visitors. The Napoleonic Days 2012 will be held next year at the occasion of the bicentenary of the russian campaign, and will take place from the 10th till the 12th august.

The following regiments took part at the event this year:

The French army

Régiment de grenadiers à pied de la Garde Impériale
Régiment de fusiliers-grenadiers de la Garde Impériale
2e Régiment de tirailleurs de la Garde Impériale
Bataillon de Marins de la Garde Impériale
8e Régiment d’infanterie de ligne
18e Régiment d’infanterie de ligne
30e Régiment d’infanterie de ligne
57e  Régiment d’infanterie de ligne
Régiment d’artillerie à pied de la Garde Impériale
5e Régiment d’artillerie à pied
6e Régiment d’artillerie à pied

The Austrian army

Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 1 Kaiser
Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 3 Erzherzog Karl
Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 20 Kaunitz-Rietberg
Szekler Grenz-Infanterieregiment Nr. 15
Ulanen-Regiment Nr. 1 Merveldt

The Russian army

Apcheronski musketeer regiment
2nd cossacs of Boug

The 7th year of the international wine compeition, the Grand Prix Austerlitz, was held as part of the program of the Napoleonic days. The solemn announcement of the results took place in the Rubens hall of the Austerlitz castle on saturday evening.

The members of the international jury presided by sommelier Libor Nazarčuk were, among others:

  • Yann Juban (FR), general secreaty of the O.I.V. International organization of vine and wine – an intergovernmental organisation of a scientific and technical nature or recognised competence for its works concerning vines, wine, wine-based beverages, table grapes, raisins and other vine-based products: www.oiv.org
  • Bozena Czynciel (PL), member of the A.S.I. (Association de la Sommellerie Internationale) and owner of the exclusive restaurant in Krakow “Klimaty Poludnia” http://www.klimatypoludnia.pl
  • Nathalie Juban (FR) oenologist and sommelier, member of jury of many international wine competitions
  • Gilles de Camaret (FR) oenologist and sommelier


Results:

  • Champion of the competition: Rulandské šedé slámové 2007 Vinařství Drápal
  • Champion of the visitors: Ryzlink rýnský kabinetní 2008 – Vinařství Lahofer

Detailed results of the Grand Prix Austerlitz are here: http://www.bankavin.cz/clanky/grand-prix-austerlitz-2011-vysledky-hodnoceni-44/

Mr. Jiri Besser, miniter of culture of the Czech republic, participated at the 9th year of the Napoleon Golf Cup. The winners were Mrs. Petra Vítková with Mr. Martin Wojnar, their Brutto result: 63 strokes, HCP 61,60.

We congratulate the winners of both competitions!

Among important guests of the event, there were Mr. Nicolas de Lacoste, first counsel of the french embassy in the Czech republic, and the french attaché of defense, lieutenant-colonel Bruno Bucherie, accompanied by Mr.