Šanov: Hotel between the White Carpathians and aviation history

Šanov lies in a basin beneath the ridge of the White Carpathians, on the border between Moravia and Slovakia. The village combines a distinctive landscape with sites commemorating aviation history and a network of hiking and educational trails. In Šanov, nature, regional trails and specific historic sites come together.

Culture and remembrance

The 1944 air battle over the White Carpathians included the shooting down of an American B-17G bomber over Šanov; nine airmen lost their lives. A memorial in the centre of Šanov commemorates the airmen as well as the victims of the First and Second World Wars. In the forest above the village, the sculpture “Letecké srdce” stands at the site where the aircraft crashed. It was created by sculptor Jaroslav Koléšek and dates from 2002.

The “Letecká bitva nad Bílými Karpaty” Museum in Šanov displays parts of downed American bombers, documents, and the equipment of the pilots and crews. Visits are possible by prior arrangement. The “Po stopách letecké bitvy o Bílé Karpaty” educational trail also addresses this topic: it runs through the Bojkovsko and Slavičínsko microregions and partly through Slovak territory. In Šanov, the educational trail also includes the “Big Time” memorial.

Trails through the landscape

Blue- and green-marked hiking trails lead from Šanov. The green-marked trail runs from the village centre past a 19th-century half-timbered barn and the “Letecká bitva nad Bílými Karpaty” Museum. A hiking route from Šanov passes a viewpoint overlooking the Vizovice Highlands. One stop on the Bojkovická educational trail provides information about Šanov and its commemorative trees.

The Bojkovická educational trail has a large 24 km loop and a small 16 km loop. It runs from Bojkovice railway station through Pitín, Hostětín and Šanov to the “Na koncích” border elevation at 652 m. Another route connects 15 wooden sculptures distributed across the cadastral territories of Hostětín, Pitín, Šanov and Rokytnice.

The Šanov–Horná Súča tourist route runs through Šanov and over the ridge of the White Carpathians. Over a short distance, it connects Tenčín and the surrounding area with the Bojkovsko microregion. Thus, the trails described extend beyond the village and lead through several municipalities and landscapes near the border.

Na Mlýně and winter operations

Na Mlýně is a family-run refreshment stop at the edge of Šanov, directly on the Stezka Českem trail and popular cycling routes. Refreshments made from local ingredients are offered there. At the Na Mlýně farm, school groups can visit the entire grounds; children can feed sheep and llamas.

Šanov also has a ski slope dependent on natural snow. Information about operating hours is recommended to be obtained via the municipality’s website.

More destinations

More places for the next stage: Bratřejov, Podhradí U Luhačovic, Lípa, Vlachova Lhota, Haluzice, Lukoveček, Kelníky, Rudimov.

To the overarching travel overview: Zlín District.