Dělostřelecká tvrz Bouda
The best-preserved Czechoslovak artillery fortress from the 1930s, with kilometres of underground passages, open to visitors with a guide.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Bouda fortress is one of five artillery fortresses that were structurally completed before Munich as part of the Czechoslovak border fortifications. Construction began on 1 October 1936 on Bouda hill (elevation 845) in the forests above Těchonín and Lichkov and lasted about two years. Depending on the period, between 250 and 800 workers were employed on it, and costs reached CZK 28.5 million at the time, excluding the price of cement, reinforcement, interior fittings and armament.
The fortress consists of five reinforced-concrete blockhouses with the highest resistance; their walls and ceilings facing the enemy are 3.5 metres thick. A system of corridors and halls about 1.5 kilometres long connects them below the surface. The garrison was to number 316 soldiers; in September 1938, during mobilisation, it consisted of 119 men, and the fortress still lacked its interior fittings and its main weapon, a rotating artillery turret. Visitors enter through the entrance blockhouse K-S 22a, which is the only entrance structure of the Czechoslovak fortifications preserved in its original form.
During the occupation, the German army tested the effects of various weapons and charges on the fortress, and traces of these tests are still visible today. After the war the entrance blockhouse was repaired, and in 1949–1950 new storerooms began to be excavated, but they were never finished. The fortress has been a cultural monument since 1995. The museum is run by the Society of Friends of Czechoslovak Fortifications, and most of the operation is carried out by members of the Bouda Club. In winter, dozens to hundreds of bats hibernate here.
Highlights
- The best-preserved artillery fortress of the Czechoslovak fortifications
- About 1.5 km of underground corridors and halls, partly in their original 1938 condition
- Entrance blockhouse K-S 22a with its inclined track and narrow-gauge railway
- Unique armoured bell displayed in front of the entrance
- Traces of German weapons tests from the occupation
- Four types of tours, from a short visit to the entrance blockhouse to a half-day route
Permanent exhibition
- Prohlídková trasa podzemím tvrze Bouda – The underground fortress is open for a large part of its length in its original condition; the route includes displays of weapons and ammunition, a filter room, a machine room and wartime barracks.
- Operated by
- Společnost přátel čs. opevnění, o. p. s.
Admission & discounts
| Adults | 190 Kč |
|---|---|
| Reduced | 145 Kčchildren aged 6 to 15, students with proof of status, pensioners and holders of ZTP cards |
| Children & teens | 145 Kčfree up to age 5 · Children under 6 enter free. |
| Seniors | 145 KčPensioners pay reduced admission. |
| Visitors with disabilities | 145 KčHolders of ZTP cards pay reduced admission. |
| Students & apprentices | 145 KčWith proof of status. |
| Families | 530 KčFamily ticket for the basic tour: up to 2 adults and up to 3 children under 15. |
| Entrance blockhouse (50–55 min) | 130 KčReduced CZK 110, family CZK 370. |
| Large route (170–200 min) | 420 KčReduced CZK 320, family CZK 1,160. |
| Extended route (about 400 min) | 710 KčSingle admission price. |
| Photo and video with a tripod | 100 Kč |
Prices apply from 1 January 2024 and are given for the basic tour (90–100 minutes); prices for other routes are listed among the additional tickets. Children under 6 enter free, as do journalists on official business with proof of status, drivers of group coaches, and two members of the accompanying staff of a group of more than 15 people. Holders of family passes are entitled to reduced admission. Individual guided tours must be ordered in writing at least five working days in advance.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The entrance blockhouse can only be reached on foot along forest paths; car access is prohibited. The basic tour follows the inclined track (26 steps down) into the underground; the shortest route, through the entrance blockhouse, can be done without going underground.
Kids & families
Only partly suitable for kids
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 5 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | 530 Kč · Family ticket for the basic tour: up to 2 adults and up to 3 children under 15. |
- Family tours & workshops
The entrance blockhouse tour, which does not go underground, is also suitable for families with small children or for people who are afraid of underground spaces. A family ticket is available.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Těchonín, železniční zastávka
The fortress is reached on foot from the railway stops at Těchonín and Lichkov (green trail, about 70 minutes) or Mladkov (red trail, about 80 minutes).
By car
Parking available · 45-min walk to the entrance
Car park at Kramářova chata with its lookout tower on Suchý vrch (about 45 minutes on foot along the red trail), or a temporary car park at the start of the forest above Těchonín (about 50 minutes on foot along the green trail).
Driving into the forest is prohibited; all access routes are for pedestrians only. Postal address: Dělostřelecká tvrz Bouda, 561 66 Těchonín; coordinates according to the museum’s website: 50.06923 N, 16.67694 E.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
The museum ticket office sells literature, souvenirs and basic refreshments.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| Photography | Hand-held photography is free; photo and video with a tripod costs CZK 100. |
| Good to know | Tours always go with a guide; individual visitors do not need to book, although booking is recommended for coach groups. It is advisable to arrive about 15 minutes before the start and to bring warm clothing (it is 4–12 °C underground) and sturdy footwear. The standard basic tour lasts 90–100 minutes, the entrance blockhouse 50–55 minutes, the large route 170–200 minutes and the extended route about 400 minutes. |
