železniční viadukt u Střelic Railway bridge

Welcome to the railway viaduct at the Shooter, which the locals call Iron Man. You are standing in front of a massive building that rises over the valley of the river Botrava right on the boundary of the catastres of the municipalities Střelice and Radostice. This is where the railway connecting Brno to Hrušovany nad Yevišovka falls or rises through deep valleys, and at first glance you can see that it is a sophisticated engineering building from the time when the Austrian monarchy decided to connect its suburbs and the more remote regions of the railway network. You can hear the sound of the wind and perhaps the distance sound of the train, which gives you the atmosphere of the railway heart. Let us now immerse ourselves in the history of this place and see what awaits you around this railway work.

Viaduct was created in 1870 as part of the line between Hrušovany nad Yevišovka and Střelicemi. It was built for an Austrian public rail company, a private company operating important lines in the Habsburg monarchy. At that time it was an intensive development of the railway network, where routes were sought for connections between cities and industrial centres. The construction was originally designed for two tracks, which suggests that the building engineers counted on a larger operation than never took place here. In practice, only one track has been used today. This is an interesting fact that shows how planning was different from reality. At that time, the Austrian state rail company built routes throughout the monarchy, and this viaduct was part of the ambitious Brno-South-Western Moravia connection project. In 1870 this area was part of Austria-Hungary and the railway was a symbol of modernisation and progress that changed the whole landscape.

Now let's look at what you see right around you. Check the viaduct facade and its extent. The construction crosses the valley of Botrava and connects the catalogues of two municipalities. In 1902, the latest part of the viaduct was created, which means that the construction was extended or modified for 30 years after its original position. This proves that the railway remained important even after the First World War and during the interwar period. Notice the overall length and height of the bridge, which crosses the valley of the River Botrava. Look at how the building has adapted to the terrain and how it surpasses the difference in height between the two cadastras. The valley of Botrava is narrow and steep, which required a firm solution for the line item. This extended part from 1902 shows that the construction was alive and adapted to the needs of the time. Take a look at the river beneath you and think of how this bridge has made it possible to overcome difficult terrain.

As far as personalities are concerned, the authors and specific builders remain unknown. Architects were not captured in the sources, as well as historical figures associated with this place. So we can't tell you the story of a particular builder or discoverer, but we can mention that the construction was carried out by the Austrian State Railroad Company, which at that time was building tracks throughout the monarchy. The work on the track was probably challenging because it was the lower environment of the river Botrava, which required a careful engineering solution. Yet unknown builders have created a building that has lasted more than 150 years and still serves its purpose. Their identity remains a mystery that can only be deciphered in the archive springs of the Austrian Railways. It is this lack of names that makes building even more fascinating because it remains an example of a collective work without names.

The interesting thing is that even though the line was designed for dual-track operation, there is only one track. This non-use of the second track is a technical speciality which has been preserved to this day. Another remarkable thing is that in 1987 the protection of this building ended as a cultural monument. Which means he stopped being protected as a monument, and yet remains a significant landmark. It is not a extinct building, but still a functional railway object that crosses the valley of Botrava and connects two cadastral territories. Local folk names such as Železnák show that this building has become part of the local identity and memory of the surrounding population. It is this popular name that goes beyond the official label and recalls that monuments live in conscious people. The Iron Man stays in the hearts of the locals even though official protection is over.

Let's move on now. Viaduct u Střelice is a technical monument from the intensive development of the railway network in the Austrian monarchy. You are standing where the history of the link between Brno and South Moravia passes in the present. If you have the opportunity, look around and see the landscape that connects this path. Notice how the railway has adapted to the terrain and how this viaduct has enabled transport connections through a difficult valley. Look at the River Botrav below you and think how hard it must have been to build such a structure in the valley over a hundred and fifteen years ago. The landscape around it was changing, but this bridge remained a constant witness to the terrain conquering by rail. This place offers a unique view of how technology and nature form a combination.

Thank you for your attention and we look forward to seeing you at this place. Continue to explore the surroundings of Shrelice and Rahovac, or return to the station with new knowledge of what the railway construction looked like in the nineteenth century. This viaduct is a monument to the time when railways have become a symbol of progress and connection of distant places. Goodbye to other stops of our audio guide and thank you for being a part of this audio experience. Hopefully this stop will inspire you to further explore the history of Moravia and take away the memory of this railway treasure between Brno and Hrušovany nad Yevišovka.