The massive fortifications at Olomouc, consisting of twenty-two forts and three strongholds, were planned, designed and gradually built during the second half of the 19th century. Strongholds Baba and Chlum were to have three basic forts apiece and Svaty Kopecek was to have four, specifically: Number I Tover (at approximately 418 m.s.l.), Number II Radikov (at 444 m.s.l.), Number III Losov (at approximately 375 m.s.l.) and Number IV Drozdin (at approximately 335 m.s.l.), along with two artillery batteries, which were designated as A and B.

Fort Radikov, constructed between 1871 and 1882, is the only one that was actually built. The other forts were redesigned as simpler constructions, which could be built rapidly if there was an immediate threat of war. As a result, Radikov became the only fortification of this kind in the Czech Republic. It was the last to be built in the Czech Republic until the 1930s, at which time fortifications started being built again along the borders with Germany.

The Radikov Fort crew was to have consisted of 11 officers and 800 soldiers. The main armament was to be placed in open firing-positions along the escarpment, protected by a gorge on the forward side and separated by hollow traverses. Two-storey casemates were embedded in these traverses and were used to store stand-by ammunition that was subsequently transported via elevator wells. Up to 26 cannons could have been mounted in the barbettes located along the fort’s sides and in its rampart. A large assembly point was located in front of the narrow rear entrance and was protected by armament mounted on top of the bastion located at the rear. For the purpose of defending the fort’s rear entrance, six cannon places were installed along the flanks. Thanks to its high position on a ridge, the fort was surrounded by a dry ditch excavated in solid rock with a depth of 15 to 20meters , as measured from the crest of the ridge down to the bottom. The rampart defense was safeguarded by flanking fire from three caponiers, which were connected with the inner parts of the fort by posterns leading into underground passages. Each caponier contained two embrasures facing the ditch, thus allowing for the placement of up to ten cannons to provide safety.

By 1876, Fort Radikov had been built but not yet finished. As the entire Olomouc fortifications were designed in order to provide protection against Prussia, construction definitely ceased when relations with Prussia improved. The documentation used in 1881 for the construction of barracks for 80 soldiers at the assembly point located at the narrow rear entrance, has been preserved. The last modifications were most likely carried out in 1882, as this is the date carved in the stone located over a drainage channel. The stronghold also included: a military hospital built in Radikov at the end of what is now Zednikova Street; two army wells in Samotisky, which were dug in 1875 and are still functional; a peace-time storage area for gunpowder located in the fields between Samotisky and Chvalkovice, together with a guardhouse close to the road; and a firing range situated on the Veskovska Fields.

At this time, Fort Radikov is the property of the civic association called ‘Fort Radikov o.s.’ The area is currently being cleared of self-propagating trees and plants. The plan is to gradually reconstruct up to 25% of the fort area. Visitors are welcome all year long, but, before you come, please contact us via email to make the necessary arrangements.