Šance - Valy formed a whole system of defensive objects connected by ramparts with ditches supposed to serve as defence of the Jablunkov pass against the Turkish threat. In the 17th century, they were used to defend Silesia against the incursions of Hungarian rebel troops during the anti-Habsburg uprisings.
Staré Šance in the Svrčinovec cadastre were probably built before the end of the first half of the 16th century, but they are first mentioned in sources in 1578 as Alte Schantze. Later, they were expanded by two half-bastions on the southeast side. Malé Šance, located on Valy near Čierne was first mentioned in 1644 and was expanded in 1664. In 1663, the construction of a new fortification began near the village of Mosty - Veľké or Jablunkovské šance, which were later declared a land fortress and received a permanent garrison. In the second half of the 17th century, other fortifications were built, e.g. Hajducké šance on the hill Studeničný in Mosty u Jablunkova (ČR), Volské šance near Koniaków in Istebna (PL). These were mostly quadrangular or star-shaped fortifications formed by an earth rampart, dry ditches, and palisades. Individual objects were connected by small fortification elements - the so-called redouts to be found in the location of Megoňky in the cadastre of Čadca or in Dolina in Mosty u Jablunkova. In 1765, when the emperor Jozef II visited Jablunkov šance, some of the fortifications were already in ruins (Hajducké šance). In 1848, Jablunkovské šance were definitively discarded as an outdated defence system.
Nowadays, only the remains of ramparts with a ditch have been preserved from Staré šance in Svrčinovec. In Čierne, there is still a remnant of a defence system about 2.5 km long in the form of an earthen rampart with redans and three square redouts. Malé Šance with its star-shaped earth fortification and a ditch is also visible. In both locations, archaeologists discovered a great number of shards of kitchen ceramics, tiles and fragments of pipes.
Contact:
Regionálna rozvojová agentúra Kysuce, Námestie slobody 30, 022 01 Čadca, tel. +421 (0)414335603, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., www.rrakysuce.sk
Access:
Jablunkovské Šance: From Čadca via Milošová to the state border with the Czech Republic.
Malé Šance: From the Čierne railway station - stop following the blue sign to Trojmedzie.
Staré Šance in Svrčinovec: follow the green sign 5557, or access the marked route is also from the railway station.
