Malé Horky’s history can be understood through a clear historical connection: the village’s story is closely linked to Malkov Castle, and a former road ran through the village. This brings two distinct perspectives together: the castle and its position in the landscape, and Malé Horky’s place on a longer historic route. If you also consider a place’s historical connections when choosing a destination, the village’s history offers concrete points of reference.

Malkov Castle and the village’s history

Malkov Castle stands on a prominent spur of land above the Strenický potok. A neck ditch bounds the site. Its position and boundaries are therefore clearly defined: the spur above the stream and the ditch around the castle site. The history of Malé Horky is closely linked to the castle, making it an important point of reference for the village’s history.

In 1574, Malkov Castle was described as abandoned. The date provides a specific historical reference point and records its status for that year. Between Strenice and Krnsko, Malkov survives as the remains of a castle in the landscape. Both a precise date and the form of the landscape help put it in context.

A former road through Malé Horky

The former road offers a second perspective. It ran from Nymburk through the Strenické Valley, via Malé Horky, Pětikozly and Katusice to Bezděz, and continued across the border to Žitava. Its route placed the village within a connection that included several named places and ultimately crossed the border. This also makes it possible to view Malé Horky in the wider context of a former transport route.

The castle and the road answer different questions: the castle’s history points to the site’s location and its connection with the village, while the road reveals a historic route through several places. This distinction can help you choose where to go if you are weighing up whether you are more interested in the history of a castle or in former connections between places.

A building with a former purpose

A former coaching inn still stands in Malé Horky and is now used as a house. It is house No. 1, belonging to Mr Čamler. Its former purpose and present-day use belong to different periods: the former coaching inn points to its earlier use, while its current designation identifies a specific house in the village. This change from a former inn to a house today adds the story of an individual building to the history of the castle and the road.

The castle, the farm and changing owners

The history of ownership also provides a dated reference point. In 1548, following a division of the estate, Malkov and the Malé Horky farm passed to Jan. The owners of Malkov, who called themselves the Lords of Malé Horky, changed frequently thereafter. Thus, a specific transfer of ownership is followed by a succession of changing owners. The title “Lords of Malé Horky” also preserves the village’s name in the history of Malkov’s owners.

Putting it in context when choosing a destination

If you take historical connections into account when choosing a destination, Malé Horky offers more than a single point of reference: the connection between the village and the castle can be considered alongside the history of a former transport route. This lets you judge the village’s historical character according to which of these perspectives interests you most.

Discover more destinations: Řepov, Sudoměř, Doubravička, Ptýrov, Josefuv Dul, Horní Bukovina, Kropáčova Vrutice, Střehom.

See the overview of the wider area: Okres Mladá Boleslav.