Starý Maletín is best appreciated through its stone heritage: the history of Maletín sandstone brings together building and sculptural work, while the church, cemetery and individual sculptures reveal several historical periods. The village is also set in a hollow almost completely surrounded by forests, in the western part of the Mírovská vrchovina highlands. For a trip focused on culture, the village offers a tangible way to explore architectural history, sacred art and the landscape.
Maletín Sandstone: Building Material and Fossils
Sandstone has been quarried around Maletín since the 16th century. It later became increasingly important as a material for large buildings and sculptural works. One example of its use is house No. 1: this masonry vernacular building dates from the first half of the 19th century, is richly decorated with Maletín sandstone and has a portal dating from 1839. The house brings together a traditional architectural form, sandstone decoration and a precisely dated architectural detail.
At Kubíčkův lom, there is an educational trail about Maletín sandstone and an outdoor photographic gallery with captions about sandstone fossils of plants and animals. These offer two different ways to engage with the rock: the educational trail focuses on sandstone, while the gallery draws attention to fossil motifs. In this way, the subject of building material is linked to an exploration of plant and animal traces in sandstone.
Church, Cemetery and Sacred Art
The parish Church of St Nicholas in Starý Maletín dates from 1804–1805. Its grounds include a cemetery, a perimeter wall and gates; the wall dates from the early 19th century. In the cemetery behind the church is a Calvary ensemble from 1848. It depicts Christ on the cross, as well as Mary Magdalene, Our Lady of Sorrows and St John the Evangelist. The church building and the ensemble thus represent different stages in the village’s history and two distinct forms of sacred art.
Other stone sculptures make their own distinctive contributions. The Marian Column, a Baroque sculpture from 1725 that was embellished in 1883, stands in the village centre. A Baroque statue of St John of Nepomuk dates from the second quarter of the 18th century and is attributed to the sculptor J. H. Heintz. The grounds of the Church of St Nicholas also include a locally made stone cross from 1750, near the rectory. Their different forms and dates give the sacred art of Starý Maletín its own chronological diversity.
Landscape and Practical Information
The hollow’s setting and the forests that almost completely surround it add a landscape dimension to the village’s cultural appeal: Starý Maletín lies in the western part of the Mírovská vrchovina highlands. The village can thus be understood through both its buildings and sculptures and its place in the landscape. Bus services provide public transport in the municipality of Maletín. Check the relevant timetables for your specific trip.
Discover more destinations: Zábřeh, Rohle, Loucná Nad Desnou, Pavlov, Rapotín, Kosov, Mohelnice, Jakubovice.
For the broader travel overview: Okres Šumperk.
