In the built-up part of Horky, you can see a spoil heap created by mining at the Barbora shaft. Together with the Kryštof and Barbora shafts and the Stříbrná Educational Trail, it gives the place a clear thematic focus. The history of mining is evident in the village as a visible feature of its landscape, in the history of named shafts and along a trail that recalls the region’s long mining history.

Mining Traces in Horky

The Kryštof shaft is located in the eastern part of Horky. It was used mainly for ventilation and was 16 metres deep. A ventilation shaft is used to direct airflow through a mine; in Kryštof’s case, both its technical function and a specific depth are documented. The shaft can therefore be understood not only by its location: its purpose also provides an indication of the role it played in mining.

The Barbora shaft was 53 metres deep. By comparison, it was deeper than Kryštof, which was 16 metres deep. The two measurements relate to different shafts and give a sense of the scale of the facilities described. At Barbora, the visible spoil heap provides another, different kind of trace: the depth describes the shaft, while the spoil heap can be seen in the terrain in the built-up part of Horky.

The Stříbrná Educational Trail

The Stříbrná Educational Trail follows the Tábor–Horky–Větrovy route and explores the region’s long mining history. It is 3,500 metres long and has eight stops with information boards. This trail thus combines a specified distance with a clearly defined theme. The boards provide information along the route, while its length indicates the extent of the trail.

The route can be walked from the Lužnice-Tábor side or from the Hýlačka-Větrovy side. This gives you two possible starting points for orientation. Which one you consider for your own plans depends on which side you would like to approach the trail from. Both options refer to walking the Stříbrná Educational Trail.

Getting There and Finding Your Way

There are two different pieces of information to help you get your bearings using public transport. Horky u Tábora railway station is on line 202 between Tábor and Bechyně. The Stříbrná Educational Trail can be reached by Tábor public transport lines 30, 60 and 61.

If you are considering Horky as a possible place to stay, its different attractions can help you decide: the shafts and visible spoil heap offer a way to explore the local mining history, while the Stříbrná Educational Trail provides a route focused on the region. The transport information adds separate reference points for the railway station and the trail. This can help you decide whether mining heritage, the designated route or both suit your travel interests.

Discover more destinations: Chotěmice, Nová Ves U Mladé Vožice, Vlčeves, Turovec, Krída, Řípec, Planá Nad Lužnicí, Sobeslav

See the overview of the wider area: Okres Tábor.