Malý Krtíš combines its location in the valley of the Krtíš stream with a complex village history: historical place names, interruptions in settlement, and evidence of agriculture and resource extraction are all part of the picture, alongside the rolling landscape of the Ipeľ Basin. If you are considering Malý Krtíš as a travel destination, you can place its landscape and history in context through specific details: its elevations, the Mädokýš spring, recorded place names and local bell tower construction.

Location and landscape

Malý Krtíš lies in the Ipeľ Basin, in the valley of the Krtíš stream. The centre is 175 metres above sea level; the cadastral area ranges from 162 to 281 metres. These figures refer to two different scales: 175 metres applies to the centre, while the range covers the entire cadastral area. The terrain around the village is a varied, deforested hilly landscape with flat ridges formed by Upper Tertiary deposits. The named Mädokýš spring lies directly beside the bed of the local watercourse.

Local history across several periods

Malý Krtíš is recorded from 1251 under the name “Curtus, alia villa Cvrtus.” Other historical names include “Kyskwrthes” from 1482 and “Maly Krtýš” from 1920; its Hungarian name is “Kiskürtös.”

Malý Krtíš was occupied by the Turks from 1554 to 1593. At the beginning of the 17th century, the village was completely deserted; between 1715 and 1720, it was mentioned again as a settlement and soon afterwards once more developed into a community. In 1828, Malý Krtíš had 29 houses and 266 inhabitants engaged in agriculture. The history of the names and the sequence of settlement complement one another, but answer different questions: which names were used and when the village changed.

Bell tower construction, resources and cultural centre

The simple, masonry rural bell tower in Malý Krtíš has a square floor plan and dates from 1848. It houses a bell from 1824, making the bell older than the building in which it hangs. The two dates distinguish the age of the bell from that of the structure.

The extraction of sand for glassmaking is part of the area’s economic past. The village coat of arms symbolically depicts coal and quartz sandstone seams, as well as agriculture. Mineral resources and agriculture are thus represented side by side in the municipal symbolism.

A 2025 report by the municipality described the old mill in Malý Krtíš, originally powered by steam, as falling into disrepair. The municipal library and cultural centre together form the village’s cultural hub. As cultural institutions, they add an institutional dimension to Malý Krtíš’s historical buildings and economic activities.

Discover more destinations

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Back to the overview of the wider travel area: Okres Veľký Krtíš.