Máslojedy: History and traces of 1866

Máslojedy combines a local history dating back to its first written mention in 1241 with memorial sites commemorating the 1866 battle. Monuments, a farmstead and routes around Svíb offer different points of interest. If you are looking for a hotel for a trip to Máslojedy, this overview will help you put the town’s historical connections into context: from its earliest written record to a specific monument and routes whose names and stops offer different perspectives.

History and traces of the battle

The first written mention of Máslojedy dates to 1241, when the village belonged to the Prussian Knights of the Cross. This early local history significantly predates the memorial sites commemorating the battle of 3 July 1866. Máslojedy is part of the Mikroregion obcí památkové zóny 1866. This distinction in time is helpful when putting your trip into context: 1241 belongs to the village’s history, while the monuments and references to the battle mentioned here commemorate 1866.

Špriňarův statek is located on the western edge of Máslojedy. Traces of cannonballs from the battle of 3 July 1866 can be seen on both gables. During the battle, the headquarters of the Austrian 4th Army Corps was located in the field between the farmstead and Svíb Forest. These represent two different historical connections: traces on a building and the former military function of a field.

Monuments and orientation

The IR 47 + FJB 20 monument stands on the eastern side of Svíb, about 100 metres below the access path. It takes the form of a limestone pyramid on a plinth; inscriptions in Czech and German are also part of its design. Its location, material, form and inscription languages give this monument a distinctive profile among Máslojedy’s historical sites.

The military cemetery is in the northwestern part of the municipality, on the road towards Hořiněves. A description updated in 2012 notes an information board for the Josefov–Smiřice–Chlum 1866 educational trail at the cemetery.

Hiking routes around Svíb

Marked hiking route 115 runs from Všestary railway station via Svíb and Máslojedy to Hořiněves railway station. The Josefov–Smiřice–Chlum 1866 educational trail passes through Josefov, Smiřice, Hořiněves, Máslojedy and Chlum. The Les Svíb educational trail focuses on the forest: it takes visitors into Svíb Forest and the surrounding area of the municipalities of Čistěves and Máslojedy. The bloodiest part of the Prussian-Austrian War took place there in 1866.

The three route descriptions have different focuses: route 115 names two railway stations as its endpoints, the Josefov–Smiřice–Chlum educational trail passes through a series of places, and Les Svíb connects the forest with the historical events of 1866. This comparison can help you decide before your trip which perspective on Máslojedy and its surroundings matters most to you.

Discover more destinations: Lubno, Humburky, Všestary, Blešno, Libřice, Lužec Nad Cidlinou, Mokrovousy, Obědovice

For the broader travel overview: Okres Hradec Králové.