Malý Bor: Townscape and History

Landscape and a town in two parts

Malý Bor lies west of Horažďovice in gently hilly terrain, in the broad valley of the Mlýnský potok. The landscape and layout of the town are closely linked: historically, Malý Bor developed in two parts. The town center lies on a south-facing slope above the stream; the second district, on the other side of the stream, is called Kuchyňka. The stream thus forms a clear geographical dividing line between the two parts, while the slope and valley shape the setting of the town center. As you explore the town, you can use this layout as a guide to understanding its settlement pattern: the landscape, the course of the stream and the town’s layout are closely connected here.

Church and architectural heritage

The Church of St Mary Magdalene stands on a slight rise. It was probably built between 1200 and 1225. On the south side of its tower are two medieval figurative murals depicting archers; a medieval stone baptismal font has also been preserved inside the church. The date of construction, the murals and the font highlight different aspects of the church’s history: the building’s origins, a clearly defined pictorial motif and an object of church furnishings. The archers give the murals a specific subject, while the font represents another aspect of the furnishings.

The Chapel of St John of Nepomuk in Kuchyňka is one of Malý Bor’s culturally and historically significant sites. It complements the church on the rise with a place of religious significance in the town’s second district. The parish church in Malý Bor preserves a late Gothic portal in its perimeter wall. A different type of building is the masonry farmhouse No. 17, which has a historic black kitchen.

Fortress, trade route and discovery

Remains of the former fortress, including traces of its moat, can be seen at the western end of Malý Bor. Jan Žižka captured and burned down the fortress on 12 October 1420. The visible traces locate the former structure within the townscape; the exact date identifies when it was destroyed. The remains visible today and this precisely dated event thus offer two distinct points of reference for the town’s history.

A historic trade route also connects Malý Bor with a wider region. The route ran from Bavaria via Železná Ruda and Klatovy, then split in the region; one branch continued via Malý Bor and nearby Prácheň to České Budějovice. This route places the town within a historic network linking several named places. Another archaeological point of interest is the bronze hoard found in Malý Bor in 1902, part of which is preserved in the museum in Horažďovice. The find links Malý Bor’s history with a place of safekeeping in the neighboring town.

Discover more destinations: Klatovy, Lesisov, Mochtín, Komušín, Dražovice, Lukoviste, Klenová, Annín.

View the regional travel guide: Klatovy District.