Michalovice: Memorials, History and Hiking

Michalovice lies five kilometres southwest of Havlíčkův Brod on the road to Humpolec. It is situated in the Úsobský potok area, where the landscape is gently rolling and used for agriculture. Two themes stand out when planning a trip: local history, including Karel Kutlvašr and the memorial sites, and hiking, with Michalovice serving as a destination, a point along a route or a starting point.

Local History and Karel Kutlvašr

In 1377, Michalovice was mentioned under the name “villa Michalowicz”. The name is interpreted as “village of Michal’s people”. In 1430, Michalovice belonged to Mikuláš z Lípy and was therefore part of Lipnice Castle’s domain. These historical connections give the village a long history, which can also be traced through its memorials.

Karel Kutlvašr was born on 27 January 1895 in Michalovice near Havlíčkův Brod. He served in the Czechoslovak Legions and commanded a company in the Battle of Zborov in July 1917. In 1928, at the age of 33, he became one of the youngest generals in the Czechoslovak Army. In May 1945, he led the fighting on the barricades during the Prague Uprising. A marble memorial plaque with gold lettering was unveiled on his birth house in May 1991.

Another historical trace is the Michalovský, also known as Dočkalův, mill. The mill is located on a millrace of the Úsobský potok stream. An entry in the parish registers of Krásná Hora parish dated 29 March 1676 mentions the Michalovský mill.

Memorial Sites in Michalovice

The monument to those who fell in the First World War stands in a small park on the village square. Its inscription lists six names: Frant. Kutlvašr, Frant. Kučírek, Josef Blažek, Josef Fikar, Jan Morkus and Václav Technik. It also bears the years 1914–1918.

Two different memorials also commemorate Romanian soldiers. The monument to the soldiers of the Romanian Army stands at a junction on the edge of the village, where the road to Humpolec branches off. The memorial cross to Romanian soldiers, by contrast, is in a small wooden chapel with a wooden cross at the boundary between forest and meadow. This site is in the cadastral area of Michalovice, very close to the municipal boundary of Petrkov.

Hiking with Michalovice as a Destination and Route Point

A blue-marked trail ran along the Úsobský potok stream to Michalovice. This route was described in 2024. Before setting out on your own hike, check the current route and trail conditions.

A KČT hike in July 2018 covered six kilometres from Dočkalův mill to Michalovice; from there, the group continued by bus. The Havlíčkobrodská padesátka 2024 offered a longer route option: its 25-kilometre hiking route ran from Havlíčkův Brod through Petrkov, Lípa, Dobrohostov and Michalovice to Poděbaby, and then back to Havlíčkův Brod.

On 10 January 2026, a KČT group took a bus from Havlíčkův Brod to Michalovice and hiked from there through the snow-covered countryside to Okrouhlice. These examples show the different roles the village can play: the destination of a six-kilometre hike, a point on a 25-kilometre loop and the starting point of a winter hike. The tours mentioned relate to the respective years and outings; check current trail conditions when planning your own trip.

Discover more destinations: Havlickuv Brod, Dolní Sokolovec, Dolni Krupa, Lipnice Nad Sazavou, Jeřišno, Česká Bělá, Pohled, Horní Krupá

For the broader travel overview: Okres Havlíčkův Brod.