Horky: Church, History and Railway

Horky combines Baroque architecture, early local history, memorial sites and railway history. If you would like to combine your stay with specific historical discoveries, St. Wenceslas Church takes you through several eras: its Romanesque core dates back approximately to the early 13th century, while its present appearance is shaped by the Baroque period.

St. Wenceslas on the Hill

The branch church of St. Wenceslas is a Baroque building with originally Romanesque sections of masonry. Its simple late Baroque exterior is defined by broad windows with segmental-arch tops. The church is surrounded by a cemetery enclosed by a stone wall. Inside is a Baroque organ loft from the mid-18th century, built at the same time as the church. The wooden Rococo pulpit on the north side of the nave also dates from the mid-18th century; it is accessible from the sacristy.

The church’s location also makes it a prominent landmark in Horky. It stands on a low, clearly visible hill where the Čáslav Basin gradually transitions into the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands. The view reaches even further back into local history: Horky was first mentioned in writing in 1268, when a priest from Horky was mentioned. A fortress in Horky was first mentioned in 1454 and later disappeared. During the fighting in 1618, Horky and its church burned down.

Memorial Sites with Specific Stories

The Pomník padlých commemorates five people who lost their lives in Horky under the gunfire of the occupying forces on May 5, 1945. Among the dead were members of the resistance, which had just been established. Another story is told by the Pomník inženýra Muchy: it was erected at the site of the accident in 1935, one year after it occurred. During training for the same race, the driver left the road near Horky on June 6, 1934, was seriously injured and died from his injuries on June 24, 1934. The Pomníček Josefa Havelky commemorates the farmer Josef Havelka from Potěhy, who was shot dead in Daleky on January 23, 1902.

Horky and Railway Line 230

Horky u Čáslavi railway station is located on line 230 between Kolín and Havlíčkův Brod. It offers barrier-free access to the station building or shelter and to all platforms. After the important railway line was built in the 1880s, Horky grew considerably. The development of the town is therefore also part of its history, which you can trace here not only at the church but also along the railway line and at the memorials.

More Destinations for Your Research

You can continue your search for suitable places at the same navigation level with Ledečko, Košice U Nepoměřic, Petrovice Ii, Rataje Nad Sázavou, Vidice, Mocovice, Rohozec and Svatý Mikuláš.

For the higher-level travel overview: Kutná Hora District.