Kostelecké Horky

Kostelecké Horky combines unusual historical traces with an illustrative rural culture. The focal points are the Modrý dům with its exhibitions and events, as well as the remains of the Těšnov fortification. Anyone looking for a place with tangible stories, insights into traditional crafts, and a distinctive regional atmosphere will find several different points of interest here.

The Modrý dům as a center for rural culture

A center for environmental education has been established in the Dům z modrého kamene in Kostelecké Horky. The stone stable of the Modrý dům serves as an exhibition space for themed exhibitions and various events. This brings together nature-related topics, regional history, and cultural activities in one place, without overshadowing the building’s rural origins.

Animals and traditional skills are also part of the experience. At the Modrý dům, visitors can get to know goats, chickens, sheep, and guinea pigs up close. Workshops on traditional craft techniques are also offered. For families, this creates various ways to plan their visit: Encounters with the animals make the place immediately accessible, while the craft activities draw attention to traditional working methods. This allows you to choose between a quiet exhibition, a cultural event, and a practically oriented activity, insofar as the respective offering provides for it.

Těšnov: fortification, earthwork, and local history

The Těšnov fortification, also known as “zpropadený zámek,” lies approximately 2 kilometers northwest of Kostelecké Horky. It is located beside a path that runs through the forest between the two ponds Malý Pobočník and Velký Pobočník. This precise location makes Těšnov a distinctive landmark for anyone wishing to combine historical traces with a landscape of forests and ponds. The distance is deliberately stated approximately: what is described is a distance of about 2 kilometers, not an exactly measured route.

The preserved earthworks give the site an unusual profile. The earthwork has a raised circular inner area, a lower diameter of 44 meters, and a 14-meter-wide moat. The dimensions make the basic structure easy to visualize, without implying any specific present-day use or an open visitor facility from the remains. The remains of the fortification have always belonged to the area of Kostelecké Horky and predate the present-day municipality.

Everyday history in the building complex

Next to the Modrý dům stands a wood-clad, basemented barn from the late 18th century. Its ground floor and first upper floor are devoted to an exhibition on rural household management. The tools, equipment, and everyday objects on display show not only individual items but also a broader picture of past areas of life and work. Together with the stone stable, they provide insight into different aspects of rural life.

The bell of the horecké zvoničky also tells of a specific historical moment: It was hidden in a field in 1917 to prevent its confiscation for military purposes, and it was rung again on November 2, 1918. Details like these give Kostelecké Horky a special historical depth because they connect major historical events with a single local object.

Discover more destinations

If you would like to expand your search beyond Kostelecké Horky, you can also explore Zdelov, Žďár Nad Orlicí, Olesnice V Orlickych Horach, Trnov U Dobrusky, Lípa Nad Orlicí, Jahodov, Opočno and Dobré. This allows you to assess which place best matches your desired balance of history, rural culture, and shared discovery.

Back to the higher-level travel overview: Okres Rychnov Nad Kněžnou.