Malé Kysice: Discover history and cycling options

Visitors hoping to combine a stay in Malé Kysice with cultural history will encounter a range of historical evidence: an archaeological hillfort, a mill with preserved structural features and machinery, and a chapel whose history is told as local lore. These stories span different periods and represent different ways of interpreting the past. At the hillfort, the dating and landscape are key; at Proškův mlýn, the focus is on architectural and technological history; and at the chapel, it is on the tradition passed down through stories.

Hillfort on Vysoký vrch

The archaeological hillfort on Vysoký vrch was discovered in 1961 and dates from the 5th to the 3rd century BC. It is situated on a rocky promontory covering about 1.5 hectares. To the northwest, steep rock faces protect the plateau. The site includes a stone defensive wall, of which only small sections remain today.

To picture the hillfort, it helps to consider the terrain and the wall separately: the steep rock faces shaped the defenses of the plateau, while little of the stone defensive wall remains today. The term “hillfort” should therefore not be confused with the image of a fully preserved castle. The archaeological site can be understood both in terms of its place in prehistory and its setting on the rocky promontory.

Proškův mlýn and traces of the past

Proškův mlýn is located in the Malé Kyšice area. It was first mentioned in writing in 1432, and the surrounding walls from that period have also been preserved. Inside are a black kitchen with a smoke chamber dating from the 18th century, as well as mill machinery documenting developments from the 17th to the early 20th century. The written record, preserved walls and machinery therefore offer insights into different periods in the mill’s history.

Proškův mlýn is open to the public several times a year. Check the dates before your visit. If you are interested in historic buildings, the mill offers details about its interior and the development of milling technology, as well as its early written record.

The story of the chapel

Kaplička Panny Marie Žlábecké is also associated with local lore. According to legend, the Pěnkava couple had the chapel built in 1649 at a spring with healing waters after their blind daughter, Sabina, recovered her sight. The story connects the spring with a specific reason for building the chapel and a family tale; its character as a handed-down tradition is an essential part of how it should be understood. It offers a different perspective on the area's history than the archaeological dating of the hillfort or the mill’s architectural and technological history.

Cycling options and directions

Netopýr Bike offers a bike park, a pump track and trails. Visitor facilities may change, so check the information again before your trip. A section of the Stezkami Barrandienu route, marked in red, leads to the center of Malé Kysice. Markings and trail surfaces may change, so follow the current signs on site.

Discover more destinations: Buštěhrad, Stradonice, Dřínov, Velké Přítočno, Podlešín, Kmetiněves, Unhost, Smečno

For the broader travel overview: Okres Kladno.