Malá Štáhle: Chapel, Slate Mining and Wallhübel

Malá Štáhle offers several points of interest for a trip: the chapel dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, traces of former slate mining, and the historic site of Wallhübel. The floodplain of the Moravice River is also a habitat for birds. If you are looking for hotels in Malá Štáhle, these different themes can help you choose the focus of your stay.

The Chapel and the History of the Village

The chapel in Malá Štáhle was built in 1759 and is dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. A rare stained-glass Stations of the Cross is preserved inside. The year it was built, its dedication and its features offer different ways of appreciating the chapel: they point to the period when it was built, its religious significance and its distinctive artistic design. The combination of the Stations of the Cross and stained glass makes this detail a distinctive feature of the village’s history.

Malá Štáhle was founded around 1540 by Josef Pňovský of Sovinec. Together with the chapel’s construction date of 1759, this gives two points of reference in time. Just over two centuries lie between them: the village’s founding and the chapel’s construction belong to different periods.

Traces of Slate Mining

In Malá Štáhle, heaps of slate fragments bear witness to the many former slate quarries. These remains point to past slate mining and add a different focus to the village’s history alongside the chapel.

A trail about the traces of slate mining near Malá Štáhle presents the history and remains of local mining. This brings two perspectives together: the heaps as traces in the landscape and the trail as a way to learn about mining history. For travelers interested in the village’s development, this topic complements the story of its religious architecture.

Wallhübel and Its Historical Interpretation

Wallhübel was about half a kilometer from present-day Malá Štáhle, on the left bank of the Moravice River. The site is not signposted and is difficult to make out in the terrain. Bear this in mind when finding your way if you are exploring Wallhübel.

Wallhübel may have served as a defensive structure for guarding a ford across the Moravice. The ford was on a supposed historical route between Silesia and Moravia. Its possible defensive function and the presumed route give the site a different historical perspective from the chapel, whose history is linked to a specific construction date.

The Moravice Floodplain

The floodplain of the meandering Moravice also includes the cadastral area of Malá Štáhle. It is a breeding and refuge area for birds on an important Central European migration route. This adds a distinct natural aspect to the architectural and historical themes. If you are planning your stay around different interests, you can consider the chapel, traces of slate mining, Wallhübel and the river landscape as separate aspects of the village.

Discover more destinations: Moravskoslezský Kočov, Roudno, Hlinka, Nové Heřminovy, Staré Heřminovy, Dvorce U Bruntálu, Vysoká, Lichnov U Bruntálu.

For the broader travel overview: Okres Bruntál.