Horka U Staré Paky

Horka u Staré Paky combines expansive views, transport history and concrete opportunities for a varied stay. The village lies at an elevation of 503 metres above sea level and offers an unobstructed view of the entire Krkonoše panorama. At the same time, a protected signpost, a historic inn and a former school tell of the different chapters that have shaped Horka u Staré Paky.

A Place on Old Transport Routes

The origins of the village are closely connected with its location at a crossroads of country roads. Horka u Staré Paky was established in 1823 as a resting place and transshipment point for goods. Carters from Vrchlabí, Trutnov, Broumov, Rokytnice and Nový Svět passed through here on their way via Horka to Brno and Prague and back. The first building was the Formanka inn, constructed at this crossroads with large stables; it was very well known in the region.

This history remains tangible: the stone signpost with a kilometre stone documents the history of Horka u Staré Paky and road traffic during the interwar period in Czechoslovakia. The protected signpost is an approximately two-metre-high obelisk. Its raised directional signs, destination names, elevation figures and distances in kilometres make it a vivid testimony to earlier navigation and transport connections.

Hiking with Clear Landmarks

The present-day tourist signpost also indicates a specific direction. A green marker points towards Nová Paka and Pecka, while a yellow marker points towards Borovnice and Pecka. For you, this primarily means that the route can be followed on site using visible markings and destination signs, without the village appearing merely as a place to pass through.

On the green-marked section of the Borovnice–Kozinec–Nová Paka hiking route, the path initially follows the road below Šturmův kopec. It then continues along a field track up the hill and subsequently returns to the main road. The route passes through the forest to the first houses of Horka u Staré Paky. This allows an excursion to be experienced as a sequence of different landscape impressions: road, field track, hill, forest and finally the village.

In the nearby area, the 33-metre-high Kozinec u Vidochova lookout tower offers views of the Krkonoše Mountains and the Bohemian Paradise. Together with Horka’s open panorama, it creates an excursion setting that combines both distant views and orientation within the local landscape.

Culture, Exercise and Local History

The former German primary school in Nedaříž currently (2024) houses a municipal cultural hall. The building was reconstructed between 2002 and 2004. For visitors interested in local history, this present-day cultural venue complements the older evidence at the crossroads and the signpost with a more recent history of use.

There is also a publicly accessible workout area next to the football pitch in Horka u Staré Paky. Its equipment includes horizontal bars, parallel bars, ladder rungs and other simple apparatus for exercises, mainly using body weight. This is an independent opportunity for outdoor exercise, while the historic sites and marked paths offer a different way to experience the village.

Bergerova chicory is also part of Horka u Staré Paky’s inherited history: it became known throughout Austria as a product of the highest quality. In terms of how the village is perceived, this reference to a formerly renowned product adds to the history of transport, trade and regional work.

Further Places for Your Research

If you would like to compare Horka U Staré Paky with other destinations, here are the directly associated places: Tatobity, Jilemnice, Karlovice, Lomnice Nad Popelkou, Roztoky U Semil, Štěpanická Lhota, Končiny and Košov.

For the higher-level travel overview: Semily District.