Horní Zálezly
The following text is taken from the file "Notes on the design of the municipal emblem and flag," which was prepared for the municipality of Malečov in 2020 by Stanislav Kasík for the Heraldic Office "Dauphin" in Roudnice nad Labem. Published with the permission of the author and the municipality of Malečov.
In the literature, it is stated that the village of Horní Zálezly, or simply Zálezly, is first mentioned in historical written sources in the founding charter of the Litoměřice Chapter from 1057 (or 1058, Profous, Antonín – Svoboda, Jan: Place Names in Bohemia. Vol. IV., Prague 1957, p. 719; hereafter Profous-Svoboda). This interpretation of the place name in the source is inaccurate and actually refers to Dolní Zálezel, located on the left bank of the Elbe between Lovosice and Ústí nad Labem (Kotyza, Oldřich – Smetana, Jan – Tomas, Jindřich et al.: History of Litoměřice. Litoměřice 1997, pp. 352-353).
Zálezly (Horní) is first mentioned in a charter of Prince Bedřich for the Knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem from 1188. The prince confirmed the possession of certain estates that had been granted to the Order during the reign of Prince Soběslav II (1174-1178) by the nobleman Hroznata of Peruc, called "Crispus" ("Curly"). Among others, eight villages are named, including Zálezly ("Zalezli") (CDB I., no. 320, pp. 292-294). This village has been identified as Horní Zálezly (Velímský, Tomáš: Trans montes, ad fontes! Most 1998, p. 43).
In 1319, the Vartenbergs acquired Střekov Castle. In 1383, the estate included Svádov with its fortress and several villages—e.g., Tašov, Pohoří, Proboštov, and Zálezly (Archiv český, 31. Prague 1921, p. 272, hereafter AC). In the literature, Horní Zálezly has often been confused with Dolní Zálezly (e.g., Profous – Svoboda, IV. 1957 pp. 719-720).
The affiliation of Horní Zálezly ("Salezl", "Zalezly") with the Střekov manor continued in 1787. At that time, Střekov was owned by František Josef, Prince of Lobkowicz, Duke of Roudnice. The village consisted of 16 houses, including the settlement "Buchbusch" ("Beech bush, -brush, -thicket") with four houses (Schaller, V., 1787, p. 294).
In 1833, Horní Zálezly ("Salesel", "Zalezl") was part of the fideicommissary estate of Střekov, whose owner was Ferdinand Josef Jan Nepomucký, Prince of Lobkowicz, Duke of Roudnice. The village had 16 houses with 101 inhabitants, including the solitary "Buchbusch." It was annexed to Proboštov (Church of St. John the Baptist; Sommer, I. 1833, p. 362).
In 1848, Horní Zálezly ("Salesel") belonged to the fideicommissary estate of Střekov, owned by Ferdinand, Prince of Lobkowicz. The village had 16 houses and 114 inhabitants (Palacký, Description, 1848, p. 74).
Otto’s Encyclopedia provides the following information about Horní Zálezly ("Zálezly"). In 1900, the village consisted of 18 houses with 130 inhabitants of German nationality. There were brown coal mines and two mills with sawmills. The village was annexed to Proboštov (Church of St. John the Baptist). It belonged to the governorate and the political district of Litoměřice. The first mention of the village is recorded as 1179—without documentation and probably inaccurately (OSN, XXVII., 1908, p. 406).
Zálezly is a habitational name and means a village of people who have "holed up," inhabiting a hidden or tucked-away place (Profous – Svoboda, IV. 1957, p. 720).
Photo Documentation
Published photographs are protected by copyright. If you are interested in downloading them, please send us a message at info@malecovskyrozhled.cz. The photographs come from private archives, Petr Špaček’s book "How It Was in Ústí nad Labem 2," and especially from the archives of the Ústí nad Labem City Museum. 
