you are here: introduction » surroundings

Loket and its Surroundings - Karlovy Vary, Cheb, Mariánské Lázně...

Town Loket

You can find both the town and the castle surrounded by the Ohře River in Western Bohemia. Loket is a significant tourist place. Tourists came here not only for historical monuments and a picturesque surrounding landscape, but also for sports. Loket and its closest surroundings are suitable for walking tours as well as cycling trips, water sports etc. From Loket it is not far to other significant Western Bohemian towns, such as Cheb, Karlovy Vary, Františkovy Lázně, Mariánské Lázně etc.

Town History

The town arose below the Loket Castle in 1240 and, they together formed an important defensive complex. In his youth, at his father´s command, Charles IV spent two months imprisoned here. Then, in his adulthood, he often participated in hunts in the royal game-preserve.

Fame of this significant royal town disappeared after the Thirty Years´ War, another infliction was the big fire that affected the historical town centre in 1725. The town did not re-gained its previous fame even after renewal of the places destroyed by the fire. Only in the 19th century the Haidinger brothers´ porcelain manufacture brought fame to the town. In the 1850s industrial enterprises in Loket were joined by a glass products manufacture. However, industrial production began to decline together with development of the neighbouring towns.

Loket Today

Undoubtedly, the main attraction of the former royal town is the Loket Castle, that has surpassed the town since the 12th century. Surely, the most popular parts of the Castle exhibition are the castle prison with an authentic exhibition of torture, the museum of arms and the porcelain exhibition. However, in the fascinating historical zone you can find more objects worth seeing:

Sport Facilities

Cyclists as well as walking tourists may utilize many tourist paths. The most famous one leads from Loket to Karlovy Vary along the Ohře River side. If you decide to take this way, in a moment you will come upon Svatošské skály. The information board will help you orientate in a petrified bridal procession formed by individual rocks. This is a suitable place for climbers as well as water sportsmen who consider this section of the Ohře River the most beautiful.

upwards

Karlovy Vary

The most significant spa town of the Czech Republic was established by Charles IV after his hunting suite discovered, when hunting, the first hot spring. Karlovy Vary might not have been without the Loket Castle, from where the emperor used to go out hunting to the royal game-preserve.

Thousands of tourists are attracted to Karlovy Vary, besides unique spa treatment, by large spa forests interlaced with many paths and walkways with romantic lookout points, resting and similar stopping places, various sports grounds and unique architectural landmarks:

upwards

Horní Slavkov

It is especially the town monument reserve that invites to visit this Western Bohemian town. Horní Slavkov is also famous thanks to establishment of the first porcelain manufacture in Bohemia. Recent history of the town is also connected with uranium mines that served as labour camps for prisoners of the communistic regime.

If you set out on the trip to Horní Slavkov, do not forget to visit:

upwards

Protected Landscape Area Slavkov Forest

The Slavkov Forest (Slavkovský les) is situated in a so-called spa triangle between Karlovy Vary, Mariánské Lázně and Františkovy Lázně. The protected landscape area´s nature, which has not been heavily destroyed yet, includes extensive peat bogs, Swiss mountain pine (Pinus rotundata) stands and other endemic plants, such as arnica (Arnica montana), round-leaved sundew (Drosera rotundifolia), serpentine spleenwort (Asplenium cuneifolium), orchids (Dactylorhiza) etc. From the animal kingdom you can meet stags, stoats, wild boars, capercaillies and others.

You can set out on the trip to the Slavkov Forest on the marked tourist paths and themed nature trailsthat will direct you not only to the nature features, but also to the near monuments.

upwards

Bečov nad Teplou

Another significant castle and chateau complex in Western Bohemia is Bečov. The castle part originally from the 14th century, and the chateau from the 18th century, are a popular tourist destination. Besides beautiful chateau parks and interiors, the biggest attraction is St. Maurus Reliquary. It is the most significant jeweller relique right after the crown jewels.

Below the castle and the chateau a picturesque monument zone is situated, including:

upwards

Ostrov

The town Ostrov is situated 13 km to the north of Karlovy Vary. Its historical centre is worth visiting. The Ostrov´s recent architecture bears significant elements of socialist realism. Undoubtedly, its main representative is the House of Culture on the square Náměstí Míru.

Curiosities in Ostrov:

upwards

Cheb

Cheb was first mentioned at the beginning of the 11^th century. Thanks to many significant architectural monuments it was declared a monument reserve. The symbol of the town with an extensive history is Špalíček – a group of patrician houses you will find on the square. The town historical centre is full of places that are definitely worth seeing:

• Castle area with municipal fortification
• Špalíček
• St. Nicholas´ Church
• St. Wenceslas´Church
• Franciscan Church

• Regional museum
• St. Bartolomeo´s Church
• Maria Loreto
• and many others

upwards

Františkovy Lázně

At the end of the 18^th century the emperor Francis´ village and the first spa house were established in the area with many mineral springs. A few years later this place was renamed the Spa of the Emperor Francis I. Since that time thousands of patients have come here for treament every year. Besides balneology the town is famous for many monuments and curiosities:

• INGO Casino
• Božena Němcová´s Theatre
• Town museum
• Strange Lookout
• Belvedere

• St. Jacob´s Cathedral
• Evangelic Church
• Orthodox St. Olga´s Church
• Church of St. Cross Raise
• Aquapark Aquaform

upwards

Nature Reserve Soos

Soos is an extensive complex of peat bogs and fens, in which mineral springs and gases rise. Thanks to unique conditions many rear and endangered species occur here. Soos is interlaced with paths an footways. You will learn interesting information on the local nature on the themed nature trail that will lead you around small lakes, gas blowouts, salt marshes, reeds etc.

upwards

Mariánské Lázně

Mariánské Lázně is the second largest spa town in the Czech Republic, right after Karlovy Vary. Patients are treated by unique thermal springs here too. Tourists come here especially for spa treatment. Other attractions are architectural landmarks and the unique Singing Fountain in front of the main colonnade. In the town surroundings there are tourist paths with various demand factors.

Monuments in Mariánské Lázně:

upwards

Spa Kynžvart

Nearby Mariánské lázně the spa town is situated. The local Chateau Kynžvarthas brought fame to Kynžvart rather than the spa which is designed especially for children. The sightseeing tour passes through 25 rooms that include, besides prestige halls, private rooms and a dining room, for example the chateau museum or the cabinet of curiosities. There is a large park around the chateau. Besides ponds, woods pavilions and chapels you can also meet a natural sand-stone pool.

upwards

Teplá Abbey

Teplá Abbey lies several kilometres to the East of Mariánské Lázně. It was established at the end of the 12^th century by the Czech aristocrat Hroznata as compensation for his participation in the Crusade. The building, which was originally Roman, underwent reconstruction in the 18^th century and thus got its today´s baroque look. In the buildings complex there is a unique abbey church and the abbey library. The abbey is surrounded by an extensive park with a small lake. It serves as a place for meditation and relaxation.

upwards