Destinations for excursions and attractions in the surroundings of Karlovy Vary

Bohemia in the Czech Republic is a wonderful travel destination. The region has a lot of interesting history to offer from many centuries, but Bohemia also has a very attractive and varied landscape. Bohemia has always been one of the wealthiest regions in Europe and we still benefit from this today. There are many beautiful old towns and noble residences. For centuries, Bohemia has been a popular meeting place for monarchs and important personalities. The spa triangle around Karlovy Vary, Mariánské Lázně and Františkovy Lázně is one of the most famous destinations in the region. The towns are uniquely beautiful and I couldn't get enough of the magnificent architecture. But there is also a lot to discover in the area around Karlovy Vary. Here I show you my favorite excursion destinations around Karlovy Vary. All of these sights are close to Karlovy Vary and take no more than 45 minutes to reach. In the area around Karlovy Vary, I discovered many sights that correspond exactly to my interests: a monastery with a beautiful baroque library, a picturesque castle, a Masonic lodge, a ruined church and a church full of ghosts. Join me now on a little journey through western Bohemia, I'm sure you'll find something worth seeing.

Excursion to the small town of Loket - elbows in German

The small town of Loket is only 14 kilometers away from Karlovy Vary. The town has just over 3000 inhabitants but is so interesting and diverse that I spent a whole day there. The best known is probably the Loket Castle, perched on a steep rock above the town. But it's not just the castle that is enchanting - the whole town is. The old town center is completely preserved and offers not only beautiful old houses, but also many restaurants, small individual stores and a Masonic museum.

Loket Castle

Rarely is a castle as picturesque as the one in Loket. Although it is located in the middle of the town, it is enthroned on a rock above the village. Loket Castle is huge and there is an incredible amount to discover. The castle museum is so varied that we didn't see everything, even though we spent the whole afternoon there.

History of Loket Castle

Loket Castle is over 800 years old and belongs to the the oldest stone castles in Bohemia. It was built in the 12th century at the behest of the Bohemian prince and later king Vladislav II, but there were probably a Slavic castle already stood on this site or fortification. The castle was extended and rebuilt over the centuries and Gothic extensions were added to the Romanesque buildings. Many kings and their families visited Loket Castle or even lived there. King Wenceslas I of Bohemia and Emperor Conrad IV of the Hohenstaufen dynasty negotiated here. Later, Queen Elisabeth of Bohemia and her children repeatedly hid in the castle, seeking protection from her husband John of Luxembourg. Her three-year-old son Wenceslas, who later became Emperor Charles IV, was held prisoner here in the cellar for two months. Nevertheless, he enjoyed visiting the castle throughout his life and returned to Loket time and again. Loket Castle is also associated with the Founding legend of Karlovy Vary connected.

After the Thirty Years' War, the castle was no longer inhabited and served as a prison and camp. However, castles were very popular during the Romantic period and Loket was rebuilt. The extensive castle complex now serves as a museum. Here the History of the region but also part of the famous Loket meteorite. Old Christian and Jewish gravestones can be seen in the inner courtyard and in the cellar rooms there is a old dungeon is also a torture museum.

Hrad Loket, Zámecká 67, 357 33 Loket, Czech Republic
Opening hours: November to March 9.00 am to 3.30 pm, April, May, September, October until 4.30 pm and in June to August 9.00 am to 6.30 pm

Museum of secret societies in the Loket Masonic Lodge - with hotel

The Loket Masonic Lodge is located directly on the market square. Today, the lodge houses a hotel and a masonic museum. I find it exciting to spend the night in a masonic lodge. But when I was in Loket, the small hotel was already fully booked. At least I was able to take a look inside the Masonic Museum. The museum is small, but very diverse. Many of the exhibits are from the Freemasons, but visitors can also learn about the Rosicrucians and the Illuminati. The small museum not only displays Masonic clothing or a replica of a lodge, but also many ritual objects, symbols and tools. When the owners have time, visitors also get a free guided tour. After visiting the museum, I regretted all the more that I couldn't spend the night within these walls.

Muzeum tajných spolků, T. G. Masaryka 114, 357 33 Loket, Czech Republic
Opening hours: During the opening hours of the hotel reception; if someone is there, you can visit the museum.

Teplá Monastery with baroque library

I love monasteries, and when they have libraries, I love them even more. The Premonstratensian monastery in Teplá is located pretty much exactly between Karlovy Vary and Pilsen. Although it is about 40 km away from Karlovy Vary, it was an absolute must-see for me.A worthwhile excursion destination. The extensive monastery complex is idyllically situated away from the town, in the middle of a large monastery garden. Some of the monastery buildings have been perfectly renovated, but some are still somewhat dilapidated, which gives the place a special charm. In addition to the imposing Baroque church, the monastery museum and the beautiful library near the monastery you will find a old derelict cemetery.

History of Teplá Monastery

In the second half of the 13th century, 12 monks from the Strahov monastery, not far from Prague, were sent to Teplá to found a new Premonstratensian monastery. The Premonstratensians were called to Bohemia to bring the Christian faith to the Slavic population. The monastery quickly developed into the cultural center of the region, as already inn the Middle Ages there was a Latin school, a scriptorium and a library here. When silver deposits were discovered in the area in the 15th century, this brought great prosperity to the monastery. Most of the current buildings date from the Baroque period, as almost the entire monastery burned down and was rebuilt in 1677. Both the monastery and the library were extended during the Baroque period.

Library of Teplá Monastery

The The library of Teplá is very old, It was built soon after the monastery was founded in the Middle Ages. At that time, there was also a scriptorium in the monastery where books were written and painted. In the 15th century, the library already contained around 700 handwritten books. In the 18th century, the library was greatly expanded and Books from all fields of knowledge acquired in a wide variety of languages. Today, the library comprises around 108,000 volumes, 804 manuscripts and 537 incunabula.

The monastery is still used today as a religious house; only parts of the monastery, the monastery church and the library are open to visitors.

Teplá Abbey, 364 61 Klášter Teplá 1, Czech Republic
Opening hours: daily from 9.00 to 15.30; admission is only possible as part of a guided tour, guided tours take place every hour.

Former cemetery of Teplá Abbey

There is an old, dilapidated cemetery about 500 meters from Tepl Abbey. I love old cemeteries, so I really want to mention this one. The cemetery is located away from the road, in the middle of a field and is surrounded by a wall. If you don't know that this cemetery exists, you won't find it. This cemetery has probably not been used since the Second World War, perhaps even much earlier. Today it is quite dilapidated, the gravestones are overturned and overgrown. But this is precisely what gives the place its gloomy and enchanted atmosphere. You can tell from the inscriptions that most of the gravestones date from the 19th century, some even from the early 20th century. Almost all the names on the graves are in German, and the cemetery is a reminder that Bohemia was once German-speaking and part of the Habsburg Empire.

GPS coordinates: 49° 58′ 12.9″ N, 12° 52′ 49.76″ E

Hike to the ruins of the baroque church of St. Blasius

Ruins are always worthwhile destinations for me. After all, ruined places inspire my imagination. Perhaps I owe this to my favorite painter Caspar David Friedrich, because church and church ruins in particular There is something mystical about monastery ruins for me. The ruins of the baroque church are located on the edge of the forest, surrounded by fields and trees, far away from the villages. It cannot be reached by car. However, a visit can be wonderfully combined with a combine a short hikeThe slightly hilly surroundings with forests and lakes are very scenic.

The baroque church was built in 1732-1733 as a small branch of the Tepl monastery. However, the remote location was already something special in the Middle Ages, as a Gothic chapel had stood here since 1320, on the foundations of which the Baroque church was built. The baroque church was used until the 1950s, but in 1957 it was struck by lightning and burned down. It has been in ruins ever since.

Kostel svatého Blažeje, Branišov
GPS coordinates: 49°59′49.87″ N , 13°1′5.88″ E

The ghost church of Luková

We've saved the best for last. The Czech ghost church is the perfect excursion destination near Karlovy Vary for all friends of the mysterious and macabre, for dark romantics and seekers of abandoned places. The ghost church has been on my wish list for a very long time and now this wish has finally come true. The ghost church is art. The small Gothic church of St. George in the village of Luková was built in the 14th century, but it burned down in 1797 and was rebuilt in neo-Gothic style. In 1968, the roof of the church collapsed and it has not been used for services since then. Today, the church would be an abandoned place, but on Saturday afternoons, tourists from all over the world flock here because the church is full of ghosts. The faceless beings in white cloaks are gruesome, yet fascinating. It is the bachelor's thesis of art and design student Jakub Hadrava, who wanted to use the faceless figures to commemorate the Sudeten Germans who once lived here. The student inserted ghostly plaster casts of his fellow students into the dilapidated church pews. The vabandoned and dilapidated church is now populated by ghostly figures. The atmosphere is incredible, the morbid charm of the place really captivated me.

Kostel Sv. Jiri, Luková, 331 62 Manětín, Czech Republic
Opening hours: April to October, only on Saturdays from 13:00 to 16:00

Bohemia is exciting, diverse and full of history

My two-week trip through the Czech Republic and Slovakia took me to various parts of the country. I only planned three nights for West Bohemia, which is actually far too little, as this part of the Czech Republic offers an incredible amount of varied history and many places worth seeing. When I travel, I naturally want to see castles and palaces. But I also love old towns and churches and monasteries and libraries, of course. And I'm always on the lookout for places that are a little off the beaten track. In Bohemia, I managed to achieve this mix very well because the sights are so numerous and varied. All the places I'm showing you here today were worth a trip for me. Of course, these destinations around Karlovy Vary have been put together to suit my taste. Nevertheless, I hope that you will find one or two suggestions.

More recommendations for a trip to Bohemia

Vogtlandzauber also shows you how beautiful the town and castle of Loket can be.

On the blog "Hier Da Dort" you can find some recommendations for lost places and abandoned places in Bohemia.

Frauke from "Reisen und Blog" takes you on a journey through the spa triangle, to Karlovy Vary, Mariánské Lázně and Františkovy Lázně.