Hrad a zámek Bečov Klášter Teplice Klášter Teplice Rozhledna Cibulka Zámek Chýše Zámek Kynžvart Historical Monuments Karlovy Vary Region Krásenská rozhledna A wide range of cultural monuments is waiting for you in the Region of Karlovy Vary. Apart from the ubiquitous spa architecture, largely represented by spa colonnades, there are lots of castles, chateaus, folk and religious monuments to be seen. Let us not forget ruins and technical monuments. Explore the historical sights and monument of the Region of Karlovy Vary... Brief history of the Teplá Monastery Premonstratensian Monastery in Teplá The premises of the monastery, which was established in 1193 by the blessed Hroznata, are one of the most significant in the Czech Republic. The monastery served the Premonstratensians for centuries, until the end of World War II. In 1950 it was closed down along with other monasteries in Czechoslovakia and it was used as the Czechoslovak People’s Army garrison for 28 years. Only the church and library have been accessible to the tourists since 1958. After the army left them, the buildings kept falling into disrepair. The monastery, damaged heavily by years of neglect, was given back to the Premonstratensian Order only after 1990, and a gradual reconstruction of the whole premises has been going on since. Concerts and exhibitions take place in the Monastery besides regular worship services. The monastery premises include a Baroque Convent, a Gothic presbytery of the abbey church with a Romanesque chapel, a unique abbey library, its 100,000 volumes making it the second largest historical library in Bohemia, a park, a cemetery and a museum. The most significant building here is the Church of the Annunciation of the Lord erected in 1193 - 1232. The buildings of brewery, hayloft and granary belong to the monastery as well. The monastery can be visited throughout most of the year. Andělská hora Castle Ruins The ruins of the Gothic castle known as Andělská hora (German: Engeslburg, English: Angel Mountain) are located not far from Karlovy Vary. Unfortunately, nothing has been preserved from the original Reisenburg structure built at the turn of the 14th and 15th century. Most of the still visible remnants of the castle architecture come from the reconstruction in late Gothic style carried out by the Lords of Plavno at the turn of the 15th and 16th century. Although only few walls remain standing today, the castle ruins are a popular outing destination. The missing parts of the late Gothic castle are more than compensated by a magnificent view of the countryside in the surroundings of Karlovy Vary. Lookout Tower on Klínovec Lookout Tower on Klínovec The present-day lookout tower is already the fourth structure built on Klínovec (German: Keilberg, 1244m), the highest mountain in Krušné hory (Ore Mountains). The building complex consisting of a hotel and a lookout tower acquired its current appearance after a devastating fire and subsequent reconstruction in the 1930s. In addition to the 24-metre high lookout tower with the adjoining hotel, an 80-metre high television tower has been erected, which dominates the surrounding countryside. From October 2013 the lookout tower is again accessible to the public and offers a magnificent view of the Czech and German part of Krušné hory (Ore Mountains). Loket Castle Loket Castle has been standing on a marked bill by the Ohře River near Karlovy Vary since the early 13th century. For centuries, the Gothic castle was a strategic defence point. Nowadays, it is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the Region of Karlovy Vary. History of Loket Castle The preserved Romanesque structures include the extremely valuable rotunda, foundations of the castle tower, and the substructures of the north palace. The castle more or less acquired its present-day appearance as a result of an extensive reconstruction completed during the reign of Václav IV, which included, for example, the building of the so-called "Margrave House". Additional reconstructions took place in the second half of the 15th century and they mostly affected the main south palace where the stately hall was built during the rule of the Šliks, and the east palace where the Šlik archive was built. Rather unfavourable for the castle was its conversion into a prison, which was effected in the early 19th century – most of the buildings were lowered by one floor and one of the oldest parts of the castle known as the "Stone Room" was demolished completely. Tours of Loket Castle There are many interesting things to see at Loket Castle. The most popular of its expositions include the castle prison with an authentic torture display, the museum of weapons, and the porcelain exhibition. The castle is entwined with many tales and legends, such as the legend of Gottstain, the ruler of the Loket cliffs and rocks and of the Underworld, the tale of the magic-struck burgrave, or the tale of the dragon in the castle tower. The historical Jeroným Mine The historical Jeroným Mine is situated in the Sokolov district. The Jeroným Mine, in which largely tin ore was extracted, is a significant monument documenting the level of development of mining in the 15th and 16th century. The central part of the deposit houses beautiful chambers, rest areas and ledges from the 16th century. The mine corridors still bear distinct traces of ancient mining practices using mallets and pickers or firing. The Jeroným Mine has been declared a National cultural monument in 1998 and salvage operations are currently underway. At present, the mine is accessible to the public from May to mid-October. Mill Colonnade in Karlovy Vary The Mill Colonnade (Mlýnská kolonáda) is probably the most popular colonnade in the city. It was built next to the Spa III (Lázně III) building by the famous architect Josef Zítek between 1871 and 1881. Consequently, in 1893, the colonnade was extended to the Rock Spring (Skalní pramen) and today measures 132 meters. This covered walkway, which is supported by 124 Corinthian columns, houses an orchestra pit and five mineral springs. The walls are decorated with allegorical reliefs and the roof terraces are home to 12 statues. Springs: Rock Spring (Skalní pramen) Libuše Spring (Pramen Libuše) Springs of Princes Wenceslas I and Wenceslas II (Pramen knížete Václava I., Pramen knížete Václava II.) Mill Spring (Mlýnský pramen) Rusalka Spring (Pramen Rusalka) Kynžvart Chateau One of the most beautiful chateaus in the region built in Viennese Classicism style may be found in the spa town of Kynžvart. It attracts visitors namely by its collections of the famous Austrian Chancellor, Prince Klemens von Metternich. You may visit the chancellor's library, his study with a folding table, his smoking parlour with four valuable altar paintings, as well as the chateau armoury and chapel. One of the highlights is the renowned cabinet of curiosities with Egyptian mummies, the comb of Empress Marie Therese, the writing desk of Alexander Dumas, and many other interesting artefacts. You will see all this on a single guided excursion route. The chateau is surrounded by an English-style landscaped park spreading over an area of 300 hectares. There are 10 ponds in the park, as well as numerous smaller period-style structures and monuments that create a remarkable liaison. The park is adjoined by an 18-hole golf course. Cheb Castle The history of Cheb Castle (German: Eger) dates back to the early 12th century. The foundation of the castle and its development are closely tied to the Štauf family, from which a number of Roman emperors and German kings were descended. The Štauf family rebuilt the castle into an imperial palatinate at the end of the 12th century, i.e. the only representative of this type of castle architecture on the territory of the Czech Republic. Only the torso of the ostentatious palace, the robust Black Tower and especially the unique two-storey Romanesque and Gothic Chapel of St. Martin, St. Erhard and Ursula have been preserved from the once extensive castle stronghold. On the castle grounds, you may also visit the casemates with an exposition dedicated to the history of stove building in the area of Cheb, the remains of the outbuilding known as the Kuchelhaus, or the Mill Tower. In the court, you may see tombstones from the original Slavic burial grounds located on the site of the present-day chapel, the castle well, or the castle cannons. Bečov Castle Chateau The late Gothic castle and Baroque chateau are a hard to overlook dominant in the town of Bečov nad Teplou situated in the valley of the Teplá River. The library and the chateau chapel are definitely worth visiting during a tour of the chateau interiors. As a particularly valuable example of medieval goldsmithery, the Romanesque Reliquary of Saint Maurus from the first third of the 13th century is much sought after among visitors. St. Maurus Reliquary The Romanesque St. Maurus Reliquary is the most significant monument in the region (national cultural monument) and it is the second most precious example of medieval jewellery making in the Czech Republic, after the crown jewels. History of the Reliquary The reliquary was made in the first third of the 13th century for the Benedictine Monastery in Florennes, present-day Belgium, to hold the relics of St. Maurus, St. Timothy, St. John the Baptist and St. Apolinar. Following the dissolution of the monastery during the French Revolution, the reliquary was bought by Alfred de Beaufort-Spontin who had the reliquary restored and brought it with him to his Bečov estate. When the Beauforts were forced to leave Bečov after World War II had ended, they secretly buried the reliquary under the floor in the castle chapel where it lay hidden for almost 40 years. The reliquary was finally found in 1985, in a very poor condition though. The painstaking restoration of the rare and unique artefact of European significance lasted 11 long years. The reliquary is of rectangular shape, its top side shaped like a saddleback roof. The core was originally made of oak, during restoration it was replaced by a walnut wood core though. The reliquary is decorated by a number of reliefs and sculptures from gilded silver, precious stones, filigrees and gems from precious and semi-precious stones. Statues of St. Maurus and Jesus Christ are placed on the faces. The upper walls are decorated by round medallions with scenes from the lives of St. Timothy and St. John the Baptist, with statues of the apostles on the side walls. The reliquary and the display related to it can be seen at Bečov Chateau as part of tour routes I and III. Admission Fee Chlum Svaté Maří Provostry Premises The origins of the pilgrimage place of Chlum Svaté Maří are tied with a legend about the Gothic sculpture of a sitting Virgin Mary with Baby Jesus discovered by a young journeyman. This statue kept returning to this place every time it was removed, so the journeyman had built a wooden shelter for it. Over time several other buildings protecting the statue were erected instead of it, until the Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene was constructed around 1400. The extensive Baroque premises of the pilgrimage temple and adjacent monastery were built in 1687-1728 by the plans of Christoph Dientzenhofer, along with the provostry administered by the Knights of the Cross with the Red Star. Chlum Svaté Maří used to be one of the busiest pilgrimage places in the Czech lands in the 18th century and its popularity was not limited even by the reforms of Joseph II. At the late 1950’s the Knights of the Cross were expelled and the provostry was changed into a rooming house and later to a depository of a church art collection. In 1958 the whole premises of the pilgrimage church and adjacent monastery and provostry were included in the cultural heritage list. The property was not maintained though and it fell into disrepair. After the return of the Knights of the Cross with the Red Star the premises are being reconstructed gradually. Diana Observation Tower in Karlovy Vary The Diana Tower was built in 1914 as an excursion destination for the spa visitors of Karlovy Vary. A café with a restaurant for 250 persons were built in the vicinity of the tower on the hill known as “Výšina přátelství” (Friendship Height). You may reach the tower either by walking up the forest paths or by taking the funicular from Grandhotel Pupp. Thanks to an extensive reconstruction of the observation tower in 1997, you may choose whether to reach the lookout gallery located at the height of 25 metres by climbing 150 stairs or more comfortably by a lift. The lookout gallery offers a view of almost the entire city of Karlovy Vary, the lovely valleys of the Ohře and Teplá Rivers, and you may also admire most of the excursion destinations in the vast spa woods. The north horizon is dominated by the range of Krušné hory (Ore Mountains) with its highest peak Klínovec. The south and east views offer a panorama of Doupovské hory (Doupov Mountains) and Slavkovský les (Slavkov Forest). Jewish Cemetery in Karlovy Vary The Jewish community in Karlovy Vary significantly contributed to the development of the spa town. Almost 10 % of the town inhabitants were of Jewish descent. Today, the only living Jewish community in the region may be found in Karlovy Vary. It takes care of the local cemetery with the ceremonial hall from the 19th century that both continue to serve their purpose. Some 700 tombstones may be found in the cemetery. Numerous spa guests from different countries are buried there. You may also find the tomb of the founder of the world renowned Moser Glassworks, Ludwig Löwi Moser. Observation Tower on Krásenský Hill A truly unusual and singular observation structure was erected on Krásenský vrch (Krásenský Hill) in 1934. The local observation tower boasts a unique external spiral staircase with 120 stairs. While the base of the tower is 11 metres wide, the diameter of the lookout platform situated at the height of 25 metres is only 4.2 metres. The thickness of masonry at the foundations is 2.5 metres. In addition to the observation tower, a nearby lodge with a restaurant also offered its services to visitors. However, it does not exist anymore. In the post-war years, the tower on the hill near Krásno was dilapidating. Some partial repairs were carried out in 1980 and its general reconstruction was launched in 1996. The reconstructed tower has been serving tourists ever since. New Colonnade with Gas Bath House in Františkovy Lázně The new Neo-classical Gas Bath House was built in 1912 over a gas spring. Constructed to the design of Gustav Wiedermann, the building replaced the original wooden colonnade. The low saddle roof is supported by Tuscan columns and the open space in front of the building is being guarded by two sphinxes. The colonnade, intended as a shopping centre, also houses several small retail spaces. i map menu www