Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad) is the most famous spa town in the Czech republic. A lot of people love it for its unique multi-layered architecture that adds to the atmosphere of peace and comfort.
The town is famous for its 12 thermal mineral springs as well as for the so-called “13th spring” Becherovka, mineral water Mattoni, traditional wafers and Moser crystal.
A most picturesque highway R6 connects Prague and Karlovy Vary. The surrounding hill forests are particularly beautiful in autumn when the leaves fade into different colors and opalesce in the sun. In spring and summer the fields along the highway please the eye with their herbs and may even surprise you with passing by hares and roe deer. An important stop on the way to Karlovy Vary is Krušovice Brewery.
If you are renting a RUNWELL car for a trip around picturesque places in the Czech republic, have a look at the must-visit list of sights for you.
1. Loket Castle
Apart from being one of the oldest historical stone castles in the Czech lands, it is also known as a location in the James Bond movie Casino Royale. Loket Castle was a hunting residence for the Luxembourg dynasty. It is very easy to remember the year of its foundation – 1234 – but the name of the architect remains unknown to public.
After you have managed to see the castle and to enjoy the medieval atmosphere, we highly recommend you to visitSvatošské scaly (Svatoš Rocks) 6 km from Loket. The high rocky pillars look absolutely astonishing, especially with all those rock-climbers hanging on them all throughout the year.
2. Bečov Fortress upon the River Teplá
The fortress was originally intended to be a service building for collecting taxes and protecting the town from foreigners in the 1300s. However, it eventually became a fine sample of medieval architecture. The castle chapel of the Visitation of Holy Mary is particularly noteworthy being decorated with mural paintings from the 15th century. In the castle Bečov nad Telou you will find St. Maurus reliquary that was made in the 11th century as a container for John the Baptist’s, St. Maurus’s and St. Timothy’s relics.
3. Doubská hora – Aberg
Doubská hora (Aberg is its modern name) is a perfect viewing platform. The watchtower overlooks the Ore Mountains (Krušné hory), the Doupov Mountains (Doupovské hory), part of Slavkov forest (Slavkovský les), the ruins of Andělská hora castle as well as Diana and Goethe watchtowers.
4. Karlovy Vary race track
The racetrack was constructed in 1899 and still is a place of the brightest emotions – from the favorites’ victories to black horses’ triumphs. The best Austro-Hungarian racetrack is absolutely worth visiting if for the time being the royal horse races in the UK are distant future for you.
5. Teplá monastery
The story of the foundation of the monastery is associated with the Third Crusade initiated by Henry VI.
It was founded in 1193 by a Bohemian nobleman Hroznata. He ran the monastery at that time and was engaged in its development and enrichment. Once he was taken prisoner by robbers who demanded ransom for his release. Hroznata, however, did not allow the abbot to pay the ransom, died in prison and was beatified by the Church. Today Teplá monastery belongs to the Premonstratensian Order.
