Hora Svaté Kateřiny (The Hill of St. Catharine)

Hora Svaté Kateřiny is situated in altitude of nearly 700 m, you find most of community  including the square on „town top“. The town, mentioned  just in 15th century, was established thanks to the mining of ores  in the surrounding, especially of copper and silver. This area was inhabited  mostly by Saxons as most of this boundary territory. Before the 2nd World War there were living here more then 1500 inhabitants. It is interesting  to mention that there were her 13 pubs and 11 small factories.

Now, the town becomes a touristic centre again.  In winter the tourists have descending routes with towage and  the ski-running traces  at their disposal. In any season-period you can  walk around the countryside on foot or by cycle.

Regarding accommodation and boarding you do not have any problem. The frontier crossings are near, so you can prolongate your trip route to Olbernau and to other places of German Ore Mountains, this is the other advantage of this area.

Let´s try one of many routes which belong to those cyclic ones.  Let´s consider that we find ourselves at the altitude higher as Špindlerův Mlýn,  we descend on route in south-west direction to Malý Háj and Rudolice v Horách. Passing these points, we turn to the right  and continue via valley of Telčský potok (creek) to its mouth. The hardened road , being later asphalted, leads us to the border-crossing Brandov. The valley of Telčský potok is beautiful in any season. The way, being one long descend, is bordered  by rocky formations in several places. At a middle of the route, to the right direction, you can see  the seclusion, being solved in  very interesting  architectural form. At former Gabriela Forge, where the Telčský potok mouths to Načetínský potok, (forming a state border in these places) the way is continuing  moderately  to Brandov. Here it is possible, after 15 kms drive, to return to Hora Sv.Kateřiny along the road in valley of boundary creek, Svidnice. You can take  your refreshment  in „Krušnohorský expres“ – it is a restaurant placed in railway waggon.

You certainly know from film „Marečku, podejte mi pero“ (Mareček, would you hand me a pen, please!) where Mr. Hliník moved. But, do  somebody knows, where he has born?

Well, here, near to Hora Sv.Kateřiny. It confirms the poster (see photo!). More resistant tourists continue  through border-crossing to Olbernau, it is possible to continue further through Floha valley. We turn, for return way, to the right and along hard  and small roads  we reach Kurort Seifen (Spa Seifen). In this small picturesque town , situated again on the hill, we can admire  carved  shade or stay in one of many restaurants or in a confectionary. It would be good to have a rest as the way was rather to the hill upstairs.

There are several ways back, and it depends on you which route you choose in order to reach total 40-60 kms. Attention, please, some hills are very hard it is not easy drive , in any case.

If you prefer  the shortest way,  would you follow the green marking, leading again through nice valley up to the boundary creek, where you find border-crossing for tourists.

On the Czech part you find good pub. In winter serves  this place as  lower station of  towage to  Stadtberg.  The way direct under the towage is quite hard, we recommend you therefore  to drive round the hill , passing Krušnohorský express and continue upstairs to the square in Hora Svaté Kateřiny.

You can realize many other trips  in the surroundings. It is worth to visit Krušné hory (Ore Mountains) more times , if only the rough nature  you have to enjoy.

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