CZ, Loket – Beautiful Historic Town and Castle on the Ohře River – VIDEO

The biggest attraction of the city is of course its medieval castle. In the first half of the 13th century, it was founded on the site of a Slavic fortified settlement by King Wenceslas I. Since then, it has served as an important defense of borders and trade routes. In the castle you can visit a permanent exhibition of porcelain or the law of suffering, and during the year there is a historical theater.

You will also see the remains of the largest known meteorite found in the Czech Republic. It is said that in 1422 it landed directly in the courtyard of the castle. He weighed over 100 kilograms and was about the size of a horse's head. At the beginning of the 19th century, however, it was cut and only a small fragment remained in the castle. The largest piece is kept by the Museum of Natural History in Vienna, other parts are located in the National Museum in Prague.

Right next to the castle you will definitely not miss the red and white church of St. Wenceslas. Continue around it to T. G. Masaryk Square with the beautiful town hall and other magnificent town houses. Towards Ohře, stop at the well-preserved remains of the city fortifications overlooking the river.

On the other side of the valley, you can ascend to several viewpoints, from which you will be shown the entire panorama of the city. You can also climb the Black Tower with a nice view, but a visit must be arranged at the city information center in advance.

In addition, the town is surrounded by beautiful forests and hills of the Slavkovský les Protected Landscape Area, which offer countless opportunities for hiking and cycling trips. For example, you can walk or reach Karlovy Vary along the Ohře River and along the way you can see the unique Svatošské rocks.

In the heart of the Slavkov Forest, visit the Kladská peat bog, the surroundings of the village of Prameny or the chateau in Bečov nad Teplou. The whole region also has a rich history of mining and porcelain production, which will be introduced to you by the museum in Horní Slavkov or the Krásno Mining Museum. Alternatively, head to the Medard Lakes or smaller Michal on the site of brown coal quarries near Sokolov, about 15 minutes by car from Loket.

As you can see, the western edge of the Slavkov Forest offers, in addition to Karlovy Vary, a lot of other destinations to visit, and I think Loket is one of the most beautiful castles.

GPS: 50°11'14.0"N 12°45'16.8"E

Text, photos, and video: Matouš Vinš