Discover Untersandau

Untersandau (Dolní Žandov) combines an early documentary mention with a later grant of town status. The landscape features of the municipality’s northeastern area, regional Maypole traditions, and the building history in Salajna can be considered separately. For cyclists, two route details are relevant: a detour into the town center and to St. Michael’s Church, and the route of the Český les Magistrale onward to Salajna.

Town history in two stages

The first documentary mention of Dolní Žandov dates from 1197. The settlement was granted town status between 1261 and 1278. These dates mark two distinct stages: first the written record, followed by the grant of town status. Those wishing to put the town’s history in context can distinguish between the early record and its later urban development.

Landscape features in the northeast

The northeastern part of the Dolní Žandov municipal area extends into the Slavkov Forest Protected Landscape Area. Podlesí and Úbočí are located in this area. Both the northeastern section of the municipality and the two localities are important points of reference for finding your bearings.

Maypole tradition in three places

The annual raising and felling of the Maypole is a long-standing tradition in Dolní Žandov, Salajna, and Podlesí. If you are planning a trip around the custom, check locally in advance for the relevant date. This lets you align your travel dates with the annual tradition without assuming a specific event date.

Two cycling route notes, different destinations

At the Dolní Žandov stop, Cycling Route 2023 offers a detour into the town center and to St. Michael’s Church. National Cycling Route No. 36, the Český les Magistrale, reaches Dolní Žandov at the junction near the railway station and then continues along the stream to Salajna. The two notes have different focuses: one concerns a detour to places in town, while the other gives the arrival point and onward route toward Salajna. Check local conditions before setting out.

Timber framing and building history in Salajna

Salajna is a village conservation area with scattered Cheb farmsteads and preserved timber-framed buildings. Most of the oldest houses date from the late 18th or early 19th century. The scattered farmsteads describe the village’s layout, while timber framing is an architectural feature; together, they offer two different perspectives on the townscape.

The Gahmühle watermill adds another perspective through the history of a single building: it was founded in the 17th century, but its present form, with timber-framed gables, dates from the second half of the 18th century. The mill is considered an important example of Cheb folk architecture. Its founding and present form refer to different building phases; the timber-framed gables belong to the later form. Thus, the village fabric and the history of a single building offer two complementary perspectives.

Discover more destinations: Klinghart, Asch, Lázně Kynžvart, Kulsam, Marienbad, Sangerberg, Haslau, Lindenhau.

For the full travel overview: Eger District.