Karlovy Vary District: Peat Bogs, Spa Towns and Cultural Heritage

Peat bogs and rock landscapes, spa architecture and historic sites offer different ways to explore Karlovy Vary District. As you discover the region, you can focus on nature, architectural history or regional food culture. The places themselves and what makes them special can point the way—from a boardwalk through a high-altitude peat bog to a cast-iron colonnade and a tasting in Karlovy Vary.

Explore peat bogs and rock formations

Božídarské rašeliniště is protected as the largest peat bog in the Ore Mountains and lies at an elevation of around 1,000 metres. Its protected habitats include peat bogs, mountain meadows, heathland and woodland; the area is also home to many protected and endangered plant and animal species. A nature trail on a boardwalk leads from the car park into the peat bog landscape. This provides a way to find your bearings while taking in a range of habitats, although the character of the trail should not be confused with that of an ordinary hiking route.

The Svatošské skály offer a different kind of landscape: these granite formations form a rocky city on the left bank of the Ohře, in a deep valley near Hory. They can be reached on foot, by bicycle or as part of a water-tourism trip. Those interested in climbing will find routes graded from 4 to 8+; local climbing conditions and route availability may change. The Karlovy Vary–Loket cycle path, which forms part of long-distance cycle route 204, also passes through the rocks. Check the route and any temporary closures before setting out.

Industrial history and historic sites

The restored Blatenský vodní příkop is 11.665 kilometres long. One of its notable engineering features is a wooden aqueduct that crosses a forest stream. The structure can be explored both through its overall length and by focusing on a single architectural element: the aqueduct illustrates how the historic water channel crosses the terrain and stream.

The architectural history of Valeč Castle also reveals several layers of time. After 1585, a late-Gothic castle was remodelled; the castle was later given a Baroque makeover. Visits are possible during opening hours, which may vary by season. A botanical garden is part of the castle complex in Bečov nad Teplou. The museum gallery there also displays the Romanesque reliquary of Saint Maurus in an exhibition that visitors explore independently. Check the latest exhibition information before visiting.

Other buildings offer their own points of interest: the early Baroque Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Krásný Les was built around the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries. Findlaterův altán is considered the oldest excursion pavilion in the spa forests of Karlovy Vary; it is freely accessible and offers views towards the Teplá Valley. Dorotin altán is also located in the Teplá Valley and was built in the Empire style in 1791. Those interested less in individual architectural styles than in a broader historical context can find it in the UNESCO World Heritage information on the Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří Mining Region, which covers mining innovations and their influence beyond the Ore Mountains.

Spa architecture and regional stories

In Karlovy Vary, the Sadová Colonnade is an example of spa architecture: the cast-iron colonnade is 50 metres long. Historic gravestones can be seen in Mozart Park; the park is freely accessible year-round, although access may change during maintenance work. A quick check of visitor information helps you take such details into account when planning your day. In the spa forests, Findlaterův altán is a different destination from the colonnade: here, the pavilion and views towards the Teplá Valley shape the visit, while at the Sadová Colonnade the design and length take centre stage.

Regional products also tell their stories through dates and ingredients. Becherovka has been produced in Karlovy Vary since 1807. Its ingredients include local water from Karlovy Vary, spirit, sugar, herbs and spices. A guided tour introduces visitors to its history and production and includes a tasting; check the latest visitor information before your visit. Karlovy Vary spa wafers, meanwhile, are a traditional snack whose early form dates back to before 1800. The first bakery specialising in wafers opened in 1867. When planning a trip, these offer different interests side by side: a look at production and a tasting on one hand, and the long history of a regional speciality on the other.

Discover more destinations: Pechöfen, Lichtenstadt, Großfürwitz, Theusing, Neu Rohlau, Ostrov Nad Ohří, Neudek, Tüppelsgrün, Engelhaus, Ottowitz, Luditz, Karlovy Vary, Dallwitz, Pirkenhammer, Breitenbach, Bärringen, Nové Hamry, Bergstadt Platten, Gottesgab, Abertham, Horn, Buchau, Kohlhau, Poschetzau, Gängerhof, Chiesch, Schwarzenbach, Gießhübl-Sauerbrunn, Sodau, Warta, Gießhübel B. Buchau, Uitwa, Klein-Werscheditz, Wickwitz, Stiedra), Schaub, Landeck, Sichlau, Schönwald, Schömitz, Grasengrün, Donawitz, Waltsch, Schönthal, Merkelsgrün, Münchhof, Schneidmühl, Töppeles, Welchau, Petschau, Janessen, Sankt Joachimsthal, Hochofen.

Go to the overview of the wider region: Karlovy Vary.