Miltigau: Half-Timbered Houses, Village History and Nature

Miltigau combines a location on the southwestern edge of the Slavkovský les with village history you can experience and opportunities to enjoy nature. The Cheb-style half-timbered farmstead, the Church of St. Simon and St. Jude (“kostel sv. Šimona a Judy”) and a walking trail to Milíkovská pískovna offer different points of interest. When planning your stay, you can decide whether you are most interested in historic buildings, the history of rural life or a walk through wetland landscapes.

Landscape and Location

Miltigau lies about 3 km from the main road between Cheb and Mariánské Lázně. Part of the municipality lies within the Slavkovský les Protected Landscape Area. This includes Zones II and III in forested areas and Zone IV in built-up areas. If you are making specific plans in the protected area, check the zoning against current official maps.

The Těšovské pastviny natural monument is also within the municipality of Miltigau and consists of two separate parts there. It adds a designated nature conservation area to the landscape.

Half-Timbered Farmstead and Rural History

The Cheb-style half-timbered farmstead is open to visitors, but operates on a limited basis. As opening arrangements vary by season, it is advisable to check them before your visit. The farmstead houses a rural museum. It displays rural interiors, household, craft and agricultural tools, as well as smaller agricultural machines. The period represented spans from the second half of the 19th century to the present day.

The exhibition also tells the story of the site’s changing uses. Until 1945, the farm was a self-contained residential and working unit. It describes the changes following the expulsion of the original residents, its later use as a home until the end of its occupants’ lives, and its subsequent use as a leisure property for the popular practice of spending holidays in the countryside. The museum therefore focuses both on objects from everyday and agricultural life and on the farmstead’s different phases of use.

The half-timbered farmstead is also a destination on the traditional “Kynšperská jarní patnáctka” walking event: the route leads to farmstead No. 18 in Milíkov. At the traditional Milíkovské dožínky harvest festival, visitors can try out old agricultural tasks for themselves. For the 2026 season, this hands-on activity is part of the visitor program; the annual program may vary.

Church and Architectural History

The Church of St. Simon and St. Jude (“kostel sv. Šimona a Judy”) in Miltigau is a single-nave Late Classicist church with a square presbytery and a prismatic western tower. Its present appearance was shaped by renovations carried out between 1818 and 1820. The church brings together its Late Classicist design and the renovations of 1818–1820.

If you are interested in architecture, you can look out for the floor plan, the presbytery and the western tower during your visit. These elements give the church its distinctive form, without requiring you to confuse its different construction phases: its Late Classicist design and the renovations of 1818–1820 are related aspects of the building.

Walks and Nature Watching

An easy walking trail leads from Milíkov to nearby Milíkovská pískovna and then to the ponds behind the village, in the direction of Těšov. The route is about 3 km long in total and passes through a wetland. Before setting out, check seasonal access and conditions along the trail. The approximate distance and the route’s character as a walk through a wetland are both useful to keep in mind when planning.

Amphibians and reptiles are caught and displayed in the pond system at Milíkovská pískovna, where explanations and demonstrations are also provided. Some demonstrations depend on scheduled events. Nature watching is therefore combined with natural history interpretation, the practical format of which may depend on the events taking place. The walking trail and activities at the pond system offer two different ways to experience the landscape: a route from the village past the ponds in the direction of Těšov, and the opportunity to learn about amphibians and reptiles on site.

When looking for a hotel in Miltigau, these points of interest can help you choose a destination: the farmstead and church represent cultural history, while the walking trail, ponds and protected areas highlight the natural character of the municipality. Discover more destinations: Lázně Kynžvart, Einsiedl, Trstěnice U Mariánských Lázní, Sangerberg, Scheibenreuth, Liebenstein, Schönbach, Tepl.

For the broader travel overview: Cheb District.