Charming nooks of nature, cozy forest paths, picturesque viewpoints and magical gazebos with a lovely atmosphere. Mountains and deep forests have given the Ore Mountains and their foothills an unmistakable character. Few regions of the Czech Republic are as romantic and mysterious as the Ore Mountains. Countless hiking trails dominate the 242 km long Krusnohorská magistrála, connecting Cheb to the distant Sněžník. In summer you can refresh yourself at the lidos and in winter enjoy cross-country skiing or downhill skiing, the most famous and popular slope is the one on the highest mountain Klínovec.
Many interesting buildings can be found in the spa forests. Among the most famous are the restaurants and lookout towers. Five lookout towers were gradually built in the city and its surroundings: the lookout tower of Emperor Franz Josef on Hamerský Vrch (today the lookout tower of Charles IV), the lookout gloriette on Vítková hora, Štěpánka lookout tower on Věčný život (today Goeth's lookout tower), the lookout tower on Doubská hora (Aberg) and the last one in 1913, the lookout tower on Výšina přátelství (today Diana).
With the construction of forest promenades, smaller constructions such as benches, crosses, chapels, memorial plaques and inscriptions began to appear. If someone sponsored their construction, either out of admiration for the spa town or in gratitude for the cure, they could bear their name. Others were commissioned by the city as a thank you to important personalities who have visited Karlovy Vary.
Spa Walks
The picturesque spa surroundings offer beautiful lookout towers, breathtaking natural scenery and important monuments, while the cozy valley of the Teplá River offers magnificent landmarks, spa colonnades and attractive parks. With more than 130 km of well-maintained trails of varying difficulty, they are accessible to everyone and are often recommended by spa doctors as a "field treatment". Don't resist wandering through the city or along the forest paths, which will reward you with an enchanting panorama.
The tradition of health walks has been inherent in Karlovy Vary for more than a hundred years. The enchanting surroundings have resulted in a number of marked trails divided into three groups according to the degree of difficulty. The easier ones include walks through the historic city center or following the traces of healing springs. The most difficult ones follow forest trails and map the most important lookout points and viewpoints.
