Loket castle history. Loket Castle – how the Elbow of the ninth century of the Czech Republic serves

As souvenirs Round Karlovy Vary waffles made with mineral water, glass from the Moser factory (located in Karlovy Vary), pink porcelain and Becherovka liqueur are actively brought from Vary. The Becherovka Museum is also located here (open from Mon to Sun from 10 to 17:00). You can read about the history of the liqueur and see examples of cocktails with it here. Personally, I brought another plate for the collection.

A draft was made at home Full day walks (but since we don’t have a whole day left, I hope that some of the tourists will take advantage of our program)

Working hours: Mon – Sun 9:00 – 17:00 Ticket price adults 100

Take the passage above the museum on Dr. David Becher Street and walk uphill without turning anywhere until you reach Krale Jirigo street. David Becher Street smoothly turns into Krale Jiřího Street, which also has a noticeable rise. There are luxury villas here, mostly from the late 19th century, some of which serve as luxury hotels.

Almost at the end of the street (after turning) you will see a building on your left - an Orthodox Church of St. Peter and Paul , which was built in the Byzantine style. Opposite the church, in the park by the lake, you can have a snack in the restaurant » Little Versailles ».

A few meters behind the church, at the end of the street, turn left. Walk a couple of steps and monument to Karl Marx turn left again. Go down the garden street to the Dvořák Garden, which lies on the banks of the Tepla River.

Close to this beautifully designed park, dominated by the sculpture of the Czech composer Antonin Dvořák, There are several interesting places. If you are facing the Tepla River, on your right side there is garden colonnade, Not far from it, three springs emerge to the surface: Svoboda, Sadovy and Zmeiny. A little further away from you Resort sanatorium And Lazne III

If you have a desire to try water from these or any other sources, you should not combine it with alcohol and nicotine. One more thingwarning : cold springs have a laxative effect, warm ones have the opposite effect (so be careful so that you don’t have to rush to find a public toilet). Cups can be purchased at any newsstand or gift shop.

Garden Colonnade 1880, Fellner and Helmer

Upstream the river from the Garden Colonnade is the next colonnade. On the right you will pass a buildingLazne III, where concerts of serious music regularly take place.

In a minute you will reach the largest, most famous and beloved Karlovy Vary colonnade - Mill colonnade.

The most significant building of the resort is the “Mill” colonnade, which is 132 meters long. Mill Colonnade was built in 1871 - 1881 by the architect Joseph Zitka. Under its shade there are five springs. This building boasts 124 Corinthian columns, the orchestra pit of the Carlsbad orchestra and interesting allegorical scenes.

12 statues look down from the roof, each of which symbolizes one of the months of the year. There is also an orchestra pit among the columns.

The Colonnade is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

If you want to taste water from any source, you can buy an original Karlovy Vary glass at nearby kiosks. In case you need to go to the toilet after drinking mineral water, there are public toilets.

Rock spring 53°C Until 1845 it flowed into the Teplu River. After planning the area, its water was brought to the current Mill Colonnade

Libushi spring 62°C Once called the source of Elizabethan roses. Originated from the combination of four smaller sources

Source of Prince Wenceslas I. 65°C Water from this source was used to produce Karlovy Vary medicinal salt. They say that at the end of the 18th century, its water content and strength could be compared with Vřidl. Prince Vaclav is led to two vases. Prince Wenceslas II flows in front of the colonnade opposite the orchestra pit

Mill spring 56°C Since the 16th century it has been used for spa treatment. Previously, mainly for preparing baths. Water from the popular spring could once be purchased in almost all Czech pharmacies.

From the 16th century until 1945 it was called the New Source. The water flowing from it was at one time in even greater demand than water from the Mill Spring. There was also a colonnade of the New Source, which was later rebuilt and named Melnichnaya

Snake Spring 30°C Resort guests have come into contact with this source since 2001; it contains less minerals than other sources, but a higher amount of CO2. It flows out of the snake’s mouth directly into the Garden Colonnade

Garden spring 47.4°C The source was discovered in the mid-19th century while digging the foundation for the Military Sanatorium. It was originally called the Imperial Spring. It comes to the surface on the territory of the Military Sanatorium near the colonnade. Access to it is open every day from 6:00 to 18:30

source Freedom 60°C It was opened in the second half of the 19th century during the construction of Lazne III. It received its current name after the 2nd World War. Previously it was called Spa, then Franz Joseph I. The altanka with a spring is located between Lazne III and the Mill Colonnade.

Stay on the same bank and go to the street between the houses (the river will disappear from view for a minute). Follow further against the flow of the river. On the left you will passInfo center , the Golden Key house, which houses the regional museum, shops with souvenirs, glass, jewelry, etc.

Karlovy Vary Regional History Museum, Karlovy Vary Museum

Across the house is the Paderewski Club, where concerts, theatrical performances and author readings are held. Around the bend, three colonnades will open in front of you

If you continue moving against the flow of the river, you will reach the Market, Castle and Vrzhilena colonnades. They are located just a few meters from each other. Along the way you will pass many shops with luxury goods and souvenirs.

Located on the right Market, and above it the Castle Colonnade . Across the street on Geyser colonnade beats the next of the attractions of Karlovy Vary.

Go to the left side of the street and get acquainted with the largest Karlovy Vary spring. Even for those who have already seen him, meeting him every time makes a great impression

Vrzhidelni colonnade (between Hotel "Thermal" And Grand Hotel Pupp) hides the largest and most famous spring of Karlovy Vary. The current structure in 1975 replaced the temporary wooden colonnade that surrounded Vřídlo since the end of the 2nd World War. In the underground part of the colonnade there are various installations necessary for the distribution, selection and thermoregulation of water from the source. There are also rooms where Karlovy Vary souvenirs are “overgrown” with Vřídlovets.

A spring with a temperature of 72°C gushes from the granite base of Karlovy Vary. Vřídlo is capable of rising to a height of 12 m. Its productivity is 2000 l. hot water and 5000 l. carbon dioxide per minute. The water from Vřidla is the only one that is now used both for preparing baths and for drinking water. Resort sanatoriums receive it directly from the underground Hostile colonnade.

The building was built in 1971-1975 and is not the first building surrounding this unique source.

In the promenade, open daily from 6 am to 7 pm In addition to the gushing source, you will find five more source outputs. From these you can fill cups with source water at both normal temperature (72°C) and chilled water.

Also in the premises of the Vrzhidel Colonnade there are several kiosks with souvenirs, jewelry, glass or porcelain. You can buy Karlovy Vary cloths here, have a snack in a restaurant, or go to the toilet.

On the ground floor of the colonnade you can stroll through the gallery or buy yourself something in the boutique. Soon you will also be able to visit the updated mineral exposition.

In the vicinity of the Vřideł Colonnade there are many souvenir shops, boutiques selling luxury goods, restaurants, as well as large and small hotels. Above it is the Church of St. Mary Magdalene, and opposite - the Castle and Market Colonnades

In addition to the source, the hall also contains restaurant, toilet, several souvenir shops etc. On the ground floor of the building, on the site there is a gallery, boutiques and a currently closed exhibition of minerals. The hall is open daily from 6:00 to 19:00

Vrzhidelni colonnade (1969 - 1975, prof. Votruba)

Above the building of Vřidelni colonnade there is a baroque Church of St. Mary Magdalene. The temple was built on the site of a former Gothic church that burned down. The author of the Baroque building is the famous architect Kilian Ignatius Dinzenhofer. In addition to the temple, an underground crypt is also open to tourists. You can arrange an inspection of it at the Info Center.

Return from the church back past Vřídl and go to the Market Colonnade.

Market Colonnade was built in the 80s of the 19th century in the Swiss style as a temporary solution to protect the source. The wooden structure, built in the Swiss style, was supposed to cover the hot springs for only a few years. But after it stood above the Market and Charles IV springs for more than a hundred years, the city began to preserve it and completely reconstruct it.

The current structure, completed in 1991, is a copy of the original. Under its roof the Market Spring and the Charles IV Spring come to the surface. In addition to the springs, the market colonnade also hides a relief depicting the discovery of the city.

Opposite is a reference example of modernism - house of Felix Zavoisky .

Castle Colonnade (1911-1913, Friedrich Ohmann)

You will find it above the Market Colonnade. It consists of two parts: the colonnade of the Upper Source and the colonnade of the Lower Source. In the inner spaces of the bottom there is a relief of the Spirit of Sources. For many years the colonnade was closed. After a comprehensive reconstruction, it has been open again since 2001. The spring in the Castle Colonnade is intended only for clients of the Castle Spa.

Originally rises above the Market Colonnade Gothic castle tower , the remnant of the small fortress of Charles IV, which burned down at the beginning of the 17th century. In the 18th century, the tower was reconstructed in Baroque style. It was used to greet famous guests of the resort.

Continue your way from the Market Colonnade. Follow the same river bank, which is lined with beautiful cafes and hotels. Behind Vřídl, immediately at the turn on the other side of the Teplá, there is the following building Karlovy Vary Museum , where you can view the permanent exhibition (history of the Karlovy Vary region, sanatorium business, etc.).

Walk along the river to the Grandhotel Pupp . Before heading out to explore this luxury hotel, turn down Marianska Street and take the cable car up to the observation deck. Diana Tower. It offers the most beautiful view of the resort part of the city.

Diana (547 m above sea level)

Built in 1914, you will find the tower on Friendship Hill above the Grand Hotel Pupp. "Diana" is located at an altitude of 547 above sea level. in the Karlovy Vary forests. It has stood here since 1914 and offers a stunning panorama of Karlovy Vary and its surroundings for 70 km.

It can be reached on foot along forest paths or by cable car. The trip (4 times per hour) including a stop at the intermediate station "Jeleni Skok" takes 3 and a half minutes, operating hours: 9:15 - 17:45

Not far from the upper cable car station you will see an observation tower. The site is open every day.

The platform, located at an altitude of 25 m, can be reached by elevator or on foot, overcoming 150 steps.

In the vicinity of the tower there are several forest paths, for example: Friendship Road, Marx Path, Russell Path, Fiebig Path, etc. You can walk through the forest, for example, to Deer Leap, which is located at a distance of just over 1 km, or on the other side to the observation deck of Charles IV.

Schedule of the Diana cable car 9.00-18.00

Price: over 15 years old - 22 CZK (before the Eleni Skok transfer), 40 CZK (one way to the upper station), 70 (round trip)

Diana Observation Tower - free

Charles IV site. (514 m above sea level)

The beautiful pseudo-Gothic tower dates from 1877. To get to the top you need to climb 79 steps. Access to the site is unlimited.

The tower can be reached by cable car from GO Pupp. Get off at the intermediate station Eleni Skok (or walk to it from Diana) and head along the yellow road in the direction of the Post Office Yard.

Along the way you will see several road signs and orientation plans, gazebos and rest areas

Deer Leap (Eleni Skok)

Here you can explore the city from a different perspective. The sculpture of a chamois looking from a cliff at the city is as inseparable from Karlovy Vary as mineral water, spa waffles and Becherovka

You can get here by cable car from GO Pupp. You can get off at the intermediate station “Eleni Skok” or go to the very top to Diana and go down a little (500 m). Walk through the Myslivna sanatorium, past the U Myslivna tourist center to the Eleni Skok restaurant. From here, take a winding path down to the chamois sculpture (“Kamzik” translated from Slovak as chamois), under the Jeleni Skok observation deck. Don't be confused by the identical names of the three places; you will reach your destination only when you see the chamois. From the chamois you can go down the steps and take the path to the right back to GO Pupp. There are signs and orientation maps along the way.

Divadelni namnesi cable car station . The cable car runs 4 times per hour. You will drive through the rock massif to Hotel Imperial, is one of the dominant features of the city. The journey takes 2 minutes. Take a walk to the hotel and explore its beautiful surroundings.

From Diana Tower you can go to Deer Leap(“Eleni Skok”) or to Charles IV observation deck . You can reach both places from the Druzhba Hill, on which the Diana observation tower is located.

1, a) So, you go up the Zametsky Vrikh, pass the Anglican Church of St. Luke, before reaching the Consulate General of the Russian Federation, turn left and walk along the road towards the Myslivna sanatorium. From Myslivna there is a path to Petrova Hill, on which a bust of Emperor Peter the Great is installed. There is an excellent observation deck there. Then your path goes down to the left and after 300 meters you are at Kamzik ​​(Chamois). From where you can easily go down past the Metropole building into the courtyard of the Mozart sanatorium. And you are on Staraya Luka. Everything will take you an hour or an hour and a half.

1 b) Or first you go up the Zamecki ridge, you can even take the elevator from the Market Colonnade, turn left onto Pod Elenim Skokem street, pass the Morava sanatorium and you will see the very forest path that Vesta writes about

2) from the Eleniy Skok funicular station it’s a stone’s throw to the Charles the Fourth Tower

To do this, you need to walk to the Ecco Homo intersection, from which move past Chopin's gazebo along the Findlater path until turning left up to Tower IV. From the tower, I advise you to go down to the Art Gallery (return route No. 17), and from there to the Japanese rock garden. Next you enter the park of the Richmond Sanatorium and climb to the statue of a deer, from where a panorama of the Imperial opens up.
I also recommend that you visit the Goethe observation tower (routes No. 12 or 19), along the way, look at the city from the Three Crosses Mountain (route No. 18). A good view of the KV opens from Mozart Park (route No. 19). No. No. of routes are indicated on the KV map and along the paths.

Then go around the Imperial Hotel and go down the winding path back to the Tepla River. The descent and ascent along the serpentines is quite tiring. If you're not up for it, head past the tennis courts to the Libushina stop, take bus number 11 and go down to Richmond. Follow Slovenska Street against the stream until you reach the Richmond Parkhotel.

Behind the hotel on the other side of the river there is a remarkable building Lazne I(Imperial Spa)), and behind it is the Evangelical Church. From Pupp Your walk along the Goethe Trail leads past the bust I. V. Goethe And Art galleries . Works by Czech and foreign artists are exhibited here.

Karlovy Vary Art Gallery
Goethova stezka 6, KV working hours : Tue - Sun 9:30 - 12:00 and 13:00 - 17:00

ticket price Depends on the event

On the way to the Stepanka spring on the right side you will see the Art Gallery. On your left until 2006 stood Lazne VI (sunny and airy resort). Due to poor statics, the building was demolished, and today only the gazebo reminds of it source Dorotka. Dorotka is a so-called dry spring. A large amount of gas and a small amount of water come to the surface

From the gallery, go along Goethe's path about 400 m. to Postal Yard. On the way you will pass a monument Friedrich Schiller , and a little further a sculpture Bedřich Smetana . You can relax a bit in the pleasant atmosphere of the Poshtovy Dvor restaurant.

Go out onto the street (Slovenska) in front of the Postal Court and follow the river to the Richmond Hotel.

The hotel is located approximately 350 m from the Postal Yard Richmond. In addition to the fact that the hotel itself captivates the eye with its classical architecture, you will find many other interesting things in its park - a sculpture of a deer, a gazebo with the Stepanka spring, a Japanese garden and monuments to the Polish poet A. Mickiewicz and the German composer L. V. Beethoven.

Gazebo at the Richmond Hotel

Stepanka Spring 13°C

The spring was discovered in 1884 and, thanks to its composition, has become an important part of the drinking course. However, it disappeared in the first half of the 20th century and was only discovered again in 1993.

You can go back to the center get there by bus number 2 or number 11 from the Richmond stop, which you passed on the way to the hotel.

ORFrom Richmond, walk along Slovenskaya Street to the Richmond GOT stop. Go to the Libushina stop. When you get off, turn left towards the Imperial Sanatorium. Those of you who are in good physical shape may choose the more difficult route. From Richmond, walk approximately 120m along the track past the Charles IV Bridge and turn right. Go up the forest serpentines to Imperial.

No matter how you get to the hotel, you will be amazed by its size and beauty. When you've seen enough, go down the road to the stopcable carImperial, and from there go to Theater Square.

Return approximately 100m upstream and explore the newly reconstructed City Theater.

Now follow the flow of the river, pass between those already familiar to youChurch of St. Mary Magdalene AndGeyser colonnade . Continue along the river until you see Lazne III on the opposite bank. At this point turn right. Behind the library, go up the portico to the swimming pool of the Thermal Hotel. On the terrace you can say goodbye to the beautiful resort area and look at the places you have recently visited from above. Now go down the other side behind Thermal, and cross the Postal Bridge to the other side of the river

Right in Sour cream you you will see the building of Lazne V, the so-called Alzhbetinykh Lázně (named after Elizabeth, wife of Emperor Franz Joseph I).

Go to T. G. Masaryk Avenue, which is a significant commercial center of the city. Here you will find many boutiques, restaurants, etc. When you reach the fountain above McDonald's, turn right down. Before the branch to Zeera Street on the right side there isNational House, Now, unfortunately, it is in a catastrophic state. Go down Zeera Street to the City Market, where the GOT bus station is located.

That's all, friends. And if you haven’t had enough of a walk yet, you can use the GOT and take a ride to one of the Karlovy Vary observation towers. Where the end of this excursion will be depends only on you.

Do you still have the desire and strength to walk through the resort forests? Then get off at the Panorama stop and walk, for example, toThree crosses.

Three crosses (Trzhi krizhe) - nothing special.

The crosses here were erected as a symbol of the successful re-Catholicization of the city and its surroundings (after 1620). But legend says that they symbolize the death of three brothers who died a violent death.

Take buses No. 2, 8, 11 or 13 to the Panorama stop. Walk about 100 meters more and take the U Trži Křižu street to the Panorama gazebo and then onto the Turgenev trail. At the first fork behind the gazebo, turn left, and when you reach the Gogol path (about 400 m) turn right. Along the road leading past the tourist center “U Trzhi Krizhu” you will get to Those Crosses. The round trip journey is just over 2 km. If you follow Gogol's path further, you will come to Goethe's site.

I get up at 7:45. The room is terribly cold, probably around +16C’. I quickly got dressed. Let's go for breakfast. The hostess cooked us porridge, there is a lot of food, it’s impossible to eat everything, I only take with me a sandwich with cheese and cucumber. We asked the hostess to give us an electric battery, since it was very cool in the room. Now we can go on an excursion, and we go to the stop. It’s not hot yet in the morning, about +17C’. A free bus has arrived, we go to the bus station, look for the information center, asking people. Soon they found it very close. We are planning to visit the castle Loket . They explained to us that the castle can be reached with a train transfer or by bus. We chose a bus that left at 10 am. We wait a bit and sit down. The journey takes 20 minutes. I admire nature. We are driving along a road that winds like a serpentine in the distance. From a distance we saw a castle on a high mountain, and even wanted to get off at the nearest stop, but the driver said that we needed to get off at the next one. Our bus drove around a huge loop around the riverbed and arrived at a stop. First, we take pictures of the bus schedule for the return trip.

The road to the castle begins with a long bridge over a wide river, which on the left makes a graceful bend, forming a green island with a neatly trimmed lawn. Children frolicked here, enjoying life, they ran and jumped on the soft grass. The town got its name from the word “elbow”. Since the bend of the river Orgze resembles the shape of a curved hand, on the bank of which stands Loket.

After taking a few pictures, we entered the town. It is somewhat reminiscent of Cesky Krumlov, with the same narrow medieval streets lined with paving stones. The road goes up. We stopped to look around, I was on a bench, put my camera down, and forgot about it, I remembered when I walked about 100 meters away, I decided to take a picture of the temple, I had to run back, it’s good that no one had noticed it yet, although there were other tourists sitting nearby. I need to be more careful. We walked a little through the streets of the town.

The ancient castle is located on a hillock; we climb up stone steps to it.

It is over 800 years old and is the oldest in the Czech lands. The old Romanesque castle was formed by two towers, a church and a building standing on the site of the Mangrave House. The castle served several purposes. First of all, it served as protection of the trade route and functioned as a border fortress. Over several centuries it changed different owners. It has an extensive history. In the 16th century, the castle served for economic purposes. In the 18th century, the castle was rebuilt as a city prison until 1948. Later, the castle began to serve as a historical monument.

We bought tickets and walked through the ancient gate arch. We find ourselves in a medieval courtyard.

We decided to start the inspection on the left side. There was a prison in this wing. Before we had time to pass, we could already hear the groans and screams of the prisoners, the sounds of a whip and others. This is an emotional accompaniment to a tour of the rooms where the unfortunate people were. In some of them, these wax figures can be seen through bars or small windows.

I don't really like places like this. They reek of melancholy and hopelessness. Probably, the walls themselves have already absorbed so much negative energy over these centuries. Moreover, it is terribly cold in the basements. We quickly get through this, and move on, now we rise higher. There are long rooms here - a wedding hall, a formal hall, it rather reminded me of a long refectory with a wooden table and chairs on the sides.

There are wooden cabinets here that are over 100 years old. There are wooden chests that were once painted with patterns. I'm curious about the shapes of antique beds and chests.

We look at museum exhibits, there are stands with weapons. In one room on the wall, the original plaster with paintings on the walls has been restored. We went to the Romanesque Tower, climbed the wooden stairs to the upper platform, and to the hanging wooden balcony. The view from here is excellent. The entire castle and its courtyard can be seen from above. In the distance we see fields and even hills. We went downstairs. Down here there is a well in which lies a mythical dragon of considerable size.

There is another interesting story associated with this castle. Once upon a time, about 700 years ago, a meteorite fell on the castle, which was kept as a talisman in a well. The medieval toilet is interesting.

After visiting the castle, we go outside. It's already hot here. We decided to have lunch at the cafe that is located here, on the other side. In front of its entrance stands a skeleton in a black robe.

We went up the steps and sat under umbrellas on the street. After having a little snack, we went for a walk around the castle. First we went down the stairs to the river. Here below we inhale the fragrant aroma of cut grass. Over the wide riverbed, many tiny butterflies flutter in the wind, their wings glitter and silver in the sun. As I come closer, I understand that this is an optical illusion; small seeds of some trees are flying in the air. What a beauty. This brings back to me some memories of long forgotten days. Children run happily on the green peninsula. Life is in full swing here, and everyone is enjoying life.

We went down and walked along the left bank of the river. Goats and sheep graze on the slope of the hill; everything here is rustic and simple. We turned back and decided to return to the castle to get to the church St. John . We made a long detour to return to the central square of the town. Again I observe that island on which children are frolicking, as if they are in their own paradise, which we can only observe. We now go around the castle to the left. Along the way we see three cyclists passing us. These are Koreans who, like in their homeland, are accustomed to riding bicycles, saving on transport.

We approached the church, steep steps leading up. I am the first to rise and enter the temple. It's quiet here and there's no one around. Igor and I look at the decorations of the temple, each deep in our own thoughts. I put out candles, which can be purchased here by first throwing money into the box. We sit on a bench and think about the eternal.

Now we go back, go down, and slowly walk to the bridge. We look at the view from the bridge; we have a wonderful panorama in front of us. A calm river carries its waters into the distance, there is peace in the soul. I watch how the swallow makes circles and flies under the bridge, flies out again, and dives under the bridge again, and so on several times. Each creature has its own amusements. On the opposite side of the bridge we see a small park, children also play here. We took a photo of the castle from this side and headed to the stop; our bus will arrive soon. We sit on a bench where I can write on my tablet while waiting for transport.

Part 9: Svatosha rocks

Greetings!
I am writing for the first time. I’m talking about the city, and the castle, and the museum. I read the rules, it seems that writing about the city is not prohibited. If I made a mistake, please forgive me! :)

So.. Loket
Western Bohemia, 11 km from Karlovy Vary.

Loket is one of the oldest cities in the Czech Republic. Although historians cannot name the exact date of the founding of the city, no one doubts that it is more than 800 years old. Loket in Czech is elbow. The name is associated with the bend of the Ohře River, on which the city stands. A huge medieval castle-fortress rises above the river on a high rock, and below it is an almost toy city.

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Over the eight hundred years of existence, Loket has seen everything. It was also a guardian of trade routes, a border outpost, and an administrative center. It also tried itself as a hunting residence for imperial persons. It was an impregnable fortress and even a prison. And at the same time, Loket managed to remain an unusually romantic place.
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The narrow streets of the city, lined with colorful houses shoulder to shoulder, emphasize the manly grandeur of Loket Castle. Idealistic picture! :)
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The center of Loket is decorated with the magnificent city hall and the column of St. Trinity ("plague column")
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Church of St. Wenceslas, in no way inferior in age to Loket Castle itself.
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The castle in the Gothic-Romanesque style was first mentioned in written sources in 1234. The question of which Czech ruler founded the fortress is still debatable. Among the possible founders are Prince Vladislav II, King Přemysl I Otakar and King Wenceslas I.
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In the Middle Ages, Loket acquired important strategic importance as an impregnable fortress on the border with German lands, however, after the election of Charles IV as Holy Roman Emperor, Loket lost its role as a border outpost. At the same time, its importance does not decline; it retains its status as the residence of the Czech kings. Under Charles IV's son, Wenceslas IV, Loket continued to expand and became an even more important fortress. In the 15th century, Emperor Sigismund transferred Loket to the noble family of Schlik. The castle is gradually falling into disrepair. In 1822, a prison was built here, which operated until 1949.

Since 1968 it has been a national monument and is open to the public as a museum. A ticket for an adult costs 90 CZK and 20 CZK for a camera.
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As befits a medieval castle, Loket is inhabited by incredible creatures. Dragon, ghosts, gnomes. And they all have different wonderful properties. For example, the gnome Shtrakakal simply loves to chase slobs with a comb and forcefully comb them. But we were combed and he did not come to us.

Another gnome, Gottstein, grants wishes for money. You need to put the money in the gnome's chest and touch his beard. But we must remember that desire should not harm anyone. Otherwise, the wayward gnome will definitely punish you for bad thoughts. I am not very familiar with gnomes and have a hard time imagining what they think is good and what is bad. That’s why I refrained from making a wish. :)
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The inside of the castle has been carefully restored. The old parts of the castle are on display as exhibits.
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Only here and there on the walls are frescoes preserved. In general, everywhere smells of fresh parquet :/
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Windows are real works of art, aren't they? :)
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The throne room is now used for all sorts of cultural events. For example, concerts, or wedding ceremonies.
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Another inhabitant of Loket Castle is a dragon guarding the entrance to the fortress tower. He lives in the basement of the tower.
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From the tower there is a stunning view of the Ohře River and mountains covered with dense forests.
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On one of the floors of the castle there is an exhibition of Czech porcelain. Some items were produced in the workshops of Loket himself. There are also crystal exhibits there. Naturally, this is a tiny part of what is presented in the museum.
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these products are from 1939.. surprisingly, there is nothing from the socialist past of Loket in the museum
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crystal
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porcelain figurines
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What else to say? Almost all exhibits and inscriptions are in four languages, including Russian. I have never seen anything like this in Germany. The two stores we went to to buy wine and beer were run by Chinese people who understood German and Russian quite well.
I highly recommend everyone who will be in the western Czech Republic to visit Loket! In person, I'm sure the city will impress you. Still, the photo does not convey the full charm of this place.

The stone castle Loket is located in the Czech Republic, near the famous spa town of Karlovy Vary. The distance from Prague to it is 120 kilometers.

The castle stands on the banks of the Orgze River, the bend of which is shaped like an elbow. That is why Loket got its name.

The entire castle is a complex of buildings - such a structure was typical for the Middle Ages. At the foot of Loket lies a small town of the same name, where you can stroll, have lunch or, if you’re lucky, see a local fair in a medieval style.

I was very impressed by the contrast between the gray-brown stone walls of the castle and the brightly colored, as in many cities of the country, walls of city houses and their red roofs.

They say that if you come to the Czech Republic and do not visit a single castle, then you have wasted your time. In this article I will not describe all the palaces of this country - there are too many of them here. And I’ll tell you what interesting things you can see at Loket Castle.

A little history

According to one version, the castle was built as a border fortress around the 10th century. This sounds quite plausible, since geographically it is located next to the lands of Germany. The first mentions of it in written sources date back to 1234, that is, in the Middle Ages. At that time, the territories of modern Prague were a tasty morsel for neighboring states, so forts and defensive structures were erected throughout the Czech Republic.

When, with the advent of Charles IV to power, the need to defend itself disappeared, Loket did not lose its high status and became the residence of the Czech kings. Under Wenceslas IV (son of Charles IV), the castle continued to expand and soon became an even more important fortress.

In the 15th century, Loket became the property of the noble family of Schlik, after which it gradually began to decline. In 1822, a prison was organized here, which operated until 1949.

After this, attention was paid to the historical building, like many similar castles and palaces in the Czech Republic at that time. It was restored, and since 1968 Loket has become a cultural monument and museum.

Organizational aspects

As mentioned above, Loket - uh then a museum where you can see various historical exhibits, walk through the halls where once organized feasts and celebrations, and also learned some legends and interesting information. The complex consists of 9 parts available for inspection.

The castle has a single entrance ticket. It can be purchased by going through the gate and entering the ticket hall.

Cash register

1. With a guide:

• full – 150 CZK;
• preferential (children under 15 years old, students, pensioners) – 125 CZK;
• family (two adults and two children) – 380 CZK.

2. Without a guide, but with printed text (something like a guidebook) that provides information about each part of the complex, as well as some of the exhibits in Czech, German, Russian, English, Danish, Dutch, Swedish, Polish, Hungarian and Spanish:

• full – 100 CZK;
• preferential – 80 CZK;
• family – 300 CZK.

Working hours

The loket is open to visitors every day, but opening hours vary depending on the month:

• June-August from 9.00 to 18.30;
• September-October and April May from 9.00 to 17.00;
• November-March from 9.00 to 16.00.

Visitors are allowed into the castle no later than 30 minutes before closing.

What to see

Tower

It is a Romanesque tower 26 meters high with a square foundation. Inside it there are remains of a watchman's room. They say that a dragon lives under the tower, guarding the treasures. I don’t know what the original size of the wealth was, but tourists, who have the habit of throwing a coin as a souvenir, have clearly enriched the treasure.

You can also climb the tower and through the loophole look around the surroundings: the beautiful colorful streets of the city, surrounded by greenery, cafes, restaurants and other delights of Loket landscapes.

Margraviate

A margrave is an official subordinate to the king and has broad powers in judicial, administrative and military affairs. A similar title was common in the early Middle Ages in Europe. Oh yeah the cruelty of the rulers who visited the castle or lived in it, go whether legends.

In the castle an entire building was allocated for the reconstruction of the margraviate, on the second floor of which original furniture and interior items have been preserved. Here you can see painted cabinets, paintings and sculptures.

But not all interesting specimens have survived, since the house was practically destroyed by fire in 1745. It was rebuilt and reconstructed several times, and after the castle became a cultural monument, a porcelain museum was organized on one of the floors of the house.

Here you can listen to a lecture about the history of the castle.

Jail

As already mentioned in the historical information, a prison operated in Loket for a little over a hundred years. In some buildings of the palace complex, several floors of cold and damp authentic dungeons have been preserved.

In one of them lives a disheveled man named Shrakakal. He punishes unkempt and unkempt children.

Ceremonial hall

Located on the second floor of the outbuilding in the eastern part of the castle. The hall is decorated with original murals depicting a fire at the main gate at the beginning of the 17th century.

The ceiling is paved with boards painted to match the room.

The walls are decorated with portraits of prominent historical figures. Once upon a time, it was here that ceremonies, councils and meetings, as well as weddings took place. And now everyone can walk through this hall and imagine themselves as a participant in these actions.

Archaeological Hall

Located on the first floor of the castle, decorated in the late Romanesque style. In this room, tourists can see archaeological finds from the castle grounds and a model of a meteorite. A 100-kilogram stone fell on Loket around 1400. Then the event was attributed a magical character, and in the future the meteorite was protected as the apple of its eye from all kinds of conquerors.

But today the original still has not survived - it was cut into pieces and sent to various museums around the world for scientific research.

Hall with frescoes

The exhibition hall, adjacent to the archaeological hall, contains frescoes dating back to the beginning of the 15th century.

Armouries

Located in the outbuilding near the tower. Here you can see a small exhibition of firearms and stabbing weapons.

As I remember, the following things are on display for visitors: a small cannon, a set of axes on the wall, guns in display cases, as well as knightly metal armor.

Torture chambers

Here the defendants were tortured to extract a confession. This took place in several stages: from intimidation to the use of special torture tools. Some methods of torture are demonstrated using mannequins. You can look into the cells through special windows or open doors.

Some of the equipment is presented in display cases: a vice for crushing bones, forceps for cauterization, and so on. At the same time, eerie and heartbreaking sounds are heard in the dungeon. The atmosphere, let me tell you, is not for the faint of heart. Therefore, I advise you to think carefully before visiting this exhibition or bringing your children here.

Rotunda chapel

This building arose in the northeastern part of the castle territory at the end of the 12th century. It is a small structure, only 3.5 meters in diameter. As I was told, this is the smallest building of its kind in the entire Czech Republic! Until the second half of the 20th century, that is, before the start of reconstruction, the rotunda was hidden within the walls of the palace.

Restaurant

There is a restaurant at the castle. It is open daily from 11.00 to 22.00. I haven't been inside, but I heard what they cook there.

How to get there?

This castle is closest to the city of Karlovy Vary. Therefore, it is good to get there from there, especially if you are going to this resort pearl for treatment or an excursion. I told you how to get from Prague to Karlovy Vary in.

But you can get from Karlovy Vary to the castle and the town of the same name Loket in the following ways:

There are similar options to get to the castle from Prague:

1. By car. The distance will be about 140 km, such a trip will take about two hours.
2. By train. You can get there in 4.5 hours, of course, having made a transfer, or even more than one. The cost can be estimated at 500 CZK.
3. Bus from the main Prague station “Florenc” (read how to get there). The journey takes about 3.5 hours. The ticket will cost about 400 CZK.

Castle address: Hrad Loket, o.p.s., Zámecká 67, 357 33 Loket, Czech Republic.

• It was in this castle that the famous film “Casino Royale” from the James Bond series was filmed (frame below). After I found out, I immediately wanted to watch it.

• Now in the ceremonial hall of Loket Castle you can organize a concert, a medieval feast, a celebration and even a wedding procession. The latter is especially popular among tourists. They put on traditional medieval wedding costumes and perform the ceremony according to the customs of that era.
• In principle, anyone can rent a room and hold almost any event there. The price of such pleasures, of course, is considerable - on average 50 thousand crowns per evening or about 100 thousand per day. But would you agree, this is one of the reasons why so few people can boast that they celebrated some event in a real castle?

• They say that the walls of this castle have seen a lot of cruelty from its rulers. I think the kings of the Middle Ages were not particularly good-tempered, but we will never know what horrors they did there without prying eyes. So one of the legends, a particularly ruthless margrave was even cursed by a poor woman who could not pay taxes, and turned into stone.
• According to another story, it was the importance of this castle for Charles VI, where many important meetings were held, that served as the reason for the founding of Karlovy Vary. While hunting, the emperor discovered one of them and ordered an entire city to be built next to it! As far as I remember, it was with the coming to power of this ruler that the country began its heyday, the “Golden Era.”

About the castle

In the Czech Republic, not far from the Karlovy Vary health resort famous throughout Europe, 120 km west of Prague, is the majestic medieval Loket Castle. On a high mountain, surrounded by small houses reminiscent of children's toys, rises a mysterious and majestic fortress. It got its name from the word “elbow”, since the bend of the Ohře River resembles the shape of a human arm bent at the elbow. The date of foundation of the castle is not known for certain; it is believed to be more than eight hundred years old.

There is information that says that the castle was originally built as a border fortress, but over the years of its existence it served many other functions. It was used both as a prison and as a holiday residence for high-ranking Czech nobility, and was an administrative center and center of trade routes.

Currently, the castle houses a historical museum. The tour of the castle begins with an exhibition of Czech porcelain, continues with archeology, then you can go to the weapons museum, then visitors will find the premises of the former prison, where there is currently an impressive exhibition of torture chambers.

On the ground floor of the county government building there is an archeology exhibition and a hall with frescoes. Tombstones from the former Loket cemetery and the Renaissance tombstone of Rabbi Benjamin are located at the Margravial House. It itself is a late Romanesque style. The Margravial House burned down in 1725, but has now been restored and houses a porcelain exhibition. In the outbuilding near the medieval tower there is a weapons museum. The ancient wedding and ceremony hall is especially fascinating. It is decorated with portraits of famous people and numerous frescoes. It is often rented out for wedding ceremonies, all kinds of balls and other events.

In the courtyard there are a large number of statues of gnomes and other mythical characters. On the square, for thrill-seekers, public executions are held - imitating ancient times, the execution differs only in that the same girl always participates in it, who, at the request of onlookers, can “die” for an encore. Those who love unusual experiences are invited to visit a dark dungeon and a torture room. Those who wish can try on real shackles or sit in a cage intended for prisoners. The cells of the former prison are equipped with all this martyr's arsenal. There is also an exhibition of wax figures imitating terrible torture and nightmares of imprisonment.

The painted ceilings on the second floor of the castle create an amazing atmosphere of the Middle Ages. And the exhibition of Czech porcelain will delight connoisseurs of beauty. You can also visit weapons exhibitions and get acquainted with the life of the inhabitants of the 12th-18th centuries.

To attract good luck into their lives, tourists are invited to get acquainted with the sculpture of the gnome Gottstein; to do this, they need to touch his mustache. If you touch the baton, you can get yourself into trouble.

Construction

According to historical data, the first stones in the construction of the castle were laid in the 12th century, in its second half. This was done either by King Vladislav II or by the ministerials of Frederick I Barbarossa, who, by order of the German emperor, were eager to develop and seize new lands. Obviously, the castle arose on the site of a small Slavic town; this is confirmed by the finds of Stauf architecture.

At first, on the site of the present Margravial House there were buildings surrounded by towers and a church. Many buildings have not survived to this day. The oldest part of Loket Castle is considered to be the Romanesque chapel-rotunda. Its internal diameter is only 3.6 m, and its small size is a distinctive feature from other similar buildings in the Czech Republic. Restorers found it quite by accident during the reconstruction of the castle. Before that, she was securely hidden from prying eyes under the powerful northern staircase. It is the chapel that speaks of the presence of Slavic architecture in the construction of the castle. Until now, historians cannot determine whether the buildings of Loket were a work of Stauf or Przemyslov architecture.

From the mid-15th century, the appearance of the castle gradually changed and acquired features of the Gothic style. At this time, royalty often visited there. The unusual semi-cylindrical towers, which were built together with the new fortress wall during the reign of Přemysl II Otakar, are also of architectural value.

From the windows of the castle there is a magnificent view of the rich and dense forests of the Czech Republic and the mountains surrounding the fortress. You can also admire the magnificent river, the one that gave Loket its unusual name.

A rather large and beautiful castle nowadays amazes visitors with its special color and romanticism. To this day, the castle has retained its Romanesque style, although since its construction it has undergone many reconstructions and changes. In appearance it resembles a high medieval fortress surrounded by a protective wall. The Orgze River flows at the foot, which at one time was another reliable obstacle on the way to the castle walls.

History of construction

Historians name three possible founders of the castle: Prince Vladislav II, King Přemysl I Otakar and Wenceslas I. The first mention of Loket dates back to 1234. The castle was originally built as a defensive structure against the German conquerors. It was a powerful border outpost, at that time the main obstacle to penetration into the Czech Republic.

It was within the walls of the castle that the future Emperor Charles IV languished in prison. He saw his mother Eliška Przhemyslovna here for the last time. Jan of Luxembourg sent her to Melnik for lifelong exile. As an adult, Charles IV, despite all the troubles associated with Loket, still loved to visit the castle. In addition, he often held diplomatic meetings here.

Wenceslas IV, son of Charles IV, significantly expanded and strengthened the castle, which increased its defense capability. In the 15th century, the castle gradually fell into disrepair. Later Loket turned into a prison and served this role until the middle of the 20th century. Since 1968, a historical museum has been opened at Loket Castle.

Loket Castle is shrouded in many stories and extraordinary legends. The legend of Loket tells about the life of a terrible dragon who lives in a tower and guards many ghosts wandering the basements of the castle. Another legend is associated with Emperor Charles IV. When the emperor was once again hunting in the vicinity of the castle, his horse stumbled, and a healing spring appeared in this place. Today, a famous Czech resort, Karlovy Vary, operates on this site.

Information for tourists

Working hours:
March - November: open between 9:00 - 15:30
October - April from 9:00 to 16:30

Cost: with guide (German, English, Czech, Russian languages)
Children, students, pensioners 3.50 € or 75 CZK,
Adults 4.50 € or 3.50 €,
Family ticket 14.50 € or 3.50 €.

Tour with explanatory text, without guide (in Czech, Russian, Dutch, German, Danish, English, Swedish, Polish, Spanish) Adults 4.00 € or 80 CZK.
Children, students, pensioners 3.00 € or 60 CZK.
Family ticket 12.00 € or 240 CZK.

The examination lasts 45 minutes.

With an accompanying word after hours: only by reservation if the group is at least 10 people (order 3 days in advance)
In this case, the fee per person is 10.00 € or 200 CZK.
An additional fee is charged to visitors for entering with a camera or video camera: CZK 20.