Tourist Attractions

This is a natural pine growth area on the southeast slope of Planý Hill with exposed serpentinite rock formations, partly interrupted by a small extinct rock quarry covered by a rare botanical community.

This is a gazebo situated on a plateau above a boulder outcrop at the Royal Hotel where a decorated wooden structure originally stood. The building was inaugurated in 1850 in honour of an important guest to Mariánské Lázně - the Czech proconsul, Baron von Mescery.

The first written record of Planá dates back to 1251. The town was founded on an important trade route leading from Nuremberg to Cheb and further on into Bohemia.

Komorní Hůrka is our youngest volcano – it was known to be active around 850,000 years ago, with some evidence suggesting it only became dormant as recently as 350,000 years ago.

Visitors can find the Waldstein Monument behind the headquarters of the Mariánské Lázně spa company. It was built in 1836 in honor of an illustrious visitor Earl Ernest von Waldstein-Wartenberg.

Loket is a very old town with a castle of the same name. Both rise above the valley of the Ohře River between Karlovy Vary and Sokolov.

Karlovy Vary is a popular spa resort named after its founder, Emperor Charles IV. Legend has it that Charles discovered the hot springs while chasing a stag.

You won't find a single place in the entire Slavkovský Forest that suffers a lack of moisture. Often in times when wandering through the woods you might find yourself endlessly jumping over creeks and little streams as well as extensive wetlands.

'Goethe's Retreat' is a sandstone obelisk and two stone resting places on the side of Hamelika Hill. Goethe used to sit here on a bench, sometimes with Ulrika von Levetzow, or alone, spending many hours in contemplation here. The obelisk was built in August 1848 to recall Goethe's three sojourns in Mariánské Lázně between 1821 and 1823.

This steel tower situated on the hill near the village of Drmoul, was opened on November 15 in 2008. The total height of the lookout tower is 55m, but the actual viewing gantry is 40m above the ground. From the tower you can admire the view of the Slavkovský Forest, Mariánské Lázně, Dyleň, Kynžvart and even as far as Přimda. During the winter months the tower is closed for safety reasons.

The best-known and most significant granite rock formation in the Karlovy Vary massive is undoubtedly the Svatoš Rocks (Svatošské Skály), part of the Jan Svatoš National Nature Park (NPP).