- Location: 357 31 Loket, Bohemia, Czech Republic
In the west of the Czech Republic, between the cities of Loket and Karlovy Vary, there is a picturesque natural monument - the Svatosh rocks. They are formed by the flow of the nearby Ohře River. It was she who many centuries ago broke through a granite massif, as a result of which a deep canyon was formed. Svatoshsky rocks in Karlovy Vary is a well-known tourist attraction , popular with fans of rock climbing, hiking and simply beautiful natural landscapes.
History of the Svatosh rocks
These huge pyramids and columns were formed as a result of prolonged erosion processes, as well as the effects of precipitation, humidity, wind and frost. With the history of the formation of the Svatosh rocks, there is a beautiful legend about the wedding procession, which was turned into a beautiful mermaid stone. She was in love with a young man named Jan Svatosh, but he exchanged it for an ordinary village. Some tourists even see in the rocks the faces of the bride and groom, the parents and the priest.
Among tourists and Karlovy Vary holiday-makers, the Svatosh rocks became known around the beginning of the 19th century. Their history, majesty and beauty were an inspiration for Johann Goethe, the Brothers Grimm, Sigmund Freud. In 1933, the Svatosh mountains in Karlovy Vary were taken under the protection of the state, and in 2007 - received the status of a national nature monument.
The uniqueness of the Svatosh mountains
These rock formations were formed on the border of the Slavkov Forest, along which the Ohře River flows. They represent a huge canyon consisting of their stone pillars and cones up to 50 m high. Along and across the Svatosh rocks there is a complex system of cracks and crevasses, which creates fanciful patterns and figures. These geomorphological rock formations, overgrown with wild pine forests and rare plants, are the object of state protection.
To Svatoshsky rocks in Karlovy Vary come ordinary tourists, naturalists, climbers, fans of rock-climbing and representatives of different types of water sports. Visit them for the sake of:
- To ride a bicycle along the 10-kilometer ecological path;
- appreciate the monumentality of the rock ridge;
- Enjoy the beauty of the Ohře River and local landscapes;
- walk along a swinging wooden bridge that connects two river coasts;
- conquer ancient rocks, being in the heart of Europe.
Having registered a tour on the ecological path Doubi - Svatoshsky rocks, you can learn a lot of new information about the history, biology, archeology and geology of the region. Near the natural monument there is a camp site where you can rent equipment for hiking, cycling, climbing and water sports. Two cozy restaurants are open here, where you can have a snack, admiring the beauty of this amazing natural monument.
How to get to Svatoshsky rocks?
The natural monument is located in the far west of the country 117 km from Prague and about 8 km from Karlovy Vary. Therefore, tourists who are interested in how to get to Svatoshsky rocks, it is easier to move out of this resort city. You can use public transport or a taxi. From the main bus station of Karlovy Vary (Terminal) there is a bus number 6, which takes 20 minutes to stop at the Svatoshsky Rocks. From it to the monument can only be reached by bike or on foot.
Tourists traveling by car need to move along the road Svatošská or E48. The whole journey to the landmark will also take 20 minutes.