Eger District: Discover Nature, Castles and Spa Towns

Eger District combines unusual landscapes with a rich historical heritage. At Soos, you can experience a protected natural area with mineral springs, carbon dioxide emissions and marshland habitats; castles and palaces, meanwhile, tell of medieval domains, aristocratic residences and urban history. This gives you a clear choice when planning your trip between nature experiences, cultural destinations and excursions that combine both.

Soos: Marshland, springs and a special circular trail

Soos lies in the Cheb Basin, 6 kilometers northeast of Františkovy Lázně, and is protected as a national nature reserve. The area preserves inland salt meadows, transition bogs and marshy areas. Cranes regularly breed here; Soos is also part of the Natura 2000 network. A deep peat bog lies in the northern basin. In the southern basin, there was once a shallow lake – this historical context should be retained when viewing the landscape.

The striking geological features include a several-meter-thick diatomite layer formed from deposits of diatoms, mineral springs and carbon dioxide emissions known as mofettes. In some places, bubbling mud phenomena occur that resemble small mud volcanoes. Visitors can taste water from two developed springs. The educational trail through Soos is wheelchair accessible and takes about an hour. It begins and ends at Nový Drahov–Kateřina railway station. Soos is also connected to Františkovy Lázně by a red-marked hiking route. Anyone wishing to combine nature with spa-town history can take this geographical orientation into account when choosing the travel area.

Castles and palaces between Eger and the surrounding area

The district’s cultural destinations range from medieval complexes to prestigious collections. Vildštejn Castle stands in Skalná on a granite spur above a stream valley. It is originally a Romanesque castle separated from Skalná by a moat. Seeberg Castle is a Romanesque ministerial castle dating from the late 12th century. It was later rebuilt in the Gothic style; the inner courtyard contains a Renaissance wing with an arcaded walkway. The complex also includes a farmyard with agricultural buildings and a Baroque barn. The palace combines Romanesque and Gothic elements.

Cheb Castle is an example of an imperial palace whose history dates back to the 12th century. Its castle courtyard is open to visitors. On Cheb’s town square stands Špalíček, a group of eleven houses originally inhabited by merchants. Pachelbelův dům now houses a museum and is associated with the murder of Albrecht z Valdštejna. Kynžvart Chateau was Metternich’s representative summer residence. Its collections include works of art, coins, weapons, rare books, manuscripts and curiosities.

Urban excursions and routes at different paces

Krajinka extends as a tourism, recreation and sports area along both banks of the Ohře below Cheb Castle. A promenade boulevard is lined with children’s playgrounds; there is also a minigolf course. An observation tower stands by the Vávrova footbridge, and a picnic meadow has several grills. This makes it possible to combine different interests within one excursion without losing sight of Cheb’s historic destinations.

There is also a specific point of interest at the Jesenice Reservoir: the public municipal swimming pool is located in Dřenice. For hikes, a well-maintained route leads past the Egerwarte viewpoint, Stein-Hof and Komorní hůrka and continues to Františkovy Lázně. The Great Spa Towns of Europe include Františkovy Lázně and Mariánské Lázně. Spa wafers are also a regional specialty and part of the area’s traditional sweet cuisine.

Places for further selection

If you would like to compare additional places besides the nature and cultural destinations described above, these include [Eger](Eger), [Dürrmaul](Dürrmaul), [Haslau](Haslau), [Marienbad](Marienbad), [Cetnov](Cetnov), [Tepl](Tepl), [Untersandau](Untersandau), [Franzensbad](Franzensbad), [Roßbach](Roßbach), [Lindenhau](Lindenhau), [Dreihacken](Dreihacken), [Skalka U Chebu](Skalka U Chebu), [Groß Sichdichfür](Groß Sichdichfür), [Wildstein](Wildstein), [Einsiedl](Einsiedl), [Lázně Kynžvart](Lázně Kynžvart), [Mühlbach](Mühlbach), [Asch](Asch), [Neukirchen](Neukirchen), [Liebenstein](Liebenstein), [Schönbach](Schönbach), [Nebanitz](Nebanitz), [Fleißen](Fleißen), [Voitersreuth](Voitersreuth), [Kulsam](Kulsam), [Trebendorf](Trebendorf), [Mühlessen](Mühlessen), [Trstěnice U Mariánských Lázní](Trstěnice U Mariánských Lázní), [Klinghart](Klinghart), [Thurn](Thurn), [Miltigau](Miltigau), [Wilkowitz](Wilkowitz), [Scheibenreuth](Scheibenreuth), [Oed](Oed), [Habakladrau](Habakladrau), [Neuberg](Neuberg), [Sangerberg](Sangerberg), [Altwasser](Altwasser), [Schanz](Schanz), [Hohendorf - Abaschin](Hohendorf - Abaschin), [Großloh](Großloh), [Poutnov](Poutnov) and [Schönbach Bei Asch](Schönbach Bei Asch).

For the higher-level travel overview: Karlovy Vary.