Schlaggenwald: Mining History in the Kaiser Forest

Schlaggenwald between mining history and protected landscape

Schlaggenwald takes you into a landscape whose history is closely connected with mining. Horní Slavkov lies in the northern half of the Slavkovský les Protected Landscape Area, the Kaiser Forest. At the same time, the town’s history goes back to a new mining colony that emerged near an older miners’ settlement at the beginning of the 13th century. Following the influx of miners from Saxony, this developed into the small town of Horní Slavkov around 1335.

Museum and everyday history

The past comes vividly to life at the Ležnický skanzen open-air museum. The museum is housed in the renovated former farmhouse “U Weiglů” at number 810 in Ležnice. There you can see historic living quarters, a classroom from a village school and an exhibition of agricultural machinery. The three areas focus on different aspects: the living quarters show domestic life, the classroom points to education in earlier times, and the machinery adds a perspective on work. It is precisely the combination of home, school and agriculture that makes different aspects of life in the past understandable and offers families several topics to explore together.

The Muzeum Horní Slavkov is also dedicated to local development. It is housed in a converted building numbered 211 on Pluhova Street. Horní Slavkov was granted the status of a royal mining town in 1547. This classification provides an important historical context for the further traces of mining that you can discover in the town and its surroundings.

Water management and mining as visible traces

Dlouhá stoka played a special role. Above Horní Slavkov, the artificial water channel, with side channels and several ponds, formed a water system that enabled the operation of mining facilities in the district. Timber was also floated on Dlouhá stoka to meet the needs of the mines. The channel was rebuilt and extended between 1531 and 1536. By contrast, the Kašpars Pluh adit served to drain the historic silver and tin district; its excavation began in 1539.

If you are interested in more recent mining history, the Uranová Golgota educational trail conveys the development of Horní Slavkov and its surroundings, particularly uranium mining in the 1950s. The spectrum thus ranges from the technical requirements of historic silver and tin mining to a later era of raw-material extraction.

St. George’s Church and historic monument area

St. George’s Church features defensive elements, including three towers equipped with loopholes. Together with the cemetery, cemetery wall, bell tower and deanery building, the parish church forms a historic monument area in Horní Slavkov. This creates a clear cultural focus for your visit: the sacred building, defensive features and surrounding architecture form a coherent monument area here.

More destinations for planning your trip

For further orientation, you can also explore Bukwa, Maria Kulm, Ebmeth, Unterreichenau, Josefsdorf, Katzengrün, Königswerth and Habersbirk.

For the higher-level travel overview: Falkenau an der Eger District.