Krásné Údolí: Town History Between Church and Atonement Cross

Krásné Údolí (Schönthal) brings together a late Gothic parish church, Baroque traces and historic crosses with the landscape of Slavkov Forest. The town’s history stretches from its founding in 1488 to monuments that date back even further. Forests and agricultural land also shape the cadastral areas of Krásné Údolí and Odolenovice.

Founding, Square and Church

The town was founded on 22 April 1488 by Jindřich III z Plavna. Krásné Údolí was established on the site of the older, abandoned village of Schickenplos. A late Baroque sandstone statue of St. John of Nepomuk, dating from 1780, stands in the central square. The square is defined by a park.

The late Gothic parish Church of St. Lawrence, on the southwestern edge of town, was built in 1464 by altering and enlarging an older chapel. Around 1774, it was remodelled in the Baroque style under Margravine Elisabetha Báden-Bádenská. The building therefore shows two clearly distinct phases: its late Gothic origins and its later Baroque transformation.

The church has been undergoing a comprehensive, phased reconstruction since 2004. If you are planning a visit, check its current condition beforehand.

Crosses as Distinct Monuments

An ornate, pseudogothic cast-iron cross from 1861 stands on the slope in front of the church’s northern entrance, above the square on the southern edge of Krásné Údolí. The cross is freely accessible. Its precise location connects it to the church while distinguishing it from the monument in the central square.

Another monument, a stone atonement cross dating from the 14th to 16th centuries, stands to the left of a field path on a gentle rise west of Krásné Údolí. During its restoration, the broken-off part was returned to its original position. Its location beside the field path clearly distinguishes it from the monuments in the square and at the church.

Protected Surroundings and Getting Around

Krásné Údolí and the settlement of Odolenovice lie within the state-protected Slavkov Forest area. The administrative area also includes the Natura 2000 site EVL 5448 Mezi rybníky. Forests shape the natural boundaries of the cadastral areas of Krásné Údolí and Odolenovice, while agricultural land lies at lower elevations.

For road travel, State Road I/20 is a useful reference point: it connects Plzeň and Karlovy Vary and passes through Krásné Údolí. A former pilgrimage route is also associated with the town: in 2016, the Skokovská Trail passed through Krásné Údolí on its stage from Nežichov to Toužim. The route was planned to include a visit to the Church of St. Lawrence wherever possible; this information refers to the route as it ran at that time.

If you are considering Krásné Údolí as a place to stay, you can plan your trip around your own interests: the historic buildings and crosses offer a focus on cultural history, while Slavkov Forest and the landscape of the cadastral areas bring the natural environment into view.

Discover more destinations: Janessen, Dallwitz, Buchau, Luditz, Wickwitz, Uitwa, Neudek, Sodau

For the broader travel overview: Karlovy Vary District.