Elbogen: Castle, Museums and Landscape along the Ohře

Elbogen (Loket) is a destination where the castle, the town’s history and the landscape can be seen in close connection. Loket Castle is a royal seat more than 900 years old, built on a granite massif surrounded by the Ohře River. At the same time, Loket lies within the Slavkovský les Protected Landscape Area. The Ohře Valley can only be accessed on foot or by bicycle—a clear choice for anyone who wants to discover the town not only through its buildings, but also through its landscape.

Loket Castle and Historical Collections

The main attraction is the public tour route through Loket Castle. It includes porcelain exhibitions, collections from the former town museum, a weapons museum and an authentic exhibition on medieval criminal law. This exhibition is located in the authentic cellar rooms of the former prison. The castle is accessible almost all the way to the destination on foot, on horseback, by bicycle, on the water, by car or by train.

The historic centre also tells the story of the town’s past. The original town fortifications were built during the reign of Přemysl Otakar II; loopholes are still preserved in the associated bastions. The Black Tower dates back to the 13th century, was part of the fortifications of the so-called Lower Castle, guarded the town entrance and served as a watchtower. Today, it houses an exhibition on historic crafts such as pottery, carpentry and food processing. From there, you can see the town of Loket and Loket Castle.

Several specialised museums provide further opportunities for discovery. The Museum of Secret Societies displays 700 exhibits relating to Freemasons, Illuminati, Rosicrucians and Skull and Bones. The Kurlutsch Cup Museum presents more than 3,000 cups dating from the second half of the 18th century to 1945, as well as the world’s most comprehensive collection of porcelain Kurlutsch cups used for drinking the mineral water of Karlovy Vary.

Excursions between the Town, Valley and Regional Culture

Nearby is Třešňovka, a recreational trail with 23 stations, a viewpoint overlooking the castle and the town, a picnic area and interactive elements for children. The Loket Visitor Centre provides a town map with tips for the historic centre and viewpoints around the town. This allows you to structure your stay between cultural visits, viewpoints and a tour through the Ohře Valley.

Local culture also extends beyond the buildings. The Brewery Mini-Museum in the Payer House, one of the oldest buildings in the town, presents the traditional production of barrels, malt processing, former bottling methods and old machinery. It is part of the Svatý Florian family brewery. The Loketské kulturní léto festival was founded in 2000; the first performance was Dvořák’s opera Rusalka on 6 July 2000. Since the first race in 1995, the Loket motocross track has been a permanent fixture on the FIM Motocross World Championship calendar for decades.

If you would like to review additional places for your trip planning, you can find Bleistadt, Frühbuß, Brösau, Königsberg A. D. Eger, Katzengrün, Königswerth, Ebmeth and Podstrani here.

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