Komotau: Discover the Old Town, Lake and Zoo Park

Komotau is a city where urban history, an unusual lake and an extensive zoo park come together to offer a variety of ways to explore. If you want to combine culture, nature and active or more relaxing days on your trip, the city offers clearly distinct themes: historic ensembles and exhibitions, Kamencové Lake and Chomutov Zoo Park. Fortifications and craft traditions typical of the Ore Mountains also add to the picture.

Historic Center and Collections

The historic center of Chomutov is an important focal point of the city’s cultural heritage: in 1992, it was designated an urban heritage conservation area. The Church of Saint Catherine is one of the oldest Early Gothic churches in Europe. The Jesuit complex comprises the Church of Saint Ignatius, the Špejchar City Gallery, an arcaded courtyard, the Chomutov Library and the Regional Museum. The cultural spectrum thus ranges from sacred architecture and urban history to prehistory, crafts and agriculture in the Ore Mountains.

The Městská věž is also part of the city’s history. The tower is almost 54 meters high and houses a permanent exhibition on the historical development of Chomutov. The Regional Museum also features a permanent exhibition entitled “Pohledy do pravěku”. The Stará ves open-air museum presents examples of crafts and agriculture typical of the Ore Mountains regions in permanent exhibitions and accompanying events. The Railway Repository is home to almost one hundred rail vehicles of various gauges and a wide range of types.

Kamencové Lake and Chomutov Zoo Park

Kamencové Lake has the largest floating pier in the Czech Republic. It offers special recreational opportunities as well as numerous leisure and sports activities. The lake was formed around 1809 when an old alum mine was flooded. This gives the site a distinctive history of origin alongside its waterside activities. Its formation from an old alum mine adds a unique historical connection to its present-day use, linking the experience of the water with the history of the place.

Chomutov Zoo Park covers 112 hectares. It is home to 160 animal species from Europe, Asia and North Africa, collectively known as the Palearctic. The zoo park also has a 30-hectare enclosure for horseback riding among European bison, deer, mouflon and saiga antelopes. The enclosure’s 30 hectares also make the zoo park a distinct natural focal point alongside the city’s cultural collections. For planning your trip, this creates a clear contrast between cultural collections, waterside experiences and wildlife observation. When choosing your accommodation, you can select the focus that best suits you: urban history, the lake and leisure activities, or nature experiences.

A Route to the Fortifications

About one kilometer above Chomutov is the Muzeum čs. opevnění Na Kočičáku. A path just under one kilometer long leads to military fortifications, trenches and forgotten machine-gun emplacements. The approximate location and stated trail length give you a concrete point of reference for this independent historical excursion.

More Places to Explore

If you would like to expand your search to other places, you will find Kalek, Domašín, Vrskmaň, Měděnec, Kryštofovy Hamry, Nová Víska, Radonice and Výsluní.

To the overarching travel overview: Chomutov District.