Discover Jirkov: History, Nature and Experiences

Jirkov: City History and Landscape Experiences

Jirkov combines an engaging history of the city with excursions into a varied surrounding area. You can discover exhibitions, historic buildings, underground sites, parks and activities for active days. The options range from short cultural experiences to longer activities such as the geolocation game “Hledá se kmotr”, for which you should allow at least one and a half hours.

Exhibitions and Historic Sites

The Municipal Tower houses an exhibition dedicated to the name Jiří. It includes 40 representative exhibits from the visual, dramatic and musical arts, as well as from sport, travel, photography and science. Since June 2003, the tower has been open to the public as a lookout point and exhibition space. The Municipal Historic Cellars were excavated between 1555 and 1595 in a sandstone hill in the town centre. Jirkov’s underground system is the oldest of five comparable underground mining complexes in the Czech Republic; the tour route opened in May 2007.

The Firefighting Museum presents a permanent exhibition on the development of firefighting technology and the history of the volunteer fire brigade in Jirkov. An interactive computer game simulates firefighter training, responding to a traffic accident and firefighting. The multimedia city exhibition complements this by illustrating Jirkov’s sights, notable personalities and historical topics from the past to the present day. Kludský Villa houses the city library, lecture rooms, an exhibition about Karel Kludský and a leisure area for children and adults.

Churches, Synagogue and Castle Park

The Jirkov synagogue was built in 1846–1847 in the Neoclassical style and consecrated in 1853 by the district rabbi David Pick from Teplice. The Dean’s Church of St Giles stands on the site of an early Gothic fortified church dating from around 1300. It was rebuilt in 1568, while parts of the earlier building were preserved. The cultural walk “In the Footsteps of the Brokof Family” leads to Jirkov’s Baroque sculptural heritage.

Červený Hrádek Castle Park lies about 2 km northeast of Jirkov at the foot of the Ore Mountains and is listed as a cultural monument. Access to the castle park, courtyard, historic passageways and Gallery of the Noble Families is free for visitors. The Chapel of St John the Baptist and the castle interiors can be visited with a guide. Rare trees, such as the pointed-leaved magnolia, add to the park.

Trails, Exercise and Shared Discoveries

The Telšské Valley runs along the Bělá stream from the western edge of Jirkov via Orasín into the Ore Mountains and is a destination for walkers and cyclists. A cycling tour starts at the Červený Hrádek campsite and outdoor swimming pool, climbs from 310 m to 890 m and heads towards the Ore Mountains’ high plateau. For climbing enthusiasts, the Climbing Arena offers 50 climbing lines and 150 climbing routes, including bouldering routes; climbing lessons with professional instructors and climbing holidays are also available. The Červený Hrádek campsite and outdoor swimming pool has a large pool with slides as well as a children’s pool with a paddling area. Other playful activities include the geolocation game “Hledá se kmotr”, playable year-round; Olejomlýnský Park with play elements, a street-workout area and ramps; and the park of Kludský Villa with circus-ring-shaped pavilions and children’s playgrounds featuring circus elements.

Discover More Destinations

You can also discover Loučná Pod Klínovcem, Černovice U Chomutova, Pysna, Vejprty, Otvice, Vadkovice, Místo and Nová Víska.

To the higher-level travel overview: Chomutov District.