Kryštofovy Hamry – Hiking to the Viewpoint above the Reservoir

Kryštofovy Hamry lies in the valley of the Přísečnický potok stream at an elevation of 670 metres above sea level. At the same time, the town lies along the historic route that led via Přísečnice and Vejprty onwards to Saxony. For planning your trip, Kryštofovy Hamry therefore combines scenery, local history and specific starting points for hikes.

Reservoir, protected areas and hiking trails

The Přísečnice Reservoir stores water as a drinking-water source for the North Bohemian brown coal basin. Its shores are inaccessible because it is a drinking-water reservoir. The 11.1 km hiking route “From Kryštofovy Hamry to the viewpoint above the reservoir” begins in Kryštofovy Hamry. There is a car park on the edge of the town; the hike can also be reached by bus to the Kryštofovy Hamry stop. Near the reservoir are the Eastern Ore Mountains Bird Protection Area, the Novodomské rašeliniště–Kovářská area and the Eastern Ore Mountains European protected area. This makes it possible to combine a hike with views of protected areas without requiring access to the shores.

Rocky landscape with distinctive vegetation

The Jelení hora rock formation and the three Špičáky are located in the cadastral area of Černý Potok in the municipality of Kryštofovy Hamry and are characterised by distinctive steppe vegetation. Tertiary volcanic rock occurs at Jelení hora and has been identified as nephelinite. The summit consists of dark porphyritic basaltoid rock with massive, irregular hexagonal columns and irregular transverse jointing. The landscape thus offers not only distinctive vegetation but also a clearly geological character.

Local history and places of remembrance

The family house of Hilda Bartlová is an important historic monument in Kryštofovy Hamry. Kryštof Grád of Grunberg built a hammer mill in the forest near Kryštofovy Hamry and named it the Hammer of Saint Christopher. The Church of Saint Christopher was built between 1829 and 1832; services are still held there today. The small mountain cemetery of Kryštofovy Hamry is maintained and preserves numerous German graves.

The past becomes particularly vivid on the “Stories of Vanished Přísečnice” walking tour. It begins at a car park in Kryštofovy Hamry; members of the Czech-German association Přísečnice žije – Pressnitz lebt accompany the participants. Since 2016, the association has documented the local heritage of the vanished municipality. There are also several rock formations in the surrounding area. The most significant is the broad Grenzturm Hraniční věž, which is also called Kryštof. When choosing accommodation, you can define the focus of your stay: are you primarily interested in the hike to the viewpoint, the historical tour or a combination of natural and local history? The 11.1 kilometres of the hiking route and its starting point in the town make it a clearly defined item on your itinerary; the historical tour adds its own cultural emphasis.

More destinations for orientation

Other destinations for orientation include Hora Svatého Šebestiána, Kalek, Výsluní, Jindrichova Ves, Bílence, Křimov, Veliká Ves and Račetice.

For the higher-level travel overview: Chomutov District.