Walks and Nordic Walking

Walking is the most natural form of movement. The many parks and relaxing green areas in Mariánské Lázně are the perfect way to help you feel better and recharge your energy. If you are a fan of Nordic walking, which helps improve overall fitness and physical condition, Mariánské Lázně will certainly not disappoint you. On the contrary — you can enjoy this activity practically anywhere in the town and its surroundings.

City Parks

Mariánské Lázně owes its fame and reputation as one of the most beautiful garden towns in Europe mainly to its magnificent city parks.

The most important green area with gravel paths, groups of various tree species, and water features surrounded by flower beds is Skalník Park. You can finish your walk at one of the city’s most famous landmarks — the Singing Fountain.

Another city park worth visiting is the Park near Ferdinand’s Spring. The park stretches around the Colonnade of Ferdinand’s Spring. Here, visitors can admire the statue “Spring” by V. Eibl or the sculpture group “Lovers” created by S. Nejdl.

Every romantic soul will appreciate the Park near the Forest Spring. Besides the pavilion of the Forest Spring, the park is home to the sculpture “Goethe and the Muse” by German sculptor Heinrich Drake from 1975, a sculpture by Olbram Zoubek depicting three muses, and a music pavilion. During summer, the pavilion becomes a venue for concerts and a pleasant café.

In the city center, between Masarykova Street and Hlavní Street, you will find Central Park. Its dominant feature is a memorial commemorating the destruction of the Mariánské Lázně synagogue during the so-called Crystal Night. The park also features the sculpture group “The Four Seasons” by Z. Šimek.

Gazebos and Rest Areas

It is no surprise that one of the most important visitors to Mariánské Lázně has his own resting place in the town. Goethe’s Rest Area, with a monument dating from 1849, is located on the slope of Hamelika Hill. Johann Wolfgang Goethe was very fond of this place and often spent time here with Ulrike von Levetzow, his last great love.

Mariánské Lázně also owes its origin and fame to several abbots of the Premonstratensian Monastery in Teplá, one of whom was Abbot Alfréd Clementso. The Clementso Rest Area offers beautiful views of the spa district and is located in the forest behind the Esplanade Hotel. Abbot Clementso significantly contributed to the construction of the cast-iron colonnade and the Casino social house.

The last rest area worth visiting is closely connected with love. The Laska Chapel was built in 1909 by Julius Laska, director of the Mariánské Lázně theatre, in memory of his deceased mother. It is a slender neo-Gothic structure with a unique romantic atmosphere.

Observation Towers

The Hamelika Observation Tower was designed by architect Friedrich Zickler, who conceived the structure as the ruin of a fictional castle. Standing 20 metres high, the Hamelika Tower is a typical example of architecture influenced by 19th-century Romanticism and is located on Hamelika Hill of the same name. From the top, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the town, the Slavkov Forest, and part of the Český les mountains with the peak Dyleň. The tower is freely accessible to the public.

The younger “sister” of Hamelika Tower is the Pánský vrch Observation Tower (55 m), which was opened to the public in 2008. The tower is situated on a hill near the village of Drmoul. In good weather conditions, visitors can admire views of the Slavkov Forest, Mariánské Lázně, Dyleň, Lázně Kynžvart, and Přimda. The tower is open from mid-March until mid-October.

Parks and Nature Reserves

Boheminium Park

Location: Krakonoš 665, 353 01 Mariánské Lázně

The whole family will fall in love with the fourth-largest miniature park in Europe. On the outskirts of Mariánské Lázně, visitors can explore an entertaining educational trail featuring detailed scale models (1:25) of important cultural and technical landmarks from all over the Czech Republic.

Boheminium Park is located on Krakonoš Hill and can be reached by car, cable car, or public transport.

Nature Park near Prelát Spring

Location: On the edge of the Úšovice district

In the past, the Prelát Spring flowed in this area, and the park received its name from this natural mineral spring. The Nature Park near Prelát Spring is sometimes also called the “Playful Spring” and is especially popular with children. Young visitors can enjoy a children’s zip line, climbing frames, obstacle courses, and many other attractions. Several fire pits are also available within the park.

Geological Park

Location: Chopinova 498/8 (above the Municipal Museum building)

The educational trail includes both common and rare rocks found in the Slavkov Forest region. The Geological Park covers almost 10 hectares and is the only exhibition of its kind in Central Europe. Visitors can also learn about geobotany — the plants and shrubs were carefully selected to correspond with the geological conditions and soil composition of the locations where the rocks originate.

Kladská

Location: Kladská 9

Kladská is considered one of the most beautiful places in the Cheb region. The Kladská Peat Bogs National Nature Reserve is undoubtedly the most valuable part of the protected landscape area Slavkov Forest. Around the Kladská pond, in an area called Taiga, visitors can follow an educational trail with information panels describing the local fauna and flora.

Besides the untouched nature, visitors are often fascinated by the hunting lodge of Prince Schönburg-Waldenburg. At the end of the 19th century, the prince established the second-largest hunting reserve in Bohemia here. Even today, it remains one of the few officially recognized state hunting grounds. Another important technical monument is the so-called Long Canal (Dlouhá stoka), which contributed to the development of mining in the Slavkov region from the 16th century onward. The canal itself is 24 km long and was connected to an impressive network of water channels stretching over 30 km.

Smraďoch

Location: Smraďoch Nature Reserve (approximately 4 km north of the town)

Although the name of the nature reserve may sound unusual, it would be a pity to miss this remarkable place. Several mineral springs emerge from the unique peat bog area, while carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide rise naturally from underground, creating so-called mofettes — a very rare natural phenomenon in Europe.

The peat bog is located about 300 metres from the road, where a small parking area is available. The educational trail is also suitable for wheelchair users. Less than one kilometre from the reserve, visitors can find the spring known as Farská kyselka.