One of the most common day trips for travellers who visit Prague is the world-famous town of Karlovy Vary. Just 15 km from the centre of Karlovy Vary, on the banks of the Ohre River, you can visit one of the most beautiful towns in the Czech Republic, Loket. “Loket” means “elbow” in Czech. The town got its name due to the town centre being surrounded on three sides by the Ohre River, and the shape the river takes is similar to that of an elbow.
The town of Loket
The skyline of this mediaeval town is governed by the presence of the perfectly preserved Loket Castle. The castle is open to the public and features an exhibition of products from local factories, weapons, and an archaeology exhibition (for information about tickets, visit the Hrad Loket site). At the same time, the centre of the town is small but so scenic and picturesque that you cannot stop taking photos. In the middle of the main square, T.G. Masaryka Namesti, there is a plague monument. The building that stands out is the baroque town hall, Mestska Radnice, with the characteristic clock tower.
Loket and Goethe
According to czechtourism.com: “The romantic setting of this mediaeval town, the beauty of unspoiled nature, and the magic of the unbridled river Ohre impressed not only the rulers of Czech lands but also romantics, lovers, poets and adventurers”. Among them was the German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. He loved Loket and visited it frequently on his travels through western Bohemia. Late in his life and already a knight, he embarked on a personal quest for the heart of the young Baroness Ulrike von Levetzow. He celebrated with her his 74th birthday on the 28th of August 1823 at the Hotel Bily Kun in Loket. Goethe later recounted the frustration of his unrequited love in his Marienbad Elegy. He wrote, “Loket is beautiful beyond description and is like a work of art which can be admired from all sides”.
Practical information for Loket
If you are willing to stay the night, a very good solution is the Hotel Stein Elbogen (Rooseveltova 181/4, Loket). Also, if you are feeling hungry, the best place is Rodinny Pivovar Svaty Florian (T. G. Masaryka 136/81, Loket), a small brewery with excellent beer and delicious local dishes at a perfect spot on Loket Bridge. If you arrive by car, you can park in the paid area in the centre of the village. Also, there is a public bus that connects Loket with Karlovy Vary.
Discover this hidden gem before the thousands of tourists that visit Karlovy Vary do it first; you won’t regret it.
So beautiful and scenic, it is no wonder that the town was used to portray Montenegro in the 2006 James Bond film “Casino Royale”:
