LOKET

A small medieval town developed above the meanders of the river Ohøe. Its biggest dominant is the royal sentry castle with Romanesque elements, rebuilt during the reign of Wenceslas IV and later in the style of Saxon Renaissance. Citizen's houses surround the colourful town square. Loket became a consisting part of the significant German-Czech castle route called Burgenstrasse.

One of the best - preserved Gothic castles in the country, Loket sits on the high projektion of land that stands above the River Ohre. The view from the river quite literally takes your breath away. The castle was built on the site of an older Slavonic fortified settlement and in its time, it was thought of as one of the strongest castles in Central Europe. The castle interior houses a collection of porcelain and today you can find an exhibition of ghosts and apparitions and other interesting features.

Location: 146 km west of Prague
Sights: Night-time tours of the castle, fairs and displays of traditional crafts, medieval banquets
Culture: Concerts and festivals, opera performances in the amphitheatre
Sport: Cycling, hiking, swimming
Surroundings: Karlovy Vary, Frantiskovy Lazne, Loket