A 9 km educational trail with twelve information boards and a largely preserved water channel highlight different aspects of Hochofen: the trail combines exercise and information, while the channel points to the history of tin ore processing. There are also botanical highlights and religious heritage. When planning your trip, you can choose your own focus from outdoor activities, technical history, nature and church art.

Educational Trail and Water Channel

The Vysoká Pec–Rudné educational trail is 9 km long and has twelve information boards. If you enjoy walking and taking in information along the way, you can include it as a separate activity during your stay. The boards add an educational element to the route, so the trail combines exercise with learning. The route can therefore be considered both in terms of its length and the information it offers; both are part of its character as an educational trail.

The Rudenský water channel is 12 km long and is still largely preserved today. It was built around the middle of the 16th century to bring water from the Chaloupky valley for processing tin ore. This gives a clear picture of its role in mining: the structure carried water to the ore-processing site. The lengths of the channel and the educational trail refer to different structures: 12 km for the water channel and 9 km for the trail. The channel thus brings the technical side of the tin-mining history to life.

Chapel and Religious History

The former Strick Chapel in Vysoká Pec stood on the old road from Liščí kout (Fuchswinkel) to Nové Hamry. It was demolished in the 1950s; only overgrown wall remains by two maple trees have survived. The site is inaccessible and privately owned. In the past, processions set out from the former chapel for the Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary in Rudné. In the historical religious tradition, these processions link the chapel site with this church.

Nature Conservation and Botanical Highlights

The nature reserve in Vysoká Pec protects rare wetland plants, especially the round-leaved sundew. It was designated in 1995 in part of the municipality. Šafránová louka was registered as a significant landscape feature in 1999; the highly endangered white-flowered crocus grows there. The two nature-related features differ both in their designation and in their focus: the nature reserve is centered on wetland plants, while the meadow is home to the endangered crocus. Thus, a designated nature reserve and a registered landscape feature are described, each with its own botanical characteristics.

Church of the Visitation in Rudné

The Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary in Rudné has a pseudo-Romanesque high altar, two facing Rococo side altars and a Rococo pulpit. The contrast between the pseudo-Romanesque and Rococo styles offers a concrete point of comparison for those interested in church art. The Rococo furnishings include not only the side altars but also the pulpit. The named stylistic features are thus found on the high altar, the side altars and the pulpit.

Discover more destinations: Bärringen, Merkelsgrün, Dallwitz, Gießhübel B. Buchau, Grasengrün, Buchau, Abertham, Münchhof.

For the broader travel overview: Karlovy Vary District.