Different habitats meet in the Soos Nature Reserve: inland salt meadows, transitional bogs and quaking bogs are protected here. Cranes also regularly nest here. Soos lies in the Cheb Basin, six kilometres northeast of Františkovy Lázně, and is part of the Natura 2000 network.
The landscape also varies within the reserve. A deep peat bog lies in the northern basin; in the southern basin, there was once a shallow lake that has since disappeared. A diatomite layer several metres thick is also part of Soos. Mineral springs and carbon dioxide outlets known as mofettes shape the area, as do muddy formations resembling false mud volcanoes. You can sample water from two enclosed springs at Soos.
The barrier-free educational trail takes about an hour and begins and ends at Nový Drahov–Kateřina railway station. A red-marked hiking trail connects the educational trail with Františkovy Lázně. A well-maintained route also passes the Egerwarte lookout point, the Stein farm and Komorní hůrka before reaching Františkovy Lázně. The route information offers different kinds of guidance: the educational trail has an approximate duration, while the longer route is described by its named stops.
Castles with different building histories
At Kynžvart Castle, the focus is on Metternich’s stately summer residence. The collections include works of art, coins, weapons, rare books, manuscripts and curiosities. This makes the site interesting to visitors who want to explore the range of historical collections as well as the architecture.
Vildštejn is a castle in Skalná that was originally Romanesque. It stands on a granite spur above a stream valley and is separated from the town by a moat. Its setting and fortifications go together here: the spur above the valley and the moat convey two different aspects of the castle complex, without reducing it to a single building type.
Seeberg Castle originated as a Romanesque ministerial castle in the late 12th century and was later remodelled in the Gothic style. A Renaissance wing with an arcade adds to the complex. The farmyard includes agricultural buildings and a Baroque barn; the residential tower combines Romanesque and Gothic elements. Seeberg thus offers a way to trace successive building phases through specific parts of the complex.
Cheb Castle is an example of an imperial palace, and its history dates back to the 12th century. The castle courtyard is open to visitors. Cheb’s town square is also home to Špalíček: a group of eleven houses that were originally merchants’ houses. Pachelbelův dům now houses a museum and is associated with the murder of Albrecht z Valdštejna. The castle, the group of houses and the museum each offer a different perspective, from the history of rulers and trade to an event associated with the house.
Spa towns and places for an active break
Františkovy Lázně and Mariánské Lázně are among the Great Spa Towns of Europe. Alongside its natural and castle landscapes, these two spa towns give the Cheb District a strong connection to spa culture. Karlovy Vary wafers are considered a traditional regional speciality; their regional association extends beyond a single town and encompasses the wider Karlovy Vary Region.
Krajinka is a tourism, recreation and sports area on both banks of the Ohře, below Cheb Castle. A walking promenade is lined with children’s playgrounds; there is also a mini-golf area. A lookout tower stands near the Vávrova pedestrian bridge, and a picnic meadow has several barbecue spots. The activities range from walking to spending time outdoors and playing mini-golf, with no fixed programme required.
The public municipal swimming pool at the Jesenice Reservoir is in Dřenice. For a different focus on the water or at the castle, Krajinka offers a setting on the Ohře. Those planning to combine culture, nature and exercise will find a range of options in the Cheb District: the distinctive landscape of Soos, the architectural history of several castles, and the spa towns of Františkovy Lázně and Mariánské Lázně.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Cheb, Drmoul, Hazlov, Mariánské Lázně, Dolní Žandov, Františkovy Lázně, Hranice, Luby, Tři Sekery, Cetnov, Teplá, Skalka u Chebu, Velká Hleďsebe, Skalná, Mnichov, Lázně Kynžvart, Mokřina, Aš, Nový Kostel, Libá, Krásná, Nebanice, Plesná, Vojtanov, Křižovatka, Třebeň, Milhostov, Trstěnice u Mariánských Lázní, Křižovatka, Třebeň, Milíkov, Vlkovice, Pomezí nad Ohří, Poustka, Habartov, Podhradí, Prameny, Stará Voda, Hranice, Horní Žandov - Abaschin, Velký Luh, Poutnov, Krásná u Aše.
To the main travel overview: Karlovy Vary.
