Schönfeld, known by its Czech place name Krásno, offers several clearly distinct themes to consider when planning your trip: the historic Vilém tin mine, St. Catherine’s Church, an unusually designed observation tower and the natural features of the Slavkov Forest. Would you rather focus on mining history, architecture, cycling or landscapes? The destinations differ not only in theme, but also in their visiting conditions.
Mining history and a technical monument
The Krásno Mining Museum is located on the site of the historic Vilém tin mine. The complex preserves an ore-processing building, workshops, a headframe, a hoist building, an engine house and a gatehouse. The variety of building types gives the site a distinct industrial character: alongside hoisting equipment, the preserved structures include processing facilities, workshops and other operational buildings. From May to October, visitors can ride a mine train along a track through a model mine tunnel. Since the ride is offered seasonally, check the current operating days before your trip.
The Dlouhá stoka is another example of the region’s technical heritage. The 24-kilometre water canal was built in 1536 to transport water and timber in support of mining. It is both an important technical monument and a national cultural monument. Cycle route 2135 approaches the canal and runs along its bank for several kilometres. This means that trip planning can bring together mining history and a specific cycling connection, without limiting the two themes to the same structure.
Church and observation tower
The present-day Church of St. Catherine of Alexandria was built in 1858 and 1859 in the Neo-Romanesque style, on the remains of a medieval church that had burned down. The complex includes a medieval bell tower, which is itself a cultural monument. In 2025, the church and the former cemetery were declared cultural monuments. If you would like to visit the church outside of services, contact the town of Krásno, which owns the property, and arrange your visit in advance.
South of Krásno, on Krásenský vrch, stands the 25-metre-high stone Krásenská observation tower. Its unusual external spiral staircase leads to the viewing platform and makes its design a distinctive feature of the tower. It was built during the global economic crisis of the 1930s. This offers an architectural perspective different from that of the church: here, the focus is on the observation tower’s construction and the period in which it was built.
Cycling route and landscape
Cycle route 2135 runs from Krásno via Prameny and Kladská to the edge of the Bohemian Forest, where it joins route 2137. It is 38 kilometres long, rated as moderately difficult and suitable for touring bikes and mountain bikes. Longer optional detours can extend the ride. Check the signage on site and bear in mind that surface conditions may vary. By following the Dlouhá stoka canal, the route links a specific cycling option with the area’s technical heritage.
The Krásenské peat bog is the largest raised bog in the Slavkov Forest. It lies in the first protection zone, where access is prohibited to unauthorised visitors. Check the local signage before planning a visit. For nature beyond the individual peat bog, the Slavkov Forest offers a broader setting: this includes extensive peat bogs, species-rich wet and marshy meadows, unique serpentine flora and heathland, as well as numerous mineral springs and mofettes. Preserved beech forests and the valleys of the meandering Teplá and Ohře rivers, with their remarkable rock formations, also contribute to the area’s natural character. You can therefore choose different focuses for your trip, from mining and architecture to cycling or landscapes.
Discover more destinations: Rothau, Heinrichsgrün, Teschwitz, Liebauthal, Zieditz, Chodau, Schindlwald, Elbogen
For the broader travel overview: Sokolov District.
