Silberbach (Staré Sedlo) combines industrial history with castle and church architecture, as well as a designated natural monument in the Ohře Valley. For a culturally focused stay, its different historical layers are of interest: a technical monument still serves to drain water, while the castle, church and memorial sites each mark their own historical chapters. The valley adds protected natural features and fossils to the local history.

Mining History and Water Management

The first reference to the Svaté Trojice mineral works dates to 1573. It was the oldest works in the Sokolov area to produce alum and green vitriol. This means the known industrial history stretches far back before the castle was built in 1816.

The Dědičná štola Jana Křtitele is a cultural monument built for mineral extraction and mine drainage. To this day, the adit carries mine water into the Ohře. Its portal is near a footbridge below the castle. Here, the history of water management and a specific landmark below the castle meet at a clearly defined location.

Castle and Church in Staré Sedlo

The castle in Staré Sedlo was built in 1816 by Fr. Miessl, then head of the mineral works. It stands on a rock above the valleys of the Ohře and Hruškovský potok. Its date of construction and location offer two distinct perspectives: the former places the building within local industrial history, while the latter situates it in the landscape of the two valleys.

In front of the castle stands a statue of Saint Florian from the workshop of Wildt, a sculptor from Loket. It was originally located in a niche in the castle. The change from its former position inside the building to its place outside is part of the recorded history of this statue.

The Church of the Holy Trinity, called kostel Nejsvětější Trojice in Czech, was originally built in the Baroque style between 1711 and 1720. It burned down completely in the devastating village fire of 4 September 1861; it was restored in the Pseudo-Historical style as early as 1862. Its history can therefore be divided into a Baroque period and a restoration following the fire.

The church hosts regular services and festive events. Cultural events and concerts are also held there with the support of the municipality. If you would like to plan your visit around a particular event, check its date and access arrangements in advance.

Memorial Sites and Earlier Traces

The war memorial to those who fell in the First World War was erected in 1925 by the local association of war veterans and extensively reconstructed in 2008. The two dates mark different chapters: the memorial’s creation and its later reconstruction.

Heavily degraded remains of a fortification lie in the northeastern part of the village. This site points to a different kind of historical trace than the castle, church and memorial: these are remains whose condition has been significantly impaired.

The Ohře Valley and the Cycling Route

The Ohře Valley natural monument near Staré Sedlo was designated in 1976 and covers 32.84 hectares. Features of the protected area include numerous pseudokarst caves and fossils of Tertiary subtropical flora. The valley thus combines protected natural formations with evidence of a plant world from the distant past.

There is also a specific regional reference for route planning: National Cycle Route No. 6 runs through the Staré Sedlo area along the Mostov–Loket section. If you plan to ride this section, check for any current diversions before setting off.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Falkenau An Der Eger, Dotterwies, Unterreichenau, Josefsdorf, Graslitz, Königsberg A. D. Eger, Unterneugrün, Douglasgrün

Back to the main travel overview: Falkenau District.