Karlovy Vary trip guide for lazy people with tips on how not to get lost at Bludná and discover the "film location"
A walk for the lazy - level 1
Although the decision to try to enjoy a stay in the Karlovy Vary region in a truly active way (even though the starting point is, by definition, the relaxing Vary) is firm, everyone should also think about the fact that it doesn't take much effort to get started. And so I pack up my canine partner, who visibly can't wait for the trip, and we set off in the direction of Kladská. Specifically, the Kladské peat bogs National Nature Reserve is located in the heart of the Slavkov Forest, and even completely novice hikers with a unique talent for getting lost practically anywhere can go here (and with their dog). The Kladská Nature Trail is just over two kilometres long, and as it consists of a wooden path leading around the Kladský Pond, it really is a relaxing walk for everyone. The ubiquitous pine trees give the impression of being on the Croatian coast, and although nature in its summer guise has its own charm, I imagine that in autumn, when all the colours come out, a walk around the area will also be an unforgettable experience.
And if it turns out that some members of the expedition (the dog) still have energy to spare after completing the circuit and enthusiastically watching the wild ducks, the trip can be extended to other parts of the reserve. The reserve is made up of four areas and besides the aforementioned one (also called Tajga) it also includes Paterák, Lysina and Malá peat bogs. If, on the other hand, you run out of energy (for the two-legged ones), it is worth visiting the local hunting lodge and manor house right near Kladská. They were built during the 19th century by the Saxon prince Otto Friedrich Schönburg-Waldenburg after he bought the area, which had previously been mined for tin, and focused on its development. The adjacent restaurant, which specialises in game specialities, can be used to recharge your batteries. But of course they also have that coffee (for humans) and water (for humans and dogs).
A trip for the fittest lazy people - level 2
After the first day of exploring the southern part of Karlovy Vary, it's time for a change of direction. The road to the border region, specifically to Horní Blatná, seems to be a rather nice sightseeing (car) route (my illusory ideas about what Boží Dar looks like took over by its passage) with the possibility to walk a bit more and also to get acquainted with the already mentioned "tin history" of the Erzgebirge. It is near Horní Blatná that the so-called Wolf Pits are located, to which the relatively "mud-proof" nature trail Blatenský vrch is supposed to lead (again), but it leads through "more difficult" terrain (compared to the wooden path around the pond).
Already on arrival to Horní Blatná it is clear that in a possible competition of picturesqueness this mountain village (unlike Boží Dar) would be at the top of the imaginary ranking. Compared to the border region at the other end of the country, in Jesenick, it is obvious that Germany is just over the hill, so if one is not captivated by the views of the countryside, one can certainly enjoy the sights of carefully renovated or newly built (and meticulously maintained) properties. It also seems that the route will be well signposted - that this belief is actually a big misconception only becomes apparent after one has climbed a steep hill, ascended to and then up a lookout tower and... Wolf pits are nowhere to be found. The mobile "map" app is lost because it has no signal, and so are we. We search (in vain) for the pits (which is an oxymoron by definition) and are somewhat disconcerted by the fact that we are within easy reach of a place marked as Bludná (could it be a sign?).
Zdroj: Giphy
But despite the Fade, we don't give up. We pick up the signal and pick up speed in addition to the right direction (we find a short storm on the radar). Maybe no one has thought of it yet, but it is possible to go around Blatenský vrch in a rather complicated way and after climbing the same hill from the other side to reach... the lookout tower again. And where are the Wolf Pits? A few hundred metres from the lookout tower. There's actually a hiking trail leading to them. But a different colour than the one we took to Blatenský vrch...
After the rain and in the afternoon sun, the remains of the former tin mines look really impressive, especially the Wolf Pit, which is a remnant of the Wolfgang Mine, which was one of the largest in the area (reaching a depth of 85 metres). Although access directly to the pits is closed for safety reasons, you can enjoy the view from the lookout points. After returning to Horní Blatná, we get the idea to change the trip to a "foreign" one and go to the nearby Johanngeorgenstadt for coffee.
And isn't that a little bit? Conclusion for the tired - level 0
Yes, it is possible to hike along the path around the pond. You can also be a bit more active and claw your way up to the lookout tower (twice) and back down again. But in the end, you can explore quite a bit in the car. On the way from the Czech-German border area we pass signs pointing in the direction of Klínovec. So why not get to know the highest mountain of the Ore Mountains at the end, if you can climb it? Well, the view is nice. Even the historic lookout tower here has been saved. But the rest of the "area" is a sad sight, even when the evening sun is pouring down on it. The hotel, which was built at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, has long since passed its glory years. And, unlike the renovated lookout tower, it has been decaying since 1990. Yet (or perhaps because of it) the atmosphere is ultimately immersive. So if the authors of the documentary series Forgotten Megastructures would like to go to the Czech Republic, we have a travel tip for them... (but they will have to bring coffee in a thermos to Klínovec...)
