OREA Hotel Excelsior - tips for trips

There are many historical and architectural places of interest close to Mariánské Lázně (such as Teplá Monastery, which has a large park with water features, Bečov Castle, Loket Castle, the Špalíček complex of 11 buildings in the city of Cheb and the unique Soos Natural Reserve near Františkovy Lázně, a natural moorland with mud volcanoes). Mariánské Lázně is surrounded by the Slavkov Forest Protected Landscape Area, which includes a number of natural attractions (such as Kladská – Kladská Moors).

Family Brewery in Chodová Planá
The Chodová Planá brewery is a well-known tourist destination. The brewery’s cellar restaurant offers a very pleasant environment. The brewery also includes a Brewery Museum, wellness centre with a beer spa and historical malt house. Adjacent to the brewery building, there is a formal garden with a pleasant seating area that can accommodate up to 3,000 guests. A traditional beer festival is held here in connection with the European beer-barrel rolling championships.

Mitte Europa Festival
This is a multi-genre cultural festival that takes place in the Czech-German border region. It is also known as the Festival of Three States: Saxony, Bavaria and Bohemia and is held in western Bohemia (Cheb), north-western Bavaria and southern and western Saxony. The festival takes place from June to August.

Folk Art of Western Bohemia
Western Bohemia has a unique folk culture that is a combination of two nationalities – Czech and German. This exhibition depicts differences between the specific regions – the Karlovy Vary area, Cheb area, Chodsko area, Klatovy area and Plzeň area. Both Germans and Czechs have traditionally lived in western Bohemia, but each group maintained its own lifestyle. The exhibition displays folk costumes, interiors and items showing the richness of the arts and customs of each culture. The exhibition is accompanied by an abundant programme.

Riding Hall in Světce – the Pearl of Tachov
The riding hall in Světce is the second oldest riding hall in Central Europe. It combines elements of industrial and aristocratic architecture and features a very unusual roof with a “lantern” – a prismatic skylight. Completed in 1861, it was used for various purposes; the riding hall cellars housed a forge, storage areas, coal pit, blacksmith’s residence, and manure storage and handling area. The ground floor included galleries and living quarters including bathrooms. The Riding Hall could house 24 horses. The most beautiful room is the Duke’s Quarters, which still offers one of the most beautiful views of the riding hall.

Soos National Nature Reserve
This is a unique natural reserve located to the north of Františkovy Lázně in the vicinity of Skalná. It is managed by the Františkovy Lázně Museum. Soos was declared a national nature reserve in 1964 and it covers about 221 ha. The word “Soos” means “bog” in the German dialect of Egerland, i.e. Cheb.