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14 July 2018 / 16 Comments

Loket in the Czech Republic - a castle with a friendly dragon

Writer: Helena Bergström

We visited the towns of Becov nad Teplou and Loket, both in the Karlovy Vary region, west of Prague. We have found a treasure, a dragon and a castle in the Czech Republic. Follow us to two small but exciting places! By the way, some scenes from the James Bond film Casino Royal were also filmed here...

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To Becov nad Teplou and Loket

After the visit to the absolutely amazing city and spa town of Karlovy Vary (the most beautiful city we have ever visited!), we rolled on to Becov nad Teplou and Loket. It may look like we drove a bit back and forth, but we are talking about quite short distances. Each stretch took maybe half an hour to drive.

The first stop was in the small town of Becov nad Teplou. This is really a small town (there are only just over 900 people living here!) but it is also a cute town. We went here because the small town has a castle... with a treasure!

Becov nad Teplou
Becov nad Teplou

Castle in Becov nad Teplou

Castle in Becov was founded in the 14th century, and has since been expanded several times and owned by different families. Because the owners collaborated with the Nazis during World War II, they were forced to give up the castle after the war. It then served as a school for a few decades.

Slottet i Becov nad Teplou
Castle in Becov nad Teplou

We took a guided tour of the castle and saw several beautiful rooms, including a well-stocked library, large 17th century tapestries and an entire church room.

Interiör Becov slott
Fine room at Becov castle
Becov nad Teplou castle
A dedicated church room in the castle
Lejon ljusstakar
Imagine having candlesticks like this at home ...!

Taxes in Becov nad Teplou

As recently as 1985, a dramatic discovery was made in the castle. Under On the floor they found a great treasure, the St. Maurus Reliquary, which is covered with gilded plates, statues, pearls and precious stones. Along with the shiny treasure, they also found a unique old collection of wine and cognac!

Didn't we get to see the treasure then? We could have, but then you had to book another guided tour, so we settled for knowing that this is the little town that holds the big treasure!

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Skatt
The treasure - in a photo above the information desk

Loket

Then it was time to move on to the town called Loket. This is a really charming little town, which is almost completely surrounded by the river Ohre. The town consists of winding streets, charming houses and narrow alleys, and is dominated by the large castle that sits at the top.

Loket means 'elbow' in Czech. The city got its name because the city centre is surrounded on three sides by the Ohře River, and the shape the river takes resembles that of an elbow.

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Loket i Tjeckien
Loket city
The town of Loket is surrounded by the river Ohre
Trånga gränder
Narrow alleys!

The castle and the dragon in Loket

Borrowing in Loket (Hrad Loket) is one of the oldest stone castles in the Czech Republic. It is said that the castle was founded in 870 by the Margraves of Vohenburg, and texts mention it for the first time in the 12th century. Today it looks really cool standing at the top of the town.

Borg i Tjeckien
The castle in Loket is a cool castle in the Czech Republic
Borg Loket
Medieval feeling as soon as you enter the castle!

At the bottom of the castle is a dragon. According to the information sign, the dragon in Loket was a friendly dragon. For example, it used to help the housewives light a fire for them when they were cooking. Very handy to have access to such a friendly dragon, isn't it?

Drake
The dragon in Loket's castle

Ohre in Loket

The second attraction is the Ohøe River, which is followed by hundreds of boats during the season. The popular part of Loket Castle embellishes the popular canoeists. Downstream there is a boat camp about one kilometre from the bridge. Here you can also paddle to Karlovy Vary on the river in a green landscape.

Another natural tourist destination is the Ohře cycle path from Loket to Karlovy Vary. It is about 10 kilometres long and after about two thirds of the way on the left bank there is a protected natural monument, Svatoš Rocks. It is a set of pillars above the river, which were created due to the erosion of the Ohře River in the granite massif. They are often used by recreational climbers.

Loket utsikt
View from the castle tower over the amphitheatre and the TG Masaryk Bridge.

The Black Tower in Loket

Also in the city is 'The Black Tower', which helped protect the entrance to the castle. The tower itself is original, although the roof is more recent. Do not miss the Chapel of st. Anny located on the main road Rooseveltova 180/2 on the way into Loket.

Black Tower
Black Tower I Loket (Cerna Ves on Kostelní 78/19)
Black Tower
Black Tower - seen from a different angle

Casino Royal with James Bond

When in Loket, you can also check out James Bond locations! In the film Casino Royal, James Bond (Daniel Craig) meets local MI6 contact René Mathis (Giancarlo Giannini) at a café in a small town in Montenegro. In fact, the café is the Hotel & Restaurant Goethe on the square in the Czech town of Loket.

James Bond Loket
This square is featured in the James Bond film Casino Royal

In fact, many scenes in the film Casino Royal were shot in the Czech Republic - either in Prague or in the beautiful spa town of Karlovy Vary.

Torg Loket
The square from a different angle with the Holy Trinity Column and the museum of bookbinding
Torget Loket
A very charming square!

Porcelain Museum in Loket, Czech Republic

From the square next to the tourist information centre is the cool porcelain museum (Pivovarske museum), in the same building as the restaurant and beer shop. All the mugs (cups) that have been made for drinking the water from the wells of Karlovy Vary and Marianske Lazne are here. Over 5000 mugs in beautiful decorations and the first one from 1780.

Porslinsmuseum i Loket

Microbrewery in Loket

In the same building as the Museum is the beershop and microbrewery at Sobotova 10/2, as well as a restaurant that we tried. We also tried a beer tasting from their own good beer varieties and we can recommend it.

Ölprovning i Loket

See more - Karlovy Vary

Do not miss the famous and beautiful Art Nouveau town of Karlovy Vary, which is one of the spa triangle in the Czech Republic 12 km from Loket. The discovery of the healing springs that Charles IV made on a hunting trip in 1349 and which is the most famous spa resort in Europe. See Grandhotel Pupp, Becherovka museum, Moser glass museum, spa hotel Thermal with its annual film festival, Park Colonnada, Mlynska Kolonada and much more.

Spa I Tjeckien

Video from Loket in the Czech Republic

All our top tips for the Czech Republic. Click on the image!

Facts about Loket

  • What country? Czech Republic (Republic)
  • Location: Western Czech Republic in the region of Karlovy Vary in Bohemia
  • District: Benesov
  • Altitude: 427 metres above sea level
  • Language? Czech (some also speak English)
  • Residents? 3082 (2016)
  • Currency? Czech crown (korunas)
  • Price point? Cheaper than in Sweden
  • Time difference? None
  • Emergency number? 112

JOURNEY TO THE LOCATION

  • Flight: You can fly directly from Stockholm (and maybe from other places) to Prague and the flight takes less than two hours. We flew with Czech Airlines - a comfortable and good plane on the way there, and a slightly more uncomfortable plane on the way back. After that you have to take a car or bus which takes about 1 hour 50 minutes.
  • Car: Driving from Stockholm to Loket takes about 17 hours, if you count driving alone. The distance is about 142 kilometres.

More attractions in Loket

  • The church of Kostel sv. Vaclava next to the castle.
  • The tourist information centre is located at T. G. Masaryka 12/72

Event in Loket, Czech Republic

Every year the town plays host to an opera festival, with performances by the Czech National Opera in an outdoor amphitheatre with the castle as a backdrop. It was on the amphitheatre that I was standing on when I took my drone photos of the town of Loket. 

Accommodation in Loket

  • Hotel: Pension Masonic House at T. G. Masaryka 115 on the market square.
  • Hotel Cisar Ferdinand at T. G. Masaryka 136/81 next to the beershop and the porcelain museum.
  • Camping: Read about different campsites and pitches in the Czech Republic here.

Restaurants in Loket, Czech Republic

  • In the beershop at Sobotova 10/2 one floor down, we had a Czech lunch which we think was good.
  • Pizzerie Na Ruzku at T. G. Masaryka 40/20 if you want something simple.
  • Hotel Goethe at T. G. Masaryka 22/56 on the market square, you'll stop for a beer and feel like James Bond.

prices entry into the guarantee

  • Adults with audio guide 170,00 Kc - 8 Euro
  • Pensioners, students and children 6-15 140,00 Kc - 6,50 Euro
  • Family 2 adults + 2 children 420,00 Kc - 21 Euro
  • Prices are from 2019

History of the locomotive

In the early 13th century, Loket, a royal castle, was built on a landmark site near the Ohře River. It used to be called the "key to the Czech Empire". Soon after, in 1288, a small town emerged under the castle. At the beginning of the 16th century, the royal town was fortified and became an important contact point for the Czech crown. 

The most visited historical monument in the city is the castle from the early 13th century. In the days of the Church of Luxembourg, the castle served as a temporary residence for members of the royal family. During the Thirty Years' War, it was conquered and looted by Swedish troops. The abandoned castle burned down in 1725 and was converted into a regional prison in 1822.

This post is written in co-operation with Czech Tourism. The texts, images and opinions are, as usual, our own.

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FREEDOMtravel Avslut
14 July 2018 6:00
Czech Republic
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16 Comments

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  1. GeddFish says:

    Gomorron 😀 Lovely pictures! Now I get ressugen again. Wrote in my blog about photo drought, yes your tip about going somewhere, well it will be quiet in my own castle if I cave too long here 😀.
    Sunny hugs!

    14 July 2018 - 9:37

    Reply

  2. Nils-Åke Hansson says:

    Interesting to get some tips on sights.

    14 July 2018 - 10:48

    Reply

  3. Britt-Marie Lundgren says:

    Lovely pictures and Loket seems cosy with its castle?

    14 July 2018 - 12:25

    Reply

  4. Maria / Magnolia Magis says:

    James Bond in Casino Royal seems to have been everywhere!!! 🙂 In Sienna, Italy, the scene with the horses running around the square was filmed... Great trip! Aren't you tired? You have already seen a lot! 🙂 But very interesting!

    14 July 2018 - 12:27

    Reply

    • Comment by post author

      Helena says:

      Yes, James Bond was probably in several places, except in Montenegro 😉 So yes, of course we get tired sometimes ... but travelling is the most fun we know, and then you get new energy all the time! 🙂

      14 July 2018 - 12:57

      Reply

  5. Emma, Sol som sol? says:

    It was a cute little kite! But it's sad that it's stuck in there, it's supposed to go out and fly!

    14 July 2018 - 15:00

    Reply

  6. Steve says:

    Wow, wow, wow, so many amazing places you visit. And not far away either.

    14 July 2018 - 17:01

    Reply

  7. BP says:

    The castle in Loket was really cool as well as the town itself. Very cosy! I'm sure Ama would have loved the castle.
    You are incredibly cultural during this trip. I usually look at castles and fortresses from the outside, but rarely look inside, especially if the weather is nice outside.

    14 July 2018 - 21:00

    Reply

    • Comment by post author

      Helena says:

      The castle really felt like something out of a fairy tale! Cultural? Haha, well maybe. We have decided to make a trip full of experiences, and see and do as much as possible. What kind of experiences it will be depends a bit on where in Europe we are. In tomorrow's post it will be a bath 🙂 (Iofs in a little cultural premises;))

      15 July 2018 - 8:36

      Reply

  8. Renates Reiser says:

    So many beautiful places I've never heard of! The castle in Loket looks absolutely amazing. I almost get a "Dracula" feeling from it, hehe. I certainly realise that the Czech Republic deserves (at least) one more trip!

    Enjoy your trip. 🙂

    19 July 2018 - 17:47

    Reply

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