Chomutov
Chomutov, a picturesque town at the foot of the Ore Mountains, is full of surprising contrasts. Although it is often associated with industrial tradition, its historic center and natural treasures make it a destination that no visitor to northern Bohemia should miss.
A look back at history: From knights to a royal city
The town's roots date back to the 13th century. The first written mention comes from 1252, when the then owner Bedřich Načeradec donated Chomutov to the Order of German Knights. It was they who built a commandery here and gave the town its first architectural appearance. An important milestone was the year 1605, when Chomutov bought its freedom from serfdom and became a free royal town.
The heart of the city is 1. máje Square, which has retained its medieval layout. It is dominated by:
- St. Catherine's Church: An early Gothic gem from 1252, one of the oldest preserved monuments of monastic architecture in Europe.
- City Tower: Adjacent to the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, it offers visitors breathtaking views of the city and the mountain panorama.
- Baroque Jesuit complex: An impressive complex with St. Ignatius Church, which now serves as a cultural center and gallery.
Natural rarities: A global rarity within reach
Chomutov boasts places you won't find anywhere else in the world:
- Alum Lake: The only one of its kind on the planet. Water with a high alum content prevents the growth of algae and cyanobacteria, making it an ideal (and very healthy) natural swimming spot.
- Chomutov Zoo: The largest zoo in the Czech Republic in terms of area, focusing on animals from the Palearctic region. It also includes the Stará Ves open-air museum, which showcases life in the Ore Mountains hundreds of years ago.
Gateway to the Ore Mountains
Chomutov is the ideal starting point for lovers of active recreation. Bezručovo Valley, the longest and deepest valley in the Ore Mountains, will take you right to the heart of wild nature, whether you set out on foot or by bike.
Discover a city where medieval streets intertwine with modern leisure facilities and where history breathes from every corner of the old town hall.
City Tower and Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary
The town tower, almost 54 meters high, is one of the dominant features of the historic center. At the entrance, it is decorated with a rich Meissen vault from the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries. It was completed after the town fire in 1525 and was last rebuilt in the Neo-Gothic style at the end of the 19th century. It is open during the summer season and houses a permanent exhibition on the historical development of Chomutov.
Kamenec Lake
Kamencové Lake is an icon of Chomutov, and there is probably no one in Czechia who has not at least heard of it. It has a surface area of almost 16 hectares and is called the Pearl of the Ore Mountains for its beauty and uniqueness. Its greatest feature, which makes it unique in the world (it is truly the only one of its kind), is the composition of its water, which contains alum, to which healing properties are attributed. In the past, a spa called Kamencová huť was built by the lake. The name of the spa referred to the birth of the lake, which was created around 1809 by flooding an old alum mine.
Zoopark
Chomutov Zoo is a unique combination of a park and a zoo. The animals live in spacious enclosures full of greenery, so it is no surprise that the 112-hectare zoo is the largest in the Czech Republic. It is home to 160 species of animals from Europe, Asia, and North Africa – the so-called Palearctic region. In addition to classic enclosures and walk-through aviaries, you will also find an interesting nocturnal enclosure and a terrarium for heat-loving reptiles.
Bezruč Valley
Bezručák – as the locals call it – boasts the title of "Gateway to the Ore Mountains." Not only is it the deepest, but it is also undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in the Ore Mountains. It lies northwest of Chomutov and covers an area of 6,500 hectares. Before the war, it was called Grundtal, which can be translated as "wide valley," and this name was more than apt. The valley was created by the Chomutovka River and, at thirteen kilometers, is also the longest valley in the Ore Mountains.
