Bohemian Spa Tour: Franzensbad - Prague

Franzensbad is located just a few kilometers behind the German border in the far west of the Czech Republic and is easily accessible by car or train.
This famous spa town is the first highlight of the trip, even before you get on your bikes. The Frantiskovy Lázne spa, the smallest in the West Bohemian Spa Triangle, was founded in 1793. To this day, Franzensbad has retained the appearance of a spa town at the turn of the century. The uniform architectural style of the classicist spa buildings and pavilions underlines the charm of this wonderful spa and bathing resort. The low mountain climate characteristic of the mountainous region, the surrounding forests, and the well-kept municipal parks immediately give you a feeling of relaxation and recreation. A beautiful start to a beautiful cycling tour! If you arrive by car, you can park for free in the hotel's unguarded parking lot. In the afternoon, you will be welcomed and given a brief introduction to your bike tour.

From Františkovy Lázně, you will immerse yourself in the Czech countryside: your route will take you over rolling hills, past wide fields and through idyllic forests. In places, you will be accompanied by the winding Ohře River as you make your way towards Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad). Be sure to stop off in Loket, a picturesque town perched on a rocky outcrop above the Ohře River and dominated by an impressive castle. The cycle route then continues along the river to Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad). Karlovy Vary is undoubtedly the most famous spa town in the Spa Triangle and also the most traditional and largest spa in the Czech Republic. The symbol of the city is the Sprudel, a spring with a yield of 2,000 liters per minute, which is thrown up to a height of 15 meters. The city, which has always been keen to present itself in the best light, is characterized by numerous architectural monuments in various styles. Members of all European royal families have visited Karlovy Vary.

Today's cycling stage takes you along the Eger (Ohře) River via the small spa town of Kyselka, home to the country's most famous mineral spring, to Kadan. Kadan has a small, beautifully restored old town with a large market square in the center. The town lies in the foothills of the Ore Mountains on the banks of the Eger River.

Your cycle route to Zatec takes you along small roads through many Bohemian villages. On the way, visit the beautiful Baroque Krasny Dvur Castle with its impressive English park, where Goethe often stayed in the summer. Take time for a lovely walk in this magnificent, approximately 100-hectare landscape park. After visiting the castle, continue on to your destination for the day, Zatec. The historic center of Zatec consists of a closed, well-preserved ensemble of patrician houses from the Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque periods. Arcaded houses line the market square with the town hall—a place where you are sure to feel at home. Did you know that Zatec is the center of Bohemian hop growing? Cultivation and processing have been a tradition here since the Middle Ages, and many hop festivals take place in September. Of course, the beer from Zatec is excellent – try it for yourself.
An alternative bike tour is a little flatter and shorter, leading along the Nechranicka Prehrada reservoir and through the lovely Hudna Valley.

Passing through many small villages, the Dzban National Park, and the village of Nesuchyne, where you can see various beautiful examples of traditional rural architecture, you will arrive in Rakovnik. Rakovnik is a small, picturesque town founded in the mid-13th century. Here, too, you will find a beautiful old town with a market square and impressive remains of the medieval town fortifications. The local brewery was founded back in 1460, so another beer tasting is definitely in order.

Today, the flat cycle path takes you along the Radovnicky Potok stream through the vast forests of the Krivoklatsko Nature Reserve (UNESCO Biosphere Reserve). About halfway through the cycle stage, you will reach Krivoklat Castle, one of the oldest preserved fortresses in Bohemia, perched on a striking rocky outcrop in the middle of dense forest. The bike tour then continues to Roztoky, where you can take the train to Zloukovice or Nizbor. From Nizbor, with its beautiful castle, you cycle along the Berounka River to Beroun. Beroun is a small town on the Prague-Pilsen route that was once important for trade and therefore strategically significant. It was granted the title of “royal town” in 1265 and was fortified shortly afterwards. Two large town gates have been preserved and, together with the town hall, dominate the market square in the listed old town. Be sure to take some time to explore Beroun.

You cycle along the Berounka River and reach the Gothic castle of Karlstejn, built in 1348. It occupies a unique position among Bohemian castles. It was built by the Bohemian king and Roman emperor Charles IV to house the royal treasures, especially the collections of holy relics and the imperial crown jewels. The route continues along the Berounka to Prague, where you will reach your hotel in the city center on the left bank of the Vltava River.
In Prague, literally every house, every square and every street corner invites you to stop and look around. Prague enjoys a reputation as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and it is not without reason that it has been given nicknames such as “Golden Prague,” “Prague of a Hundred Spires,” “the Crown of the World,” or “the Stone Dream.” A truly wonderful end to your week of cycling.

Your cycling tour ends after breakfast. You can return to Franzensbad by train (no problem, even if you have your own bikes), travel home directly by train, or – highly recommended – spend a few more days in Prague.