Spa Triangle & Prague

Czech Republic Bike Tour

This great tour is unique in that it incorporates spas!! And not just any spas, but Beer Spas!! You will see what beer can do for you on the inside as well as on the outside. You'll be transferred west of Prague to Františkovy Lázne for your first overnight and where you'll start our first day of biking. The first spa will come to meet you in Františkovy Lázne - a small, intimate spa town that has preserved its turn-of-the-century atmosphere and relaxing ambiance to remain one of the most picturesque Czech spas.

The next town, Cheb, was founded in the 11th century on the site of a Slavic settlement. Friedrich Barbarossa built a Romanesque castle here in 1180. Heading just south of Cheb is Starý Hrozňatov, a cylindrical tower with the so-called “ear” masonry preserved from the ruins of an Early Gothic castle. Then follows the spa town of Kynžvart, originally a Baroque settlement built in 1821-36. The Kynzvart Castle was built very opulently by Austrian Chancellor Prince van Metternich. A museum was established here where it is possible to see a valuable collection of coins, old Egyptian memorabilia, and so on.

Mariánské Lázně is a famous spa resort that evokes the feeling of one great park. Elegant spa houses and colonnades arching above curative springs are enclosed in greenery. The town itself is surrounded by woods. The great monastery of Teplá follows. The history of this old monastery dates back to the 12th century. On the break of the 17th and 18th centuries, the monastery was rebuilt brilliantly in Baroque style by K. I. Dientzenhofer. The monastery’s library is the 2nd largest in the Czech Republic.

The inconspicuous town of Chodová Planá is unique worldwide due to its beer spa!! Baths made by mixing healing springs with beer extracts along with drinking beer as well – experiencing these local treating procedures will convince you that beer can treat not only from the inside but also from the outside. The great Slavkovský Forest has the appearance of an upland island of green vegetation and tranquility little influenced by man. It is an impressive landscape complex with bogs and an enormous natural water reserve.

Just a bit north of the Forest is Bečov nad Teplou, an original Gothic castle founded in the 13th century by the family of the Lords of Osek. It was later rebuilt in the Renaissance style. In the undercastle is a two-floor chateau from the 18th century with an octagonal corner tower and a stone bridge. The next famous castle is Loket with a Romanesque fortress standing on a rock soaring high above the Ohre River.

The incredibly beautiful town of Karlovy Vary, also known as Carlsbad, is the most interesting Czech spa town with its 600-year-old tradition. This fashionable health resort is also greatly attractive due to its historic architecture, beautiful colonnades and sanatoria.

The history of the Klášterec nad Ohří chateau begins in the early 16th century. Present-day visitors to the chateau can see the Museum of Czech Porcelain and the local vault of the Thun-Hohenstein family. Kadaň is the last town on our itinerary. The Monastery is the oldest pilgrimage place of the Fourteen Saint Helpers in the Czech Republic. Today, the monastery is the permanent residence of the City Museum in Kadan. During the day, it is possible to visit for free the monastery’s garden, where the tradition of producing wine was started in this region.

Where You’ll Stay

Either in City Standard Accommodations or Premium Hotels Accommodations.

What’s Included

• 5 nights hotel accommodations
• All breakfasts
• Detailed maps & route descriptions
• ± 24-speed bicycle
• Luggage transportation
• Train tickets & schedules per program
• World unique Beer Spa
• Telephone support
• Tour guide & support vehicle (guided option only)
• Support vehicle (guided option only)

What’s Not Included

• Individual arrival to Prague
• Lunches & dinners

Tour Dates

• Daily from May to October, 2012
• Guided Tours: May 1, July 3 and August 28, 2012.

Skill Level

Moderate guided or self-guided hotel tour. Tour runs on good roads, mostly flat but also with some climbs with daily distances of 23-36 miles with a total of 120 miles over 4 cycling days.

Day-To-Day Itinerary

1. Arrival in Prague, transfer to Frantiskovy Lazne
2. Prague - Františkovy Lázne (Spa) - Lázne Kynžvart (Spa), 23 mi.
3. Lázne Kynžvart - Chodová Planá, 27 mi.
4. Chodová Planá - Karlovy Vary, 34 mi.
5. Karlovy Vary - Kadaò, 36 mi. Transfer back to Prague.
6. Departure from Prague.

DAY 1: Arrival in Prague, transfer to Frantiskovy Lazne.
Pick-up from Prague, welcome briefing and transfer to the spa town Františkovy Lázně (180 km). As the name of this town suggests, this town was founded by the Emperor Frantisek I.(Franz) in 1812. The town’s center is full of buildings constructed in the Empire and Classicism styles and city it self has real 19th century spa atmosphere. Rest of the day you can spend relaxing or you can take short bike loop!

DAY 2: Frantiskovy Lazne (Spa) – Lazne Kynzvart (Spa), 37 km / 23 mi.
Leaving Lazne Kynzvart behind, we'll bike for a couple of kilometers before we reach the old town of Cheb, which used to be the entrance into the Czech lands from the Roman Empire in the period of early Middle Ages. Here, we will visit the only Romanesque castle in the Czech Republic. It was built in the 12th century by the Emperor Friedrich Barbarossa. This unique building with a well preserved rotunda became famous throughout Europe and in its time, was even more known than Prague and seats of German emperors. This building is a “must see” of this entire trip! Our next stop will be the Kynzvart Castle, which we will reach by passing an old castle and a loretta in the village of Stary Hroznatov. The Kynzvart Castle was built by the Chancellor Clemens Metternich and therefore, the castle is very opulent. We will spend the night in town, which is located on a hill above the castle.

DAY 3: Lazne Kynzvart – Chodova Plana, 43 km / 27 mi.
We will start off by descending through an alley of 395 oak trees, which leads to another spa town called Marianske Lazne. This town is a typical representative of spa towns. It has a beautiful colonnade from the 19th century, along with many pavilions built around the healing springs. From here we will continue uphill to the Tepla Monastery. It was founded at the end of the 12th century. We can admire the adjoining church as well as the rare library containing more than 80,000 books from all centuries. The final destination of this stage is the inconspicuous town of Chodova Plana with a phenomenon that is unique worldwide – a beer spa. Baths made by mixing healing springs with beer extracts along with drinking beer as well – experiencing these local treating procedures will convince you that beer can treat not only the inside but also the outside!

DAY 4: Chodova Plana – Karlovy Vary, 54 km / 34 mi.
There are two options available for this day. The sport fans can ride the entire way on their bikes through a beautiful, but hilly area of the Slavkovsky Forest. The others will be taken 25 km to Becov nad Teplou. The local complex of a castle and adjacent buildings protects the Reliquary of St. Maura. This Romanesque site was built in the first half of the 13th century and, because of its well-preserved state and artistic value, it is the 2nd most valuable treasure of the Czech Republic. At the same time, it is a significant monument of European standard as well! From Becov nad Teplou, we will climb 3 km and then after 14 km, we will reach the Loket Castle. This impressive fortress from the 14th century, in a combination with a well protected settlement around the fortress located in a meander of the Ohre River, will be a very romantic stop on our way. After that, we will continue along the river to the town of Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad), the largest spa center in the Czech Republic. This town has been known since the 14th century, primarily because of its 12 healing and treating springs, the Becherovka Liquor and its world-famous china.

DAY 5: Karlovy Vary – Kadan, 58 km / 36 mi.  Transfer back to Prague.
This day will have the longest stage of the entire trip – 60 km. Most of the time, we will follow the Ohre River, which tries to find its way through the Doupovske Hills. From the surrounding hills, we will be watched by several ruins of castles and those who have some excessive energy can try to conquer them. The trail runs trough a slightly hilly terrain. Along the way, we will be able to visit a castle in Klasterec nad Ohri with its china exhibition, the Kadan Town with its old-time monastery and a castle. After these visits and sufficient refreshment, we will part with our bikes and get ready for a ride back to Prague (by car this time!).

DAY 6: Departure from Prague.
Departure following breakfast.

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