Nature

Even though Sokolov is still regarded as a purely industrial town, most visitors are surprised by the abundance of greenery. South of the Budovatelů Square lies the Chateau Park and the Husovy Sady Park, representing what remained of the former chateau gardens and park with interesting water reservoirs. In the era of the Nostic-Rhinek noble family there were greenhouses where famous pineapples were grown (In the era between world wars these were exclusively supplied to the Prague Castle) Valuable is the large white maple species that is the largest in the Sokolov region with its trunk circumference of nearly 4 meters. Very decorative are the mighty local timber species – black alders and oaks, reminder of the original deciduous vegetation of the Sokolov Basin. A remarkable sight of the town center is a large tree – black poplar, growing from the grass-covered area at the crossroads near the Municipal Office. It is 35,5 meters tall and the circumference of its trunk measured in 1,30 meters above ground is 5,2 meters. Since 1984 this tree is in the evidence as a protected memorial tree. An unusual structure is the migration bridge for squirrels connecting the Husovy sady and the Chateau Parks over the busy road. 
Among important natural sights of the Sokolov region belongs the vast peat bogs of the Slavkovský Les protected landscape area. They are the main source of the healing springs found in the nearby spa-towns. Very interesting are the local minor protected landscape area, such as Kladská rašeliniště, Pluhův bor, Velký močál, Velké jeřábí jezero and Tři křížky national parks. Not far from Františkovy Lázně is the Soos Peat Bog, a popular national park with extensive peat areas, infusorial earth deposits and several mineral springs. In its neighborhood nature lovers can find another curiosity - Komorní Hůrka one of the youngest volcanoes in Bohemia. The name of J.W. Goethe - great German poet and scientist is connected with the exploration of this volcano. 

Leaving the town and heading northbound, you will pass the Lomnice village in the direction toward Chodov. If you stop on the top of the uprising and look around, you will see the Slavkovský Les in the distance and in front of you is the sight of a former quarry currently under recultivation. This is also where an interesting and unique knowledge trail starts that leads visitors along the Great Ore Mountain’s Waste Bank Trail about 3 kilometers long. The information boards tell visitors about the recultivation process and present the safety instructions as they go along the trail. Then you can return to Lomnice and continue to the village of Dolní Nivy. Then in the township of Jindřichovice you can see a baroque chateau that serves today as an archive. There is also the St. Martin’s Church and a mausoleum built here in memory of Serbian prisoners of war who died in the local POW camp during World War I. From Jindřichovice you can continue to Tatrovice with well-known St. Erhart’s Church and a picturesque valley dam suitable for water sports, or you can go to the village of Šindelová situated on a former tin trail, where you can see a unique technical monument – a blast furnace, an ironworks reminder. Near the village there is a holiday resort with natural bathing establishment. 

Unviolated countryside of the Ore Mountains will welcome you near Rotava, where you can find famous “basalt organ”, the second largest one in Czech Republic. Near Přebuz you can visit nostalgic hilltop pet-bogs and mysterious old mines. Not far from Kraslice you can visit both summer and winter sports resorts for both summer and winter hiking along cross country skiing trails and downhill slopes at Bublava and Stříbrná. An interesting natural formation is the so-called Tall Rock (Vysoký kámen) near Kostelní not far from Kraslice. 

Along the romantic Ohře River valley you will see unusual granite rock formations. There is a mysterious folk tale tied with the rocks which tells about Jan Svatoš who was allegedly a foundling raised in Loket. As he was roaming trough the countryside he met a fairy that taught him magic. And because he broke his promise that he would never marry, he was cursed and turned to rock with his bride and the entire wedding suit. This is how the Svatošské Skály rock formation got created according to the legend. Watermen boating down the Ohře River are rewarded with breathtaking scenery of the rocks.