Visit Loket – a Picturesque Town in the Czech Republic

As soon as you arrive in Loket, a charming and picturesque small town in the west of the Czech Republic, you might feel that the place looks familiar. That’s because one of the James Bond movies – “Casino Royale” – was filmed here. But there are more Loket attractions waiting for you in this lovely place, and a convenient location, near Karlovy Vary, Cheb, and Marianske Lazne, makes visiting Loket very easy.

I finally had a chance to visit Loket while exploring the western Czech Republic, and I fell for the place right away. It was a sunny yet crispy November morning, with remnants of fog still covering the area and making the place look magical. It’s no wonder the filmmakers chose this place for such an epic movie, as Loket really is the prettiest.

If you plan to explore this part of Central Europe, be sure to include Loket in your Czech itinerary, even if for a short stop to enjoy the charm of the place. I put together this guide with the best things to do in Loket so you can enjoy your trip there to the fullest. Read on and visit Loket.

Where is Loket, Czech Republic

Loket, a small town of around three thousand inhabitants, is located in the very west of the Czech Republic, next to the border with Germany. The nearest popular destinations are Karlovy Vary (15 km), Cheb (35 km), Marianske Lazne (50 km), and Pilsen (80 km). Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, is 140 km east of Loket.

A brief history of Loket

Loket literally means “an elbow” – the place got its name due to the location on the sharp U-turn of the Ohře River. The settlement developed around the castle, which dates back to the end of the 12th century as the border guard post, known also as “Key to the Kingdom of Bohemia”.

The town was created shortly after and quickly gained importance, becoming a royal town in 1337. In the 15th century, Loket was one of the best-fortified places in Central Europe. During the Thirty Years’ War (17th century), the downfall of the town had started, and some hundred years later, in 1725, a big fire badly damaged the place.

Today, Loket is a sleepy yet charming and interesting town that attracts visitors with its beauty, attractions, and laid-back vibe.

How to get to Loket

If you travel around by car, you can easily get to Loket by the express road E49 – the town is only a few kilometers away from it. There are a few parking places near the Old Town where you can leave your car before you start your Loket sightseeing.

You can also get to Loket by train. There are enough trains per day reaching the town, so you can easily plan your Loket trip; however, the connections are infrequent, so it’s better to check them beforehand. To get here from Cheb or Karlovy Vary, you need to change trains in nearby Nové Sedlo u Lokte. You can check the current connections on the website of Czech Railways here.

What to see in Loket

The biggest attraction of Loket is its majestic castle, towering proudly above the Ohře River. It’s one of the oldest and most valuable stone castles in the Czech Republic, built in the late 12th century, with its oldest parts being the Romanesque tower and rotunda.

Visiting the castle and the premises is like stepping back in time. You enter through the massive stone gate and continue on the stone path – just like it used to be in medieval times. Unlike many other castles in the region, here you can explore the place on your own, not with a guided tour. And there is so much to see there!

Inside, you can see the historical exhibitions, as well as the collection of porcelain (a well-known porcelain factory was opened in Loket in 1815), the old pharmacy, the torture chamber, 14th-century paintings, and numerous other features and artifacts. It’s up to you what you can see there. When climbing the tower, be sure to take a look at the figure of a dragon, which, according to the legend, protected the place.

Once you are done with visiting the castle, it’s time to wander around the town itself a bit. The heart of the relatively small Old Town is the marketplace – Masaryk Square – surrounded by pretty townhouses, with the Holy Trinity Column in the middle and the town hall, both built in the Baroque style.

From here, you can wander along picturesque, winding lanes with colorful houses around – Loket Old Town is such a pleasant place to explore! You can even find remnants of the old fortifications and admire the Baroque Church of Saint Wenceslaus from the early 18th century. Since Loket is a rather touristy place, there’s a good selection of restaurants and cafes, if you want to sit down and relax.

When researching Loket, you most likely found pictures of the beautiful panorama of the castle and the Old Town. Fortunately, you can very easily see this view when visiting Loket. There are a few viewpoints worth checking.

The first one is from the bridge leading to the Old Town, with the impressive castle right in front of you. You can continue further along the street to another viewpoint (here is the location) to see Loket from another perspective. It’s possible to hike a bit up the hill here to look at the place from a higher point. The area down the river near the train station is also a good place to admire the majestic structure of the castle.

Where to go next

From Loket, you can continue your Czech journey towards the famous spa town Karlovy Vary or the less popular (but still beautiful) spa town Marianske Lazne. Not far from Loket, you can also visit the historical yet overlooked city of Cheb. Pilsen, known for its beer but offering more attractions, is not too far away from Loket either.

Further reading

I published many articles about the Czech Republic that you might find useful when planning your trip there. Here are some of them:

• 2 Days in Prague Itinerary
• Holesovice – a mini guide to Prague’s coolest district
• 17 Great Things to Do in Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic
• 13 Amazing Things to Do in Pilsen, Czech Republic
• Karlovy Vary Itinerary. What to Do in Karlovy Vary in 3 Days
• 20 Great Things to Do in Brno, Czech Republic
• What to See in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
• Visit Kromeriz, Czech Republic – the UNESCO Castle and More
• Visit Marianske Lazne, Czech Republic – the UNESCO spa town
• and more!

If you are looking for articles about a specific destination – check out the map with all the articles I’ve published (and their locations). You can also join my Facebook group about traveling in Central Europe and ask your questions there.

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