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From Abertamy to Blatenský vrch
This is a loop hike that starts and ends in Abertamy, an historical mining town in the Krušné hory (Ore Mountains).
Founded in the 16th century, the town grew around silver and tin mining and later became known for its glove industry.
Today, Abertamy is part of the “Abertamy – Boží Dar – Horní Blatná Mining Landscape“, included in the UNESCO Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří Mining Region since 2019.
For easy planning, the hike begins in the town centre.
There is free parking; if you don’t have a car, a bus can bring you there from Karlovy Vary or from Pernink, and nejencafé is a great spot for a delicious breakfast or just a cappuccino.
With a full belly, it is time to hit the trail, following an easy, flat, wide path into the forest.
If you happen to be in the area during summer, you will find plenty of blueberries along the way.
After about 4km, you reach the paved road that connects to Horní Blatná.
Cross it, and immediately turn left onto an offroad path that runs parallel to the road. This lets you avoid walking alongside cars.
Less than 1km farther on, you will see the signpost for the Blatenský vrch, a 21m tall lookout tower dating back to 1913.
The path to the top climbs gently through the forest, and you soon catch glimpses of the tower through the trees.
You can decide to visit the tower (the entrance is just 10 Kč) and climb the 85 steps to the top, where you will be rewarded with a magnificent view of the mountains.
Or you can chill in the resting area below: tables, benches, grass and a kiosk await you.
In winter and in bad weather, the tower and kiosk are closed.
For more information about the opening hours and to see what it looked like in the old days, please check and translate this page.
Exploring the Vlčí jámy (Wolf Pits)
The hike continues just a few metres below, where he famous Vlčí jámy (Wolf Pits) show how mining has shaped the landscape.
The protected area includes 2 large depressions left by historic tin mining: Vlčí jáma, which is ~120m long and 20-25m deep, and the smaller Ledová jáma (Ice pit).
Vlčí jáma is a sinkhole containing the remains of old collapsed corridors and chambers of the Wolfgang mine, once the largest mine in the district (at that time it reached a depth of 85m).
Ledová jáma is a narrow depression created by underground mining in the Jiří mine, now partly filled with stones that have fallen from the side walls.
Because of its distinctive cold microclimate and limited air circulation, the pit once kept snow and ice through the summer – that’s where its name comes from.
After exploring the Wolf Pits, the Abertamy hike continues across the open fields.
At point 5 on the map, there is a lovely view over Horní Blatná and the rolling landscape around it.
The trail then reconnects with the path from the first part of the hike, which you follow for the last few km back to Abertamy, completing the loop.
Useful info for visitors
The protected area of the Wolf Pits is surrounded by a wooden fence and a cobblestone path leads alongside it, with information boards in Czech and German—no English, sorry!
The path is easy to walk and requires no technical skills, but please stay on it.
The fence serves 2 purposes: to protect visitors from falling rocks and to prevent human activity from damaging the natural environment.
Stick to the marked path, use the designated viewpoints and do not enter the pits or other restricted areas. If you see someone else doing so, please do not copy them!
The entrance to Ledová jáma is now closed by a gate, and the tight corridor is barely visible from the view point above.
If you are into geology, keep an eye out for small, black, shiny fragments of tin scattered around the area.
This place is also botanically special: it is the only known site in the Czech Republic where Mielichhofer’s Copper Moss grows, attached to the veins containing copper.
How to get there
Not to repeat myself, and to make you read another of my articles, you can find out how to reach Abertamy in the last section of Vila Zenker: a Modernist gem in Abertamy.
