This ride is part of a journey that lasts approximately 3 weeks. In June 2018 I visited Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic with my partner. This is the eleventh and final ride of this vacation and is a tour from the Alpina Lodge Wiesenthal hotel through the German and Czech part of the Ore Mountains.

The route gets 3.5 stars from me. This is mainly due to the poor road surface in the Czech Republic. The route itself is certainly worth the effort: you will be guided through a number of important areas of the Ore Mountains, past interesting sights. The view is also regularly beautiful and varied.

The ore mountains are mainly known for the intensive mining that took place in the region since 1100. It soon became known that the area was rich in silver, which led to mining activities being created in this area. Later, the mountains also appeared to be rich in minerals such as silver, tin, iron ore, brown coal and cobalt. During this tour you will come across a number of sights that remind you of the intensive mining.

In addition, the Czech part (Karlovy Vary or Karlsbad) in particular is also known for its many natural beneficial springs. Along the way you will also come across a famous spa. More about this later in the review.

The route starts at Hotel Alpina Lodge in Oberwiesenthal. This area is one of the best known winter sports areas and spas in the region. This is partly due to the good air quality and the height. This area houses the 2 highest mountains in the Ore Mountains: the Fichtelberg with 1215 meters in the German part and the Keilberg or Klínovec with 1244 meters in the Czech part.

From the village you drive to the West. You soon enter the Czech Republic where you can refuel in Boží Dar before you start the route. This village is located in a large peat area, which you also cross before you enter Johanngeorgenstadt (Germany). If you look carefully around you, you will see "heaps" or small hills here and there. These remains date from the 16th century and have been used for the search for tin. The area covers around 250,000 m2, making it one of the largest tin mining areas in Eastern Europe (RP3).

More advanced methods for mining work can be found in Johanngeorgenstadt. Here it is also worthwhile to take a closer look and to find out more about mining in the ore mountains. This village has a turbulent past thanks to all mining. The first signs of mining date back to the 15th century, when it became apparent that there were large amounts of silver in the ground. The village was founded in 1654 and mining activities continued to intensify. For example, the first large shaft was excavated, which now houses the Schaubergwerk Frisch Glück "Glöckl" (RP5). You can visit the tunnels here under supervision. Later in the 17th century, a "Pferdegöpel" was also built to drive the mine machines under horsepower. This Pferdegöpel has been rebuilt and can be visited nowadays (RP6).

In the 19th century, more and more Bismuth ore and Uranium ore were mined in the mines. This slowly became the main source of income for the region, as silver prices fell due to the rise of gold as a currency.

In the 20th century, after the Second World War, the mine and the village quickly grew into a gigantic industry. The then USSR claimed the mine to be able to extract as much uranium as possible for the arms race to be able to build a first atomic bomb. At the height of these mining activities, more than 70,000 mines worked in the mine (for reference: up to 5,000 mines worked in the mines before). Due to the rapid growth of mining, the original buildings in the center of Johanngeorgenstadt had to make way. Because of this you will no longer find a village center here.

After visiting the mine it is time to enjoy the air and space around us again. Along the way you will pass the Eibenstock dam. You can stop briefly here to take a photo of the dam (RP7) that provides drinking water for around 600,000 people in the vicinity of the reservoir. Further on the route, space comes into view: the German space museum. Outside the main entrance of the site you can see a fighter plane (RP10). This was flown by Sigmund Jähn, the first German to fly in space (of course in another aircraft ...).

Depending on how much time you have spent in Johangeorgenstadt, you can take a (lunch) break at today's second dam: Talsperre Muldenberg. This dam is smaller than the Elbenstock, but nevertheless offers drinking water to around 100,000 people. Near the dam you will find a restaurant along the road (RP11) where you can have a nice lunch and also take a walk to the reservoir to take some pictures.

After the break you leave the German part of the Ore Mountains and cross the border to the Czech part of the Ore Mountains: Krušné hory. Keep in mind that from now on the roads can be worse.

Along the way you drive through the swamp area of Rolava. You can stop here to visit an emotionally charged place: Sauersack / Rolava tin camp and tin factory (RP12). At the time of WWII, around 500 French and Russian military prisoners were put to work “voluntarily” in the tin factory and mine. It was expected that a lot of tin could be removed from the soil, but within a few years it became clear that there was little tin in the soil. After the war, the factory and mine were closed and the machines moved to other mines in the region. If you like taking urbex photos, this place is perfect.

On the left side of the road you will find the remains of the concrete factory and mine. These can be viewed freely and give a desolate impression. Bear in mind that you must pay attention to where you are walking. The largest mine shafts are covered with concrete plates, but here and there smaller openings to cellars and shafts are overgrown with plants, making it easy to fall into something. The site is unguarded, which means that it has gradually been taken back by nature. The prisoners' wooden barracks used to be on the other side of the road. Nowadays there is little to nothing left of this.

The route leads you through Krušné Hory. Since 2019 this is a UNESCO protected nature reserve, so you can drive through the nature reserve at your leisure. Don't forget to stop occasionally and take beautiful pictures of the area. Because it is so quiet here, you will not encounter much traffic.

Towards the end of the afternoon you turn east again and you also see another side of the history of the nature reserve: Karlovy Vary. Karlovy Vary (or Carlsbad) is known for the many spas and wellness options. Already in the Middle Ages, the healing power of various sources in this region became known, creating the city of Karlovy Vary, but also various spa areas outside the city.

One is Lužec Castle (RP21). This castle was commissioned by King Charles IV in the 14th century (also the namesake of the region and city of Karlovy Vary). This castle was intended as a spa facility during the king's hunting trips. In the following centuries, the castle became famous because King Rudolph II tried to develop the elixir of life here and pilots of the Luftwaffe and Herman Goering regularly stayed here in WWII. Nowadays the castle is a luxury spa hotel where you can take a break. If you would rather have a stopover somewhere else for a break, you can stop on the route at restaurant Havlovka (RP23). This cozy wooden house just next to the route offers a bit more local charm and a beautiful view of the surrounding nature reserve.

After this break it is only a 30 - 45 minute drive to the end point. This depends on how fast you drive of course, but also whether you want to stop for a photo of castle Freudenstein / Šlikův. The castle dates from 1513 and was built to protect the silver mines in the area. Over the years it has been repeatedly knocked down and rebuilt. It eventually fell into disrepair in the 20th century, leaving only the two towers standing. Special fact: oddly enough, the road runs between the two towers. This is because the local government found that the most logical route for the road was across the old cellars of the castle. The cellars are filled with concrete and the road is built over it ...

The last part of the route takes you back to a well-known road: you drive back via Boží Dar where you can stop for a while before you end up at Hotel Alpina Lodge Oberwiesenthal.