Japanese garden:
In 1998 a Japanese stone garden was established in Karlovy Vary. The author of the idea was Mrs. Masumi Schmidt-Muraki. The author of the design was a true master of his field, Mr. Kanji Nomura.
The Zen garden, which is intended for meditation, expresses the element of water without using water. Here there is no need to pray, just be still and feel the energy. The circular shape of the garden with an inner arch symbolizes the principle of yin and yang, i.e. the unification of positive and negative into a harmonious whole. The stones were constructed to harmonize the human mind and health. Some of the vertically situated large stones are analogous to European menhirs, meant to serve as the abode of the gods.
It is remarkable that the garden was created at the end of the so-called spring line, which crosses Karlovy Vary and on whose axis all the thermal springs rise. The white gravel symbolizes the sea between the eastern and western hemispheres. From the eastern shore, a stone in the shape of a ship goes out to sea to the west. In the middle of the sea is a small stone which is a parable of Mrs. Hanah Bälz, a Japanese woman who married the German doctor Dr. Erwin Bälz in the last century, came to Europe and contributed greatly to the rapprochement between Japanese and European culture. However, the stone can also signify the Good, which wants to unite East and West, or, for example, the mythical turtle or the seeker who longs for paradise in the sea of the labyrinthine world. This stone of many meanings must have enough light. This is provided by the lantern, which is a parable of the Buddha, for the Buddha is light. It is meant to show the right path to the wandering living and the dead, to give comfort to the wronged, to bring together those who have wronged each other in the past, to ease pain and grief.
Japanese gardeners were guided by the motto: "Follow the stone!" This basic lesson is written in the oldest book on the construction of Japanese gardens from the 10th century. It is necessary to understand the desire and will of each stone. The main problem was that the stones here are completely different from those in Japan. They have a different soul that Japanese gardeners had to adapt to.
Text: Dr. Stanislav Burachovic, Promenada magazine 8/1998.
Diana Lookout Tower and Papilonia Butterfly House:
An almost obligatory route in Karlovy Vary is a visit to the Diana lookout tower. There are several ways to get here - on foot or by cable car. Several trails can be used to ascend to the Friendship Height. The ascent is more difficult. For those who do not want to climb the elevation, there is a cable car. This is also an experience! The funicular was built to the top of the hill in 1909 and in 1912 - 1914 a hunting lodge with an adjacent lookout tower was built here by the firm of the Karlovy Vary builder František Fousek according to the project of the Karlovy Vary architect Anton Breinl. A modern electric elevator became a part of the brick observation tower. In the adjacent Papilonia Butterfly House you can admire the most beautiful butterflies from all over the world. There is also a playground and a mini zoo for children.
Goethe's lookout tower:
Another romantic tower building can be found on the Height of Eternal Life. The tower was named after Princess Stephanie, the wife of Rudolf of Habsburg. The building was created by the author duo H. Helmer and F. Fellner. History also brings with it changes of names according to the political situation. Therefore, the tower was renamed several times before the current name was established. The tower can be reached in several ways, by bus No. 8 or by a more difficult route on foot. From Goethe's tower you can return to the city centre via Goethe's geological trail.
TIP for children: there is a 2 km trail around Goethe's Lookout full of ghosts. The forest creatures were designed according to Czech and German legends and natural heritage.
Deer Jump and Peter's Height:
From the Diana lookout tower you can take several paths back to the city centre. One of the options is via the Deer Jump and Peter's Height. The latter was named after Tsar Peter the Great, who visited the spa town in 1711 and 1712. During his second visit, according to legend, he rode a bareback horse to the top of this rock. He then declared his heroic deed by carving his initials into an old wooden cross. In the 1870s, a bust of the Russian monarch was installed here.
Mayer's Gloriette, one of the oldest observation towers in the city, offers a charming view of the city centre around the theatre and the Vřídlo. It was built in 1804. It takes its name from its donor.
Along the way you will meet one more attraction, a statue of a chamois that rises on a rock called the Deer Leap. Behind this curiosity we find the oddball lover of Karlovy Vary, Baron von Lützow, who in the mid-19th century took advantage of the indecision of the town council and had a statue of a chamois installed here. He defended himself by saying that although according to legend a deer jumped from the rock, it was not physiologically built for that and it must have been a chamois.
St. Linhart Wildlife Reserve:
The Linhart Wildlife Reserve has recently become a very popular excursion destination, where visitors can observe fallow deer, Dybowski's sika deer and wild boar from a height of up to 6 metres. For high-altitude observation, wooden bridges above the preserve are used, where visitors walk at tree level. History enthusiasts will enjoy the magical atmosphere around the ruins of St. Linhart's Church from the 12th Century, which is a reminder of the original settlement of Obora. Those who prefer a more adrenaline-fuelled relaxation can take advantage of the St. Linhart Natural Rope Centre.
Svatos Rocks (Svatošské skály):
The „Svatošské Skály“ have become a traditional destination not only for the inhabitants of Karlovy Vary. The main attraction of a pleasant walk along the Ohře River is the granite massif, which reminded romantics in the 19th century of a petrified wedding procession and to which a nice legend about its origin is also attached. If you walk to the Svatošské skály, you will be able to read it on the information board. The site is only accessible by foot, bike, scooter, but not by car.
