Exploring historic Kadaň and its volcanic peak, Svatý vrch: a 7 km tour

The town of Kadaň is scenically situated on the river Ohře at the edge of the Doupov mountains in northwest Bohemia. The earliest historical record of the town is from the 12th century when the town was granted to the Knights of St John (otherwise known as the Knights Hospitaller), who constructed there the first known church dedicated to St John the Baptist. The attractive town center and main square have many fine Renaissance and Baroque buildings and the original medieval fortifications, including the Gothic castle and several bastions are well preserved.
Over the subsequent centuries the town grew in status and in the 15th century an important Franciscan monastery was founded outside the medieval town walls. The former monastery buildings today house a museum and there is an attractive French-style park and vineyard area to visit.
Above the town is the steep-sided Svatý vrch (Holy hill) which is worth climbing for its super views over the Ohře river basin, which is now filled with the Kadaň reservoir. Svatý vrch, which is formed from a basalt volcanic intrusion, has a number of footpaths, including a well done educational trail with dual language signs. On top of the hill is a viewing tower, but the best views are actually from the rocky southwest flank of the hill.
The suggested route first visits the town center and then ascends Svatý vrch, passing through one of the town’s attractive small parks – Smetana Gardens – before returning to the riverside through the monastery complex. The return to the town center follows the embankment path, which has been refurbished with a variety of children and family activities.
There are several refreshment options along the route, including a café in the monastery complex, a well regarded restaurant in the hotel-spa along the embankment and a number of good cafés in the town center, including the kavárna in the pension U Johanky, situated next to the western gate in the Gothic tower (map point 4), which serves excellent homemade cakes. The total route, if starting from the bus station, is just under 7 km long, with 150m of height to ascend-descend. The paths are easy although there are step sections on the climb up Svatý vrch.
[Note: as several of the paths on this route around town and on the hill do not have trail markers it is best followed using the mapy.cz phone application]

Note: click ‘Show on Mapy.com’ to go to a full screen version of the route directly on the mapy.com site. This can be used for on line navigation, saved or exported as a GPX file.

Directions

Starting at the main bus station (which has direct buses from Prague, and is also next to the regional train station) cross the main road and take one of the pedestrian only side streets that follow the old town walls to reach the main square in 800m (there are no trail markers for this section of the path). If driving there are various parking areas around town, including on the main square (free at weekends)
After exploring the main square, leave the square on the central street passing the white Gothic town hall tower on the left and passing through Mikulovická Gate
Continue heading westwards for 500m to reach the Smetana Gardens park area
Walk through the park, exiting at the northern corner, taking the steps and then the path directly up the hill
After 100m reach the YELLOW hiking trail path, turning right to follow this path for 1.1 km to reach the viewing tower – note after 400m on this trail there is a diversion to the left (marked with yellow/white triangle markers) which leads to the best viewpoint on the hill
Descend the hill on one of the footpaths that lead down the western flank to reach the monastery complex
Walk through or around the monastery area, descending towards the river and passing the summer outdoor theatre
On the reaching the river embankment, follow this paved path along the river until reaching the castle
If wanting to continue the exploration of the town, ascend the steps to the left of the castle and then follow the pedestrian street beside the old town walls, finally exiting the town through the Žatec Gate
Descend on the side streets to reach the roundabout on the main road (the trail signpost Kadaň – U Mlýna is here)
At the roundabout, turn left and follow the main road northwards for 700m to return back to the bus station