What is a “geopark”? It is an area with rock formations and unusually shaped terrain with a high level of geological diversity. It often contains old quarries, accessible mines or caves. A geopark does not have any borders marked in the terrain but it forms a harmonious unit, mostly defined by the concealed basement composition, intertwined with educational trails and information panels on the surface.
The same applies in the case of the Czech-Bavarian Geopark. It is located in the German districts of Bayreuth, Neustadt-Waldnaab, Tirschenreuth Wunsiedel, and Karlovy Vary, Sokolov and Cheb in the Czech Republic.
The Egeria Geopark has an area of 2,500 square kilometres and it includes the Eger Graben, or a rift, which is geologically the most active area of the Bohemian Massif. Even though the most powerful geological activities stopped five million years ago, there are still tectonics, volcanism, thermal springs and even seismic activity there.
The regular hills formed by volcanic necks are especially noticeable in the countryside – they are ideal places for the construction of medieval guard castles. Some of the most interesting sites are Andělská Hora and Komorní hůrka.
Juvenile carbon dioxide drives the mineral waters and thermal springs that have made this area known all over the world. Thanks to them, famous spas in the “spa triangle” between Karlovy Vary, Mariánské Lázně and Františkovy Lázně were founded.
The rich deposits of mineral resources were intensely used as early as in the Middle Ages. There are a large number of monuments resulting from mining of brown coal, ceramic material, ore and noble metals that are of enormous cultural and historical importance. For example, you can visit Blatenský vrch, Dlouhá stoka below the Krásenský hill, Horní Slavkov or Jáchymov, and many other places.
The area is typical for its unusual diversity of represented rocks and minerals. Many of the localities were mentioned in the textbooks and professional publications as early as in the 17th century. Jáchymov is especially interesting as over 320 types of minerals have been found there and new ones are added to the list every year. There are also important paleontological finds there.
The Egeria Geopark has an area of 2,500 square kilometres and it includes the Eger Graben, or a rift, which is geologically the most active area of the Bohemian Massif. Even though the most powerful geological activities stopped five million years ago, there are still tectonics, volcanism, thermal springs and even seismic activity there.
The regular hills formed by volcanic necks are especially noticeable in the countryside – they are ideal places for the construction of medieval guard castles. Some of the most interesting sites are Andělská Hora and Komorní hůrka.
Juvenile carbon dioxide drives the mineral waters and thermal springs that have made this area known all over the world. Thanks to them, famous spas in the “spa triangle” between Karlovy Vary, Mariánské Lázně and Františkovy Lázně were founded.
The rich deposits of mineral resources were intensely used as early as in the Middle Ages. There are a large number of monuments resulting from mining of brown coal, ceramic material, ore and noble metals that are of enormous cultural and historical importance. For example, you can visit Blatenský vrch, Dlouhá stoka below the Krásenský hill, Horní Slavkov or Jáchymov, and many other places.
The area is typical for its unusual diversity of represented rocks and minerals. Many of the localities were mentioned in the textbooks and professional publications as early as in the 17th century. Jáchymov is especially interesting as over 320 types of minerals have been found there and new ones are added to the list every year. There are also important paleontological finds there.
Address
Muzeum Sokolov, p.o. Karlovarského kraje, Zámecká 1, 356 01 Sokolov
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