Trip Dates: Tue, Sun (November through March)
Meeting Time: 10:45 am
Departure Point: Karlovy Vary “Tržnice” Bus Stop (painted green) for long distance buses on Varšavská Street (placed between two crosswalks, the Market Hall being behind you)
Tour Duration: 6 hours (approximately)
Distance Covered: 56 km 
Price: 550 CZK per person, 2 people minimum (1100 CZK)

On the way to the Ore Mountains is Jáchymov (pop 3, 200). The silver mining boom increased the town’s population up to 18,000 in the 1530s. Uranium mining started in the 1890s to produce colors (yellow and green) for glass and porcelain manufacture. The discovery of radioactivity led to commercial radium production from uranium ore. Radioactive water from the mines was used to establish the world’s first spa for radon treatment in 1906.

The infamous history has been written since uranium became the strategic material of the nuclear age. The prisoner camps were set up for German prisoners of war after the World War II. The whole production of uranium went directly to the Soviet Union. German prisoners were replaced by local inmates by the end of 1949. In the communist concentration camps of this area (total of 18) were about 65,000 prisoners in the 1950s, many of them political.

Boží Dar´s (pop 200) elevation of 1020 meters above sea level makes it the highest town in Czech. The cozy town of Boží Dar (God’s Gift in English) is a very popular ski resort in winter with nearby peak of Klínovec (1244 m above see level). There are plenty of downhill runs and cross-country ski trails to choose from. Zone Trek will assist to anyone who wishes to rent downhill skis, snowboard, XC skis. Or just enjoy yourself while snow tubing.

For those who would prefer hiking, there is a possibility to walk along the Baby Jesus path (a small loop is 5, 6 km long) with stops dedicated to various creatures of a fairy tale world. Children are asked to perform tasks and get answers to questions.

Do you know how important Baby Jesus is for Czech kids? Well, the most important! It is Baby Jesus who brings presents on Christmas Eve (December 24). Anyone can write down their expectations and either leave a postcard at the Baby Jesus mail box in Boží Dar or mail it to the town’s post office in an envelope. If you decide to do so, don’t forget to affix the correct postage on your postcard.  A decorative rubber stamp with the Baby Jesus motive will be placed on it and then sent to the addressee. These Christmas desire lists amount to about 500 kilograms of mail a year.

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