Kadaň: Castle, Monastery and the Ohře

Kadaň combines important buildings with excursion destinations along the Ohře. Your interests will determine where you choose to stay: you might focus on the history of the castle, the Franciscan monastery, the towers and fortifications, or routes for pedestrians and cyclists. The sights offer different ways to explore the city’s history and its surroundings.

Castle and monastery: history on site

Kadaň Castle (Kadaňský hrad) is an originally early Gothic royal castle. It stands on a distinctive gneiss rock above the Ohře. An exhibition on the castle’s history is housed in its surviving Gothic cellars. Guided tours take visitors through the best-preserved cellar areas and the exhibition “History and Development of Kadaň Castle.” Check seasonal access hours before your visit.

The Franciscan Monastery of the Fourteen Holy Helpers also offers several themes to explore. This national cultural monument is known for its unique wall paintings and a rare cell vault. There are four guided tour routes to choose from; they can only be visited with a guide. The Franciscan Gardens are open to visitors. They include vineyards and several domestic animals; some offerings in the gardens are seasonal.

Museum, church and towers

The Kadaň City Museum manages five cultural heritage sites and six permanent exhibitions. The exhibitions are open to visitors during the main season. The Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Kostel Povýšení sv. Kříže) offers a different perspective on the city’s history: beneath its present Baroque appearance lies a Gothic core. The church is protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic, and concerts are held there regularly. Check individual concert programmes separately.

The white Gothic town hall tower dates from the early 16th century. At 53.75 metres, it is the tallest building in the city. Its viewing gallery offers sweeping views of the surrounding area and helps visitors get their bearings in Kadaň. The tower of Svatá brána offers another perspective; it has been open to the public since 2016. Check seasonal opening hours for both towers in advance.

The fortifications are also among the defining traces of this royal town and are among the best-preserved urban fortifications of their kind. Katova ulička runs through the fortifications to the executioner’s house. It is 66.1 centimetres wide—a precise measurement that brings this narrow passage vividly to life.

Routes and experiences along the Ohře

Nábřeží Maxipsa Fíka is a promenade for pedestrians and cyclists. Children’s attractions there include flying bicycles, a hamster wheel and water features. Visitors can cross the Ohře by taking the manually operated “Velryba” ferry. Check its seasonal operating schedule before your visit.

Kadaň also offers a starting point for cyclists: the fourth section of the Ohře Cycle Route begins here. A bike ride from Kadaň follows the banks of the Ohře, crossing the Lávka Víta Brandy bridge towards Rašovice and continuing to Klášterec nad Ohří. Surface and access conditions may change, so take this into account when planning. At the Kadaň Wine Festival (Vinobraní), visitors can taste Burčák and fresh grape must, made on site from grapes grown in the monastery vineyards. Check the specific event details separately.

Discover more destinations: Březno and Chomutova, Výsluní, Nová Víska, Kovářská, Vysoká Jedle, Kryštofovy Hamry, Strupčice, Kovarska.

Return to the regional travel overview: Chomutov District.