Hornická kulturní krajina Abertamy – Horní Blatná – Boží Dar, Mining landscape monument zone in Karlovy Vary District, Czechia.
This mining landscape spans roughly 5,000 hectares across three municipalities in the Ore Mountains, with a terrain marked by abandoned shafts, mine tailings, quarries, and forested slopes. The protected zone preserves the physical remains of centuries of tin, silver, and iron extraction in a rolling hill environment.
Mining operations started in the 16th century following the discovery of ore deposits, which prompted the establishment of new settlements and shaped regional life for over 400 years. Economic decline and technological changes led to the gradual closure of mines throughout the 20th century.
Mining traditions continue to shape daily life in these communities through craft workshops and local celebrations that honor the region's industrial past. Visitors encounter this heritage in town squares and local establishments where stories of underground work remain part of the social fabric.
The area is accessible by regional roads and features hiking trails that cross former mining sites through forests and open terrain. Visitors are advised to wear sturdy footwear and prepare for variable mountain weather conditions, especially at higher elevations.
An early water-supply canal dating to the 16th century still carries water across the landscape for kilometers and represents one of the oldest engineering achievements in the region. This underground and open-channel system shows the technical sophistication of historical mining operations.
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