Bečov nad Teplou

Town · Karlovy Vary, 🇨🇿 Czechia

Bečov nad Teplou is a small town in a wooded valley of the Teplá river, between Karlovy Vary and Mariánské Lázně. Its houses climb the slope below a large castle complex on a rock above the river.

Most visitors come for one reason: the reliquary of St. Maurus. This Romanesque gold shrine is considered the second most valuable movable monument in the Czech Republic, after the crown jewels. The town is an easy half-day trip from the spa towns, and the forests of the Slavkov Forest start right at its edge.

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When to visit

Summers are mild and fresh here, because the town sits in the hills. Winters are cold, with regular snow.

The castle is open from April to October and closes in winter. From May to September it opens every day except Monday. In April and October it usually opens only at weekends, so check the dates before you travel.

Best time to visit: July, August, September

Select a month

Typical weather in January

Poor

1° (feels like -3°) · extremes -13°–7°
-3° at night
13 rainy days
2 sunny days
Dry air
Light breeze

Typical weather in February

Poor

2° (feels like -2°) · extremes -14°–9°
-5° at night
10 rainy days
3 sunny days
Dry air
Light breeze

Typical weather in March

Poor

7° (feels like 3°) · extremes -9°–14°
-1° at night
12 rainy days
4 sunny days
Dry air
Light breeze

Typical weather in April

Poor

12° (feels like 9°) · extremes -2°–20°
3° at night
15 rainy days
4 sunny days
Dry air
Calm winds

Typical weather in May

Good

16° (feels like 15°) · extremes 2°–23°
7° at night
16 rainy days
5 sunny days
Dry air
Calm winds

Typical weather in June

Good

20° (feels like 19°) · extremes 6°–27°
11° at night
15 rainy days
7 sunny days
Dry air
Calm winds

Typical weather in July

Great

21° · extremes 9°–28°
13° at night
14 rainy days
7 sunny days
Dry air
Calm winds

Typical weather in August

Great

22° · extremes 8°–28°
13° at night
12 rainy days
8 sunny days
Dry air
Calm winds

Typical weather in September

Great

18° · extremes 5°–26°
10° at night
10 rainy days
8 sunny days
Dry air
Calm winds

Typical weather in October

Fair

13° (feels like 11°) · extremes -1°–21°
6° at night
11 rainy days
6 sunny days
Dry air
Calm winds

Typical weather in November

Poor

5° (feels like 1°) · extremes -10°–12°
0° at night
11 rainy days
3 sunny days
Dry air
Light breeze

Typical weather in December

Poor

1° (feels like -3°) · extremes -15°–8°
-3° at night
12 rainy days
2 sunny days
Dry air
Light breeze

Climate data: Open-Meteo Climate API (EC_Earth3P_HR) · 1991–2020

Top sights

Bečov Castle and Chateau combines a Gothic castle, a Renaissance palace and a Baroque chateau on one rock. Its main treasure is the reliquary of St. Maurus, made around 1225–1230. The shrine was hidden under the chapel floor in 1945 and found again only in 1985.

Church of St. George is the town's parish church, rebuilt in the 1760s after a fire. Inside, look for the Rococo altars and furnishings.

Museum of Historic Motorcycles fills a burgher house on the main square with old motorcycles, including the unusual Čechie. Upstairs there are wooden toys and puppet theatres.

Blacksmith Museum is a small local museum with blacksmith tools and equipment from over 100 years ago.

Bečov Botanical Garden was laid out by the castle's last owners in the early 20th century. It was abandoned after the Second World War and is now being restored. It has rock gardens, old conifers and a bioferrata, an easy rock trail with safety cables.

Tours & Activities

Bečov nad Teplou — Map

Getting there

By air: Václav Havel Airport Prague is the main gateway. From Prague, take a bus to Karlovy Vary (about 2 hours), then continue by train or bus.
By train: Bečov nad Teplou is a railway junction. Regional trains on the scenic line between Karlovy Vary and Mariánské Lázně stop here. Check times on České dráhy.
By bus: Direct buses run from Karlovy Vary and from Plzeň.
By car: The town is about 25 km from Karlovy Vary. Parking in the centre is limited, but there are several car parks within walking distance of the castle.