Church of Saint Nicholas

The Church of Saint Nicholas (Kostel svatého Mikuláše) is the ruin of a Gothic church hidden deep in the Slavkov Forest, perched on a rocky outcrop at the foot of Krudum mountain, in the cadastral area of Třídomí within the town of Horní Slavkov in the Karlovy Vary region. The site is also known as the Church of Saint Nicholas under Krudum or near Hrušková, after the neighboring settlements whose boundaries meet here.

How to get there?

The ruins lie in the Sokolov district, tucked away in the middle of the forest, far from any paved road — reaching them means following forest trails from Horní Slavkov or the surrounding villages. It's the kind of place typical of sites that have been "rediscovered": largely forgotten for centuries, it now draws hikers combining local history with the natural scenery of the Slavkov Forest. It's worth planning the visit as part of a longer walk through the area, since there is no way to drive directly up to the church.

What will you see?

What survives of the former church are Gothic arches from the entrance portal, remnants of an altar, and crumbling perimeter walls. The church dates from the 13th century, and given the era and its remote setting, it was a surprisingly large building — its scale suggests the area was once a place of considerable activity, likely tied to the mining of a valuable raw material in the surrounding hills. The ruin itself, rising from bare rock in the middle of the forest, leaves an impression even on visitors not usually drawn to sacred architecture — comparisons to a "Czech Machu Picchu" are not accidental.

Rediscovered in the 21st century

Although the ruins had stood for centuries, broader interest in the site only picked up with the archaeological research carried out between 2002 and 2006. The work, undertaken by the Karlovy Vary Regional Museum together with the Youth Association of Horní Slavkov, helped pinpoint and examine the site in detail and revealed its ties to nearby settlements and traces of past mining activity. It was this research that brought a place once known mainly to local history enthusiasts into wider public and media awareness.

Legends and mysteries

The area around the church has attracted plenty of local legend — stories tell of vanished villages, a former customs post, a hidden fortress, and unimaginable riches buried somewhere nearby. Local tales also speak of the ghosts of miners said to gather at the site. The mysterious atmosphere of the ruins, isolated from civilization and wrapped in legend, draws both history-minded visitors and those simply curious about local folklore.

When to visit?

Because of its forest setting and the fact that it can only be reached on foot, spring and summer are the best times to visit, when longer days and drier trails make the walk easier. In autumn, the surrounding forest adds extra atmosphere to the site, though visitors should plan around shorter daylight hours. In winter, reaching the ruins can be more difficult due to forest trail conditions.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the Church of Saint Nicholas located? The ruins stand in the Slavkov Forest, on a rocky outcrop at the foot of Krudum mountain, in the cadastral area of Třídomí within the town of Horní Slavkov, near the boundary with Hrušková and Nadlesí.

How old is the church? It dates from the 13th century — surviving elements include Gothic entrance arches, remnants of an altar, and partially crumbled walls.

Why is it sometimes called the "Czech Machu Picchu"? Because of the picturesque setting of the ruins on a rocky rise in the middle of the forest, combined with its relatively recent "rediscovery" through archaeological research conducted between 2002 and 2006.

Can you drive to the ruins? No — the church stands deep in the forest and can only be reached on foot, via forest trails from Horní Slavkov or nearby villages.