# Cheb

Cheb is a city in Bohemia in Western Czech Republic with a population of 33,500 and is close to the German border.

## Understand

The name is pronounced "khep" (the first sound like a German or Scottish "ch" or a Spanish "j" not as in "Chicken" - locals will make fun of you if you make this mistake). This town is sometimes called Eger in German, which was its official name until 1945. The city features a very quaint and pretty town square and winding alleys. However, outside of the center, the city is characterized by grimy heavy industry.
50.078812.37041 Tourist information kiosk (Turistické infocentrum), Jateční 2. Monday - Friday 9:00 - 17:00.

## Get in
### By bus

Direct buses run from Prague (150 Kč, 3 hours, 4 daily), Karlovy Vary (56 Kč, 1 hour, 7 daily), Mariánské Lázně (40 Kč, 30 minutes, 12 daily).

### By train

* 50.07222212.3805561 Cheb Station. Built in the 19th century by several German rail companies and run in cooperation until the end of WWII when Czechoslovak and later Czech authorities took over. Direct trains run from Prague (250Kc, 3 hours). There are local German trains from Hof, Nuremberg and Bayreuth. Unfortunately, the line is not yet electrified on the German side, so long distance trains are still some way off.

## Get around

The center is easily accessible by foot.

## See

Museums and galleries:
* 50.080112.36981 Cheb Museum. 9am-5pm, closed Sun & Mon. 20th-century paintings of Cheb. 50Kc.
* 50.07798112.3685552 Art centrum Galerie 4 (photography gallery), Františkánské náměstí 30/1, ☏ +420 354 422 838, galerie4@galerie4.cz. Tu-Su: 10:00-18:00 (no entry after 17:00), closed on state holidays. (updated Nov 2017)
* 50.0789612.3711723 Gallery of fine arts in Cheb.
Buildings:
* 50.080912.36584 Cheb Castle. Mostly in ruins except for its towers. Features the biggest Romanesque chapel in Bohemia. 30Kc.
* 50.079412.37035 Namesti Krale Jiriho z Podebrad - Main Square. 16th century former Jewish merchant houses.
* 50.0787512.371276 New Town Hall & State Gallery of the Arts. Baroque building from the 18th century. Features Czech modern art. 80Kc.
* 50.07977512.3702137 Špalíček. A group of eleven originally Gothic houses.
Churches:
* 50.080412.369188 St. Wencelas Church.
* 50.080812.37069 St. Nicolas Church. Baroque building from the 13th century.
* 50.0775512.3682310 Frantiskanske Namesti. Features the St. Clare Church and the Church of the Herald of the Virgin Mary.

## Do

* 50.086212.45061 Kartarena, Potočiště 3.
* Jazz Jam Cheb. Annual jazz festival, held around October. (updated Nov 2017)
* 50.083412.34182 Chebská stráž. A viewpoint above the Skalka reservoir. One of the paths is the "Magic Forest", with educational board about the history of Cheb and its surroundings. Also games about the forest are here, where visitors can practice their knowledge of the forest. (updated Dec 2023)

## Buy

* 50.047412.35431 Asia Dragon Bazar Svatý Kříž, Svatý Kříž. Large market focused on German customers that mainly sells alcohol, tobacco and counterfeit brand clothes. A number of Vietnamese restaurants. Open daily but busiest at weekend.

## Eat

* Pizzerie Jakubská, Restaurace u Blonďáka, Jakubska 1, ☏ +420 354 436 143. Pizza: 80-120 Kč.
* Pizzeria Da Angelo, Jateční 18.

## Drink

* 50.0754712.372461 Incognito Bar, Svobody 2285/26a, ☏ +420 776 232 071. 11:00 - 02:00.

## Sleep

* Autocamp Rybarska Basta (6km east of city center at Drenice). Well-equipped campsite. Tent: 60 Kč; Bed: 220 Kč.
* 50.07829912.3699721 Hotel Barbarossa, Jateční 458/7. Jazz in reception. Nice bathrooms. Single:1,050 Kč Double: 1,350 Kč, including breakfast.
* 50.07622712.3733242 Penzion u Vlčků, Májová 40, ☏ +420 775 542 481, info.penzionvlcek@seznam.cz. Check-in: 14:00-20:00.
* 50.0752912.3734853 Hotel Slavie, Svobody 32 (Located in the pedestrian zone, towards the end opposite to the market square), ☏ +420 354433216, fax: +420 354433494, info@hotel-slavie.cz. Friendly somewhat bigger hotel with a decent standard, however, nothing "fancy".

## Go next

* Karlovy Vary
* Loket a pittoresque town surrounded by a curve in the Ohře River, which you can well visit on your way to Karlovy Vary
* Františkovy Lázně
* Mariánské Lázně
* Plzeň
* Fichtelgebirge