Olšová Vrata: Church, Ground Squirrels and Airport

• St. Catherine’s is an originally fortified Gothic church with an adjoining cemetery; its founding is thought to date to 1246.
• The church is open during services.
• Olšová Vrata is a European protected area for the European ground squirrel; it covers 46.1323 hectares.
• Sightseeing flights over the surrounding area are available from Karlovy Vary International Airport near Olšová Vrata.
• Karlovy Vary Golf Resort is located on the road near Olšová Vrata.

The church is in the village center, with its cemetery immediately adjacent. Its originally fortified design and Gothic character give the building a clear historical context. Its founding is thought to date back as far as 1246. This year should therefore be understood as a likely early date, not a confirmed one.

For your visit, the main thing to keep in mind is the access requirement: St. Catherine’s is open during services. If you plan to visit the church as a cultural attraction, time your visit to coincide with service times. This keeps its historical context separate from the practical question of access.

The natural attraction here is specific: Olšová Vrata is a European protected area for the European ground squirrel. The protected area covers 46.1323 hectares, or around 0.46 square kilometers. This figure describes the size of the area; observations of recolonization refer to specific sections.

Early signs of recolonization can be observed in the Olšová Vrata–Airport and Vítkova hora campsite sections. For nature lovers, both the protected species and these specific sections are part of what defines the area. The reference to early signs also makes clear that these are initial developments that have been observed.

Sightseeing flights over the surrounding area are available from Karlovy Vary International Airport near Olšová Vrata. This is a distinct activity alongside visiting the church and the protected area. The Gagarin Monument also stands in Olšová Vrata, in front of the airport.

Today’s Vítkovka is also connected to the airport in terms of timing: it was built in 1932, at the same time as Karlovy Vary Airport. This is a different historical connection from the founding of St. Catherine’s, which is thought to date back to 1246. Karlovy Vary Golf Resort is located on the road near Olšová Vrata and is another destination to consider in the nearby area.

When looking for accommodation, it helps to distinguish between the village center and the surrounding area. St. Catherine’s is in the village center, while the airport is near Olšová Vrata and Karlovy Vary Golf Resort is on the road near the village. Consider which of these points of interest matters to your trip, then compare it with the specific location of your accommodation. This lets you tailor your search to your interests without treating different destinations as the same.

Discover more destinations: Tasovice, Cihelny, Doubi.

When is St. Catherine’s open?

The church is open during services. Plan your visit to coincide with service times.

What is special about the protected area?

It is a European protected area for the European ground squirrel. Early signs of recolonization can be observed in the Olšová Vrata–Airport and Vítkova hora campsite sections.

What connects today’s Vítkovka with Karlovy Vary Airport?

Today’s Vítkovka was built in 1932, at the same time as Karlovy Vary Airport.

For the main travel overview: Karlovy Vary.