JÁCHYMOV – gateway to the Ore Mountains

The statue of the Miraculous Virgin Mary, now located in the Church of St. Joachim in Jáchymov, ranks among the most important spiritual monuments of the town. Its story connects Baroque devotion, pilgrimage tradition, accounts of miracles, and the dramatic events of the 20th century.

The Joachimsthaler thalers rank among the most significant coins in European history. They emerged thanks to the exceptional position of the Schlik family and the wealth of the Ore Mountain silver mines, and their name later became the foundation for one of the world’s most widespread currencies – the dollar.

The three-sided boundary stone known as the Dreiherrenstein is among the most frequently misinterpreted monuments of the Ore Mountains. Dates, coats of arms, and its supposed links to Maria Theresa or the town of Boží Dar are often repeated without verification. The actual historical significance of this marker is, however, clearly documented – and deserves an accurate explanation.

In the 16th century, the Latin Library of Jáchymov ranked among the most important municipal libraries in Central Europe. Established during the town’s mining boom, it served not only students but also physicians and mining officials, and after centuries of obscurity it was accidentally saved from destruction.

A handstein – a stone a miner could lift with one hand, yet whose value often exceeded that of an ordinary mineral. From the mines of Jáchymov in the 16th century emerged remarkable works of art that combined the raw beauty of ore with the precision of goldsmiths’ craftsmanship and became highlights of aristocratic cabinets of curiosities.

Two complete sets of early 16th-century playing cards represent an extraordinary find of European significance. No comparable collection exists even in the holdings of the National Museum. Accidentally discovered during the restoration of historic books, mysteriously lost in modern times.