Doubí is a district of Karlovy Vary. Here in the former castle is Christmas all year round.
I was not really in the Christmas mood in September, but I had to visit the Christmas House and Teddy Bear Museum in Karlovy Vary. So we arranged the way back of a several hours walk in a way that we could make a side trip to Christmas House.
Christmas spirit … 365 days a year
The Christmas House and Teddy Bear Museum is located in a former castle and already the steps up to the entrance showed me that it is already Christmas time in Karlovy Vary in September!
First you enter the courtyard of the former castle complex. Already here I realized that it should become amazingly christmassy and beary. Everywhere teddy bears in all sizes and colors, it glittered and shone Christmassy and actually only the snow, the roasted almonds and the mulled wine was missing – Christmassy music was already playing from the loudspeakers. An eight meter high Christmas tree stood decorated in the yard and there were even Christmas trees that were only decorated with teddy bears. I discovered a reindeer, Santa Claus, and found a new beary friend on a bench. So whoever doesn’t get a little bit of Christmas spirit here…
Even the inner courtyard was impressive, how should it be in the rooms. First we went to the huge sales exhibition. The individual departments in the rooms were sorted by color – silver decoration, red decoration, golden decoration,…. Christmas tree decoration, glass balls, candles, nativity scenes,…. I did not know where to look first. From total kitsch to beautiful decoration elements, there was something for every taste. In terms of price, there was also something for every price group and, although it was only September, some visitors really made a big purchase. We didn’t buy anything, but I can understand fans of Christmas decorations, it was really like a Christmas paradise!
After the sales exhibition we went through other rooms of the plant. In a cellar which is about 650 years old there is a small museum. Here you can learn about the Christmas story and various Christmas traditions in display cases. There were old Christmas cards, tree holders, nativity scenes and tree decorations to see.
Teddy Bears wherever the eye looks
In another cellar area we discovered a small part of the teddy bear collection. The rooms, the corridors, the ceilings – I had the feeling that every inch of the rooms was full of bears. There were thematic areas with for example Pu the bear, panda bears, polar bears and areas with colored bears. About 12000 bears were collected by the operators and all of them are sitting lovingly draped on shelves and the floor. It was really hard to see the individual bears in the crowd, I was impressed by the mass alone. But this much I have to say, the biggest bear on display is over 5 meters tall, the smallest bear only about 4 mm.
In another area of the Christmas House in Karlovy Vary, countless trains ran through Christmas villages with illuminated ceramic houses. There was Christmas music playing and also here teddy bears stood, sat, hung everywhere.
Angel coffee house in the Christmas House Karlovy Vary
Those who need some bear relaxation can retire to the Christmas coffee house. Here you can get Christmas cookies, Christmas stollen and drinks all year round. Whether hot chocolate or mulled wine, tea or coffee, a piece of apple strudel always tastes good, even in summer.
The Christmas House in Karlovy Vary makes not only children’s eyes shine. While we were there you could only see the eyes of the other visitors because of the mouth-nose protection. I have rarely seen such a happy glint in the eyes of young and old at the same time. In any case, on the way back to our vacation apartment I caught myself humming a Christmas melody over and over again.
Address:
Studentská 1/4, 360 07 Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic
Opening hours:
January – October Tuesday – Sunday: 13 – 18 November and December Tuesday – Sunday: 10 – 20
Closed: 24.12., 25.12. and 1.1
Admission fee:
Adults: 120 CZK Discounts are offered.
With the Karlovy VARY REGIO CARD you have free admission.
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