Cheb

Cheb (German: Eger) is a town in western Czech Republic. It is the seat of Cheb District in the Karlovy Vary Region and lies on the Ohře River near the border with Germany. The town is a historic border settlement with roots in the early Middle Ages and has long served as a regional trade and fortress site.

The historic center features a mix of architectural styles from Gothic to Baroque, and is dominated by Cheb Castle, which sits on a hill overlooking the town. Other landmarks include churches, a town square with historic buildings, and remnants of medieval fortifications.

With about 30,000 inhabitants (as of the early 2020s), Cheb functions as a local administrative, economic, and cultural hub for the surrounding region. The local economy combines services, light industry, and cross-border trade.

Transportation links connect Cheb by rail and road to Prague, Karlovy Vary, and Germany, reinforcing its role as a gateway between the Czech Republic and the neighboring regions of western Bohemia and Saxony.

Historically, the area was part of the Kingdom of Bohemia and later the Austro-Habsburg Empire. In the 20th century, Cheb and its surroundings were part of the Sudetenland under German occupation; after World War II, populations were resettled and the town became part of Czechoslovakia, now the Czech Republic.

Cheb has cultural institutions, museums, and events that reflect its cross-cultural heritage and borderland character.