Křížky is a national natural monument. It is located in the central part of the Slavkovský les Protected Landscape Area near the village of Prameny in the Cheb district of the Karlovy Vary region. The area of the natural monument is 4.55 ha and lies at an altitude of 790–817 m. The reason for the protection of this site is the rare plant communities with an exceptionally high number of rare and legally protected plant species. The geological basis of the site is the serpentine, which determines the occurrence of a number of plant species that are limited to this relatively rare rock. The best-known such species is one of the few Czech endemics - the kuřičkolistý rožec, which grows only in the territory of the Munich serpentine.
Křížky
The area is part of an area called by naturalists as Munich serpentine – the largest serpentine area in the Czech Republic. Visitors can learn about the snake phenomenon and the area here through the approximately 12 km long Munich Snakes nature trail connecting some of the most important snake areas of the Slavkov Forest, such as Pluhův bor, Dominova skalka and Křížky. The information boards on the nature trail are dedicated to the unique snake flora, the influence of snakes on vegetation and mineral waters, the history of snake use and the medieval construction of the Dlouhá stoka near Křížky.There are several legends about the origin of the crosses. The most famous legend claims that the three crosses were built by local sick people (sometimes referred to as the three brothers) as a thank you for their recovery. Historical chronicles and especially the stories of eyewitnesses do not confirm this version in the slightest. There is not a single record of this version, and eyewitnesses who are still alive today completely reject it as a forgery. The three crosses that dominate the hilltop were erected in 1849.
Photo 1-3: Křížky