Karlovy Vary

Things to do in Karlovy Vary

Spa and Water Fun

KARLOVY VARY

In the heart of Europe, namely in Western Bohemia between the Krušné Mountains and Slavkovsky Forest, Czech King and Roman Emperor Charles IV coursed in the 14th century and his entourage discovered a thermal spring by accident. It did not take long, and the Emperor, inspired by his own experience, proclaimed the spring to have curative powers.

From that time until the 16th century the doctors in Karlovy Vary strictly stuck to this method of balneotherapy. A suggestion to consider the exploitation of spring water for internal use was proposed by doctor Václav Payer in 1521. However, this method was not brought to perfection until the time and practice of doctor David Becher who also rendered outstanding services in formulating balanced therapeutic drinking cures.

Karlovy Vary continually became a frequent place of significant gatherings. The spa hosted the great names of science, politics and art of the 19th century, including Beethoven, Franz Josef I., Dobrovský, Paganini, Chopin, Mozart, Gogol, Tyl, Barrande, Purkyně, Freud and many others. Nearly every celebrity’s name lives on here since it was used to name a monument or to a forest walk path. In the early 20th century, Karlovy Vary was the most famous spa metropolis in Europe. The popularity of the city grew and until the onset of World War I that was followed by a world economic crisis, World War II, and finally by communist nationalization.

Following the velvet Revolution (1989), when democracy was reinstalled, shabby buildings were gradually reconstructed and spa facilities were modernized. Thanks to these positive developments, the spa city became competitive with the other European spa metropolises.

Thanks to the specific properties of the Karlovy Vary mineral springs and their virtually all-purpose use, Karlovy Vary welcomes patients with various kinds of disorders, most often of which are: digestive tract disorders, metabolic disorders, diabetes, gout, obesity, arodontosis (gingivitis), locomotor system disorders, diseases of the liver, pancreas, gall bladder, and biliary ducts, oncological convalescents, neurological diseases.

KARLOVY VARY HOTELS

Savoy Westend*****

Grandhotel Pupp*****

Hotel Bristol Palace Karlovy Vary*****

Hotel Salvator Karlovy Vary****

Parkhotel Richmond****

Romance Puškin ****

Olympia****

Humboldt Park Hotel and Spa****

Hotel Palatine***

The fame of Karlovy Vary has spread into the whole world thanks to its mineral springs. 13 of about 100 mineral springs are used in the drinking cure. Their basic compositions are similar but they differ in temperature and the amount of carbon dioxide, and that is why their effects are different as well. The colder springs usually have a slightly purgative effect while the warmer ones make the production of bile and stomach juices slower. The temperature of the mineral springs is related to the average temperature of the season (+- 3oC).