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Balneology and Mineral Springs
History of Balneology in Karlovy Vary
Thermal springs on the territory of Karlovy Vary are said to have been attributed curative power a long time before the establishment of Karlovy Vary. The first historically documented therapeutic procedure was carried out at the turn of the 14th century when Charles IV bathed his aching legs the mineral water of one of the springs.
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.
Golden times
The spa facilities saw rises and falls. The numbers of their visitors were affected by natural disasters and war conflicts. In the 18th century Karlovy Vary lived en era of true development and pride and its reputation among other European spa resorts strengthened markedly. The first public spa facilities and structures were built. The city prospered not only thanks to wealthy spa patients but also thanks to the incomes from the sales of mineral water and thermal spring salt.
The renowned European spa fell silent for nearly 80 years
The popularity of Karlovy Vary grew and the number of its visitors kept on increasing until the onset of World War I that was followed by a world economic crisis, World War II, and finally by communist nationalization. Whenever the spa city began to recover from one disaster, another blow was approaching.
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.
Spa Treatment Indication
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
- Many others
The range of therapeutic procedures differs, to a certain degree, from sanatorium to sanatorium, always depending on the specialization and equipment of a specific facility.
Listed below are spa hotels and sanatoria.
COLONNADES AND SPRINGS
Thermal springs made Karlovy Vary famous around the whole world. Of 79 mineral springs with varying yields, 13 are controlled and used for drinking cure.
The basic composition of various kinds of mineral water is quite similar; however, the different temperatures and contents of carbon dioxide provide different effects. The colder springs have slightly laxative effects, whereas the warmer ones have suppressing effects and inhibit the secretion of bile and gastric juices.
Take a pleasant walk following the traces of our springs.
Park Colonnade
This colonnade once served as the esplanade of the Blanensky Pavillion, that was demolished in the 1960’s. Fortunately, the colonnade has survived to this date, which was mainly due to its general reconstruction. Three curative springs rise right under the colonnade roof or in its immediate vicinity.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Snake Spring 30°C | Spa guests could first try this spring in 2001. Compared to the other springs, it contains less minerals and more CO2. The spring runs out from a snake mouth on the Park Colonnade. |
| Park Spring 47,4°C | In the mid 19th century, this spring spouted out during the excavation of the foundations of the Military Spa Institution. Its original name was the Emperor’s Spring. It wells out on the MSI premises MSI next to the colonnade. It is accessible daily from 6:00 until 18:30. |
| Freedom Spring 60°C | The spring was discovered in the second half of the 19th century during the construction of Spa III. It has been known under its current name since the end of World War II. Its original name the Spa Spring was later changed to the Franz Joseph I Spring. An alcove covering this spring is situated between Spa III and the mill Colonnade. |
Mill Colonnade (1871 - 1881, Josef Zítek)
Architect Zítek’s original vision of the appearance of this new renaissance building differed from its final look substantially. The renowned architect initially designed the building as a two-story, much more ostentatious structure. Once finished, the colonnade was not received with the warmest feelings and appreciation. Purportedly, it was not in tune with the nature of the spa city.
Since 1893, when it was extended to the Rock Spring (Skalní pramen), it has been 132 m long. Its roof supported by 124 Corinth-style columns shelter an orchestra pit and five mineral springs. Its premises are decorated with allegoric statues.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Rock Spring 53°C | Before the year 1845, this spring rose into the Tepla River. Following some landscaping modification, this spring was taken to the place of the present-day Mill Colonnade. |
| Libuše Spring 62°C | Originally called the Spring of Elizabeth’s Roses, this spring was made by four smaller springs flowing together. |
| Prince Václav I Spring 65°C | The water from this spring was used to produce Karlovy Vary curative salt of. At the end of the 18th century, its yield and force allegedly matched those of the Thermal Spring. The Prince Václav I Spring outlets into two spring vases. The Prince Václav II Spring flows out in front of the colonnade, across from the orchestra place. |
| Prince Václav II Spring 58°C | |
| Mill Spring 56°C | This spring has been used for therapeutic purposes since the 16th century, initially mainly for baths. In the past, the water from this favorite spring could be bought from nearly every Czech chemist. |
| Rusalka Spring 60°C | From the 16th century until the year 1945 this spring was known as the New Spring. The water exhaled from this spring used to be more popular than that from the Mill Spring. The spring even had its own colonnade called the New Spring Colonnade that was later reconstructed and called the Mill Colonnade. |
Market Colonnade (1883, Fellner a Helmer)
The wooden structure inspired by Swiss architecture was meant to arch over mineral springs for a couple of years only. However, when it surmounted the Market Spring and Charles IV Spring for more than a hundred years, the local authorities decided to keep it in place and ordered its overall reconstruction.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Market Spring 62°C | Since its discovery in 1838, this has disappeared and reappeared several times. Several drills were made to ensure its regular flow required for prescribed use. |
| Charles IV Spring 64°C | Perhaps it was the curative power of this spring that made Emperor Charles IV build a spa community in this place. The discovery of Karlovy Vary is illustrated by in a relief attached above this spring. |
Chateau Colonnade (1911-1913, Friedrich Ohmann)
This colonnade is situated above the Market Colonnade. It has two parts: The Upper Spring Colonnade (Horní pramen) and the Lower Spring Colonnade. The interior of the Lower Spring Colonnade is decorated with a relief representing the Spirit of the Springs. The colonnade was shut down for many years. Its reopening took place in 2001 following thorough reconstruction.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Lower Chateau Spring 55°C | Practically, this is one spring that is distributed into two vases. However, the higher altitude of the Upper Spring and physical laws endowed the Upper Chateau Spring with a different temperature and the CO2 content than its lower branch. The Lower Chateau Spring is available to the public at the Market Colonnade. Its water exhaled at the Chateau Colonnade can be consumed only by the clients of the Chateau Spa. Unfortunately, you cannot see the statue of the Spirit of the Springs. |
| Upper Chateau Spring 50°C |
Thermal Spring Colonnade (1969 - 1975, prof. Votruba)
From the 16th century onward, the geyser of hot mineral water used to be covered by many structures: a baroque building, an empire colonnade, a cast alloy colonnade or a temporary wooden colonnade. Another - and for the time being still existing - structure embracing the spring was erected in the late 1906’s.
The space under the colonnade floor hides infrastructure for the drawing, distribution and thermal regulation of thermal water. However, there are also areas where aragonite ‘grows over’ the souvenirs of Karlovy Vary. The old section of the thermal spring underground will soon be open to the public who will be able to go on a guided tour there.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Thermal Spring 72°C | On average, this geyser yields 2000 liters of mineral water per minute. Today, it is the only spring used for baths. The Thermal Spring, however, is also used for drinking cure. On the colonnade premises there are a total of 5 fountains with the water from this Spring, the individual fountains offer water that is 72, 57 and 41°C hot. The column of the spring water can spurt up to 12 m high due to the effect of high pressure. |
The Ten Rules of the Karlovy Vary Drinking Cure
Karlovy Vary thermal water is a complex, highly concentrated mixture of natural substances. It is not designed for ongoing or uncontrolled use.
- It is recommended to use Karlovy Vary thermal mineral water only after consulting a spa physician with appropriate erudition
- To achieve maximum therapeutic effects, it is recommended to use Karlovy Vary thermal mineral water nearby the places where springs flow open.
- It is recommended to use Karlovy Vary thermal mineral water only from traditionally shaped porcelain or glass cups.
- It is not advised to combine a therapeutic cure with the consumption of alcohol or tobacco smoking. Passive smoking should be avoided too.
- Drinking cure includes physical activity too. It is recommended to digest Karlovy Vary thermal mineral water while walking slowly.
- Drinking cure should be taken when you feel fully relaxed and not in a hurry.
- It is recommended to repeat drinking cure at intervals set by your physician.
- Drinking cure is a small ceremony during which other clients must not be disturbed.
- Mineral water cannot be used to water surrounding plants or be discharged onto the colonnade floor.
- When taking spring water from a spring vase beware that it is not allowed, out of hygienic reasons, to touch the spring stand or the discharge tubes.
Related links:
Infocentrum Karlovy Vary
Husovo náměstí 2, 360 01 Karlovy Vary
+420 355 321 161
infocentrum@karlovy-vary.cz
provozní doba: Po - Pá 08:00 - 16:00