Karlovy Vary completely deserves its status as the second most tourist visited town in the Czech Republic. This famous spa town is located 130km from Prague in the western part of Bohemia. Karlovy Vary gained its reputation thanks to the discovery of hot mineral springs, the history of which originates somewhere in the Middle Ages. If we want to be more precise, the city was discovered by Charles IV while hunting deer in the middle of the 14th century. In 1522 Dr Payer of Loket set out the properties of the waters in a medical treatise, and their fame began to spread. By the end of the 16th century, there were more than 200 spa buildings, but the town’s present appearance dates mainly from the 19th century.
Today city is admired by tens of thousands of visitors every year, not to mention all the patients and guests undergoing treatment in the local spa houses. Mineral waters are used mainly for drinking cures – which are the most important part of the spa treatment. There are 12 hot springs in use, and you will get the chance to taste them. The best-known spring is Vridlo – the sprudel which belches its curative waters to a height of 10 m. It is also the hottest one, at 72°C (161 °F).
Many famous personalities have visited this town including: Ludwig van Beethoven, Frederic Chopin, Franz Liszt, Johann Wolfgang Goethe, Friedrich Schiller, Alexei Tolstoy, Antonin Dvorak etc. Karlovy Vary has impressive modern and historical architecture and the most beautiful colonnades. It is a town where the beauty of nature and the nobility of the spa are blended in harmony. You can promenade along the colonnades, see many interesting buildings and enjoy the comfort of top restaurants. You can walk in the quiet and wonderful spa parks.
Karlovy Vary is the venue of the famous International Film Festival and a longstanding festival devoted to films promoting the travel industry. It is not by chance that prominent artists, business people and bankers visit Karlovy Vary. The spa attracts increasing numbers of young people and proponents of the healthy lifestyle. Traditional spa care is one attribute of Karlovy Vary. However, new relaxation and wellness programmes are becoming increasingly popular. For instance, the area of Karlovy Vary has also become a veritable paradise for those that like playing golf. When we talk about all reason, we should also point out that Karlovy Vary is renowned for herb liquor called Becherovka, after the doctor who invented the recipe while working at the spa in the early 1700s.
Attractions in Karlovy Vary
Getting around is easily done on foot. Just follow the path of the canal, which takes you past areas of interest such as the Thermal Spring, the Regional Museum, the Mill Colonnade, the Grand Hotel Pupp and lots of boutiques, gift shops, cafés and restaurants.
– Cable car to the Diana lookout point, enjoy a sensational 360-degree view of the entire city and surrounding area
– Russian Orthodox Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, built in the same style as the cathedral in Ostankino in Moscow
– Grandhotel Pupp, monumental complex of hotel buildings, a traditional centre of the International Film Festival
– Becherovka Museum offering excursions into the history and present of production of this world-famous liqueur
– Moser Museum with a beautiful exhibition of this firm’s products
– Municipal Theatre, just one of a whole number of buildings designed by architects Fellner and Helmer
– Kilian Ignac Dienzenhofer designed the baroque Church of St. Mary Magdalene
Glasswork Moser, Karlovy Vary, Kpt. Jaroše 19, tel. 353 41 61 36/353 44 96 19, www.moser-glass.com.
The exhibition includes historical displays, glass-making tools, medals, decorations, historical documents, photographs, design samples and catalogues of historical advertising materials. Another part of the museum is dedicated to the sovereigns and celebrities for whom Moser has provided its wares. Men blowing into tubes and going very red in the face in Czech, English, German or Russian. Very impressive and an excellent idea to keep warm on a winter trip. Museum open Mon – Fri 8:00 – 17:30, Sat 9:00 – 15:00. 50 CZK entrance to glassworks, entrance to the museum is free.
Jan Becher Muzeum, Karlovy Vary, T.G. Masaryka 57, tel. 359 57 81 11, www.janbecher.cz.
Tour the factory where they make this peculiar Czech speciality by steeping sacks of herb mixtures in alcohol and transferring the result to age in huge oak barrels. Open 9:00 – 17:00. Admission 100 CZK.
Grandhotel Pupp. The very beautiful Grandhotel Pupp is definitely worth a visit. The hotel is not very far from the theatre building, situated on MÃrové Square in Karlovy Vary. Since being built in 1895, it has been reconstructed and, when the owners executed the principal unification of the buildings, arranged to provide comfort and luxury for its guests. The hotel also hosted the Karlovy Vary Film Festival stars and played a large role in the James Bond film “Casino Royale”. www.pupp.cz
Chateau Hill – (Zámecký vrch) has been developed and integrated with the building complex of Chateau Bath. The structure was designed by architect Ohmann. The building’s architecture is influenced by Eclecticism with numerous Art Nouveau elements and ornaments.
Tourist Information Centre: Lázeňská 1 Tel: +420 353 224 097
What’s on: May – opening of Spa Season; Jul – International Film Festival
Getting there: Buses leave from Florenc Bus Station roughly every hour and also call in at Dejvicka Bus Station and the airport on the way. The journey time is 2 hour 15 minutes (when traffic 2.5 hrs). Unfortunately, there is no direct train connection, and it takes twice as long, almost 5 hrs. Bus ticket cost around 120 CZK. Distance: 130 km west of Prague.
Tip: 10hrs Karlovy Vary Excursion
Please could you give any info or photos of the berbs which use in Becherovka production.
With regards,
Hasmik
Becherovka is an herbal bitters flavoured with aniseed, cinnamon and approximately 32 other herbs.