Welcome to Karlovy Vary, where history and luxury rise from the earth. Listed in 2021 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Great Spa Towns of Europe, Karlovy Vary is famed for its Vřídlo geyser, the hottest mineral spring in the Czech Republic. Stroll beneath pseudorennaissance colonnades that once hosted Peter the Great and cinematic premieres, and discover the natural and architectural highlights that make Karlovy Vary one of Europe’s most treasured spa destinations.
Karlovy VaryKarlovy Vary is the Czech Republic’s best‑known and largest spa town and its most visited thermal resort. According to local legend, Emperor Charles IV discovered the hot spring here while hunting and founded the baths around 1350, with town privileges granted in 1370. The town nestles along the Teplá River at the edge of the Slavkov Forest and is ringed by wooded hills with panoramic viewpoints. In July 2021 Karlovy Vary joined the UNESCO World Heritage List for the Great Spa Towns of Europe, recognising its exceptional contribution to the development of modern European spa culture and wellness from the 18th to the 20th century.
Modern spa practice in Karlovy Vary began in the 16th century when local physician Václav Payer promoted drinking cures using mineral water rather than the then‑common bathing treatments. That innovation launched the town’s golden era, attracting European elites including Peter the Great, Emperor Franz Joseph I, Goethe, Beethoven, Paganini, Chopin, and Dvořák. Today visitors can sample more than 80 thermal springs, a world‑class concentration, with 16 springs available for drinking. Traditional therapies such as mineral water drinking cures and thermal baths blend historic spa ritual with contemporary wellness offerings.
Vřídlo Geyser The symbol of the town, Vřídlo reaches temperatures up to 73.4 °C and, driven by carbon dioxide pressure, erupts as a geyser up to 12 metres high, discharging up to 2,000 litres per minute. The spring is housed in the modern Functionalist Vřídelní Colonnade from 1975. Guided visits to the historic underground chambers reveal early 20th‑century piping, mineral deposition processes, and the traditional craft production of stone “roses” souvenirs.
Colonnades and Architectural Variety Karlovy Vary boasts the highest concentration of colonnades in the Czech Republic. The Mlýnská Colonnade is a grand pseudorennaissance work by Josef Zítek and the town’s largest colonnade, sheltering five mineral springs and decorated with twelve sandstone allegorical sculptures representing the months. The Sadová Colonnade is an elegant cast‑iron structure by Viennese architects Fellner and Helmer, the town’s oldest surviving iron colonnade. The wooden Market Colonnade in Alpine style covers the Market and Charles IV springs and features a relief telling the discovery legend. The Castle Colonnade by Friedrich Ohmann is an Art Nouveau jewel still used for drinking cures.
The Grandhotel Pupp, a landmark hotel with origins from 1701, is the focal point of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and gained international fame as the stand‑in for Hotel Splendide in Casino Royale (2006). Key casino scenes were filmed in the Imperial Spa (Lázně I), a designated national cultural monument. Notable churches include the classical‑baroque Church of St Mary Magdalene by K. I. Dienzenhofer and the impressive Orthodox Church of Sts Peter and Paul with gilded domes, the largest Orthodox church west of the former Soviet Union, reflecting the town’s historical openness to Eastern visitors.
Becherovka The herbal liqueur Becherovka, often nicknamed the “thirteenth Karlovy Vary spring,” originated in 1807 as a stomach bitters and remains a cultural icon; visiting the Becherovka Museum is recommended for anyone interested in its history.
Spa Wafers and Crystal Karlovy Vary wafers date back to the 18th century and were enjoyed by figures such as Mozart and Goethe. Popular souvenirs also include porcelain spa drinking cups and world‑renowned Moser crystal, handcrafted locally and prized internationally.
Karlovy Vary is an excellent base for exploring the region. Recommended excursions include the Gothic Loket Castle, nearby Bečov Castle with the extraordinary Reliquary of St. Maurus, and the natural Svatošské Rocks along the Ohře River. For panoramic views visit Goethe’s Lookout on the Hill of Eternal Life or take the funicular to Diana Tower; the Jelení skok rock formation and nearby Ore Mountains trails such as the family‑friendly Ježíškova cesta in Boží Dar are ideal for nature lovers.
Book a stay to experience traditional spa therapies, historic architecture, and the unique cultural atmosphere that make Karlovy Vary one of the world’s most beautiful spa destinations. For travellers from German‑speaking regions, Karlovy Vary lies conveniently close to the German border and offers a familiar Central European spa culture with a distinct Czech character and rich heritage.
15.10.2025 | 14:58
