Karlovy Vary y (Czech Karlovy Vary, German Karlsbad, old Russian Karlsbad) is a resort town in the Czech Republic, located in the west of the historical region of Bohemia, at the confluence of the Teplá River and the Ohře River. Population: 56 thousand people (2007).

The exact date of the founding of the city is unknown, but a settlement appeared in this place around 1349. Archaeological research has proven the existence of several prehistoric settlements on the territory of the current city (Tašovice, Dvory, Drahovice). Evidence of human habitation here in the Late Bronze Age is the Drahovice settlement. People lived in the vicinity of present-day Karlovy Vary already in the 13th century. The teachings suggest that even then the healing effects of Karlovy Vary thermal waters were well known and they were used for medicinal purposes. The written history of the resort town begins on August 14, 1370, when Charles IV granted the already existing settlement the freedoms and rights that the nearby royal town of Loket enjoyed at that time. These privileges were regularly confirmed by the rulers of the Czech Republic until 1858.

The prosperity and development of the resort at the end of the 16th and 17th centuries was adversely affected by two natural disasters: on May 9, 1582, Karlovy Vary suffered from a devastating flood, and on August 13, 1604, the city was completely destroyed by fire, during which 99 of 102 buildings burned down. Throughout its existence, the city was devastated several times by troops, fires, disease and famine. During these periods, the number of visitors to the resort decreased, and consequently, the income of the townspeople decreased. In this regard, the residents of Karlovy Vary had to look for other ways to earn a living, in addition to the resort business. Therefore, in the 17th century, traditional Karlovy Vary crafts began to develop - tin mining, weapons production, as well as the production of needles and knives. Resort life in Karlovy Vary revived only at the end of the 17th century due to the influx of wealthy aristocrats from Saxony, and later from Russia and Poland. In 1711 and 1712, the city was visited by Peter I. In memory of these visits, one of the surrounding hills is called “Peter’s Top”. According to legend, the king rode here on a bareback horse and carved his initials on a wooden cross that stood there.

Post office (1903, architect F. Zetse)

In 1707, Emperor Joseph I confirmed all privileges to Karlovy Vary and directly named it a royal free city. In the first half of the 18th century, Karlovy Vary enjoyed the special favor of the Habsburgs, in particular Empress Maria Theresa, which was expressed in increasing financial subsidies for the construction and improvement of the city government system. The city council in 1719 adopted special city laws that governed the entire life of the resort down to the last detail. In connection with the development of the spa business, a number of public and resort buildings were built: the Saxon Hall (1701), the Czech Hall (1728). Later, the Grand Hotel Pupp was built on the site of these halls. In 1711, on the site of the current Mill Spring, the Mill Spa was built - the first public spa house in Karlovy Vary. In 1717, Karlovy Vary already had its own theater. In 1732–1736, according to the design of the architect Kilian Ignatius Dinzenhofer, the Church of St. Mary Magdalene was built.

On May 23, 1759, there was a fire in the city that destroyed 224 houses. Despite this, in a relatively short period of time the consequences of the fire were overcome and the subsequent development of the city began to be carried out according to plan. Well-appointed multi-story stone houses with rich stucco facades are being built. More and more visitors came to the restored and attractive city.

Snake Spring

In 1762, the Mill Spa was modernized, and in 1777, the modern Vřideł Hall was erected, which was a reflection of the application of the healing principles of Dr. David Becher, who emphasized the importance of drinking water directly at the source. Since 1764, salt from the source began to be produced and exported in Karlovy Vary, also on the initiative of Dr. Becher. In 1791, the Postal Yard was built, which later became famous for the concerts of Joseph Labicki's orchestra and numerous famous musicians.

In 1792, a wooden colonnade was built under the New Spring, allowing resort guests to visit the springs even in unfavorable weather. In 1811, the colonnade was rebuilt by the Dresden architect Hessl. The most popular public place among the aristocracy at the end of the 18th century was the Czech Hall, which was purchased by confectioner John Georg Pupp in 1775, who laid the foundation for the largest restaurant and hotel complex in Karlovy Vary, the Grand Hotel Pupp.

In the 19th century, Karlovy Vary acquired an international character. In addition to the aristocracy, the European cultural elite also comes to the springs. Karlovy Vary was visited at that time by J.-W. Goethe, F. Schiller, T. Korner, L. van Beethoven, F. Chopin and N. Paganini.

From the second third of the 19th century, the character of the Karlovy Vary spa society became different: the aristocracy was replaced by a wealthy bourgeois clientele. Karlovy Vary also becomes a venue for political and diplomatic negotiations. So in 1819, a conference of ministers was held here under the chairmanship of the Austrian Chancellor K.V.L. Metternich.

The last third of the 19th century was a period of extensive construction work and the construction of modern resort facilities for Karlovy Vary. The city acquires its current architectural appearance, combining eclecticism and modernity. During that period, the buildings of the Military Sanatorium (1855), the Vřideł Colonnade (1879), the Mlín (Mill) Colonnade (1871–1881), the Market Colonnade (1883), Lazne III (1866) and the magnificent site of the Imperial Spa (1895), a new city ​​theater (1886), Anglican church (1877), synagogue (1877), Russian Orthodox church (1897), Imperial Hotel (1912). The architectural appearance of the resort was decisively influenced by Viennese architecture, represented in Karlovy Vary by the works of Ferdinand Fellner and Hermann Helmer, who designed about 20 buildings in the city.

In 1870, with the commissioning of the Karlovy Vary–Cheb line, the resort of the European railway network. A year later, traffic was opened on the Prague-Karlovy Vary line.

The end of the 19th century is the Golden Age of Karlovy Vary. Prominent representatives of European culture, science and politics came to local sources: N.V. Gogol, F. List, Z. Freud, J. Barrand, G. Schliemann, T. Fontane, A. Dvorak, K. Marx, J. Brahms , R. Wagner, E. Grieg and a number of other famous personalities. Before the First World War, Karlovy Vary was visited by a record number of guests - 70,935 people (1911).

With the beginning of the war, the number of vacationers in Karlovy Vary sharply decreased and a decline began. Despite the fact that after the end of the World War, Karlovy Vary resort life was quickly restored, the city did not reach its pre-war attendance, and hard times came again. Even Karlovy Vary in the 1930s was not spared by the protracted crisis that affected the whole of Europe. The debts of hotel and boarding house owners grew, and some small entrepreneurs and traders went bankrupt. But despite this, several expensive constructions were carried out in Karlovy Vary between the world wars: a dam on the Teplá River in Brzezova (1936), which put an end to floods forever; buildings of Lazne VI (1927), a health insurance company (1931), a church at the Redemptorist monastery (1933); bridge over the Ohře River (1932).

With the outbreak of World War II, life at the resort practically stopped. Problems arise with the supply of food, the number of visitors to the resort decreases, and many resort houses are converted into military hospitals.

Karlovy Vary was liberated by the Red Army, which entered on May 11, 1945. In 1945–1946, the Germans living in Karlovy Vary were evicted on the basis of the Potsdam Agreement. At the same time, the process of settling the border area with the Czech population took place. In connection with these processes, in the 1950–1960s, many villages and historical and cultural monuments were destroyed in the vicinity of Karlovy Vary. And in the resort town itself, many houses were thoughtlessly demolished.

The construction development of Karlovy Vary in 1948–1989 was manifested primarily in significant residential development. New microdistricts of block houses have appeared, and the historical buildings of Karlovy Vary, unfortunately, have been neglected for decades. The modern architecture of Karlovy Vary is represented by the sanatorium "Thermal" (1977), the Geyser Colonnade (1975), the complex of sanatoriums on Kostelnaya Street (1978–1982), the sanatoriums "Swiss Court" (1971) and "San Sussi" (1970), etc. d. During that period, most of the Karlovy Vary industrial enterprises were reconstructed - the Moser glass factory, the porcelain factory, the Becherovka plant, Siedleck Kaolin, and a number of new enterprises were created, for example, the Geyser production partnership (Vřídlo), etc. .P.

After 1990, a new period began in the development of balneology, culture, tourism and entrepreneurship in the Geyser Valley at the confluence of Tepla and Ohri. Many famous historical and resort properties have undergone expensive renovations or renovations; sometimes copies of them were built in their place. Now the Czech resort town of Karlovy Vary is a favorite place for recreation and treatment of healthy and sick people from all over the world, and the traditions that began centuries ago during the time of Charles IV continue to develop.

People attributed healing powers to the warm springs on the territory of present-day Karlovy Vary long before the founding of the city itself. The first historically recorded fact of treatment dates back to the end of the 14th century, when Charles IV washed his sore feet in the mineral water of one of the springs. Local doctors followed this method of treatment until the 16th century. It was only in 1521 that Dr. Vaclav Paer proposed using water from the springs for internal use. But only Dr. David Becher, who is also credited with balancing spa drinking courses, brought this method to perfection.

City Theater

Due to the specific properties of Karlovy Vary mineral springs and the possibility of their almost universal use, patients with a variety of diseases are treated in Karlovy Vary. Most often they are treated for: diseases of the digestive system; metabolic disorders; diabetes; gout; periodontal disease; periodontal disease; diseases of the musculoskeletal system; diseases of the liver, pancreas, gall bladder and biliary tract; after suffering from cancer; neurological diseases. Nowadays, out of 79 sources of different water content, 13 have been developed and are used for drinking water courses.

The elemental composition of mineral water from different sources is similar, but due to different temperatures and carbon dioxide content, it has different effects. Colder sources usually have a mild laxative effect, while warmer ones have a softening effect and slow down the secretion of bile and gastric juice.

Under Garden colonnade(1880, architects Fellner and Helmer) there are the Snake Spring (30°C, since 2001) and two Garden Springs (47.4°C - since the mid-19th century, 60°C - 2nd half of the 19th century).

Upstream the river from the Garden Colonnade is located Mlinskaya (Mill) colonnade(1871–1881, architect I. Zitek) with five springs: Rocky spring (53°C), Libushi spring or Elizabeth Roses spring (62°C, arose from the combination of 4 small springs); source of Prince Wenceslas from 2 vases (65°C, and 58°C); Mill spring (56°C, known since the 16th century); Rusalka spring (60°C, until 1945 – New source).

Vrzhidelni colonnade(1969–1975, architect Votruba) replaced the temporary wooden colonnade built at the end of World War II. The colonnade hides the largest and most famous spring of Karlovy Vary – Vřídlo (72°C) with a capacity of approximately 2000 liters of mineral water per minute. Today this is the only source supplying water for bathing.

Market Colonnade was built in the 1880s in the Swiss style as a temporary solution to protect the source. The current building (1991) copies the original one. Under its roof, the Market Spring (62°C, opened in 1838) and the Charles IV Spring (64°C) come to the surface.

Castle Colonnade(1911–1913, architect Friedrich Ohmann) is located above the Market Colonnade and consists of the Upper Spring Colonnade (50°C) and the Lower Spring Colonnade (55°C). In the interior spaces of the colonnade of the Lower Spring there is a relief of the Spirit of the Springs. This colonnade was under reconstruction for a long time and only since 2001 has it been opened to the public again.

Above the Castle Colonnade rises an originally Gothic Castle tower. This is the remnant of the former hunting castle of Charles IV, which burned down at the beginning of the 17th century. In the 18th century, the tower was reconstructed in Baroque style and was used to welcome famous guests of the resort. The town hall was built under the tower in 1520, next door was the city pharmacy and opposite was the Hospital of the Holy Spirit (1531).

There are two more springs in Karlovy Vary: Dorotka (the so-called “dry” spring, a large amount of gas and a small amount of water come to the surface) and Stepanka (13°C, since 1884, but disappeared in the first half of the 20th century and again was discovered only in 1993).

There is also spring No. 13 - this is the joking name for the local strong (38 degrees) Becherovka liqueur. It is infused with medicinal herbs and is produced using technology that has remained unchanged since 1807. Initially, this liqueur was made as a stomach medicine; the recipe for the drink was kept secret until the mid-20th century.

Becherovka was invented by the English physician Frobrig and the pharmacist Joseph Becher. Both were passionate about mixing herbs, aromatic oils and alcohol. Leaving Carlsbad, Frobrig left his friend a recipe for a medicinal drink using local herbs and asked him to refine it. Becher did not have to wait long. The resulting tincture turned out to be so pleasant to the taste that the pharmacist gave it a name - “the thirteenth spring of Carlsbad.” Since 1807, Joseph Becher began selling the elixir in his own pharmacy in the form of “drops” under the name “Carlsbad English Bitter”.

Josef Becher ran his business until 1841, keeping the liqueur recipe a secret. He told it only to his son and heir Johann, who turned out to be not only an excellent keeper of the recipe, but also a capable businessman. He replaced outdated equipment with more modern ones and built a new factory. By 1841 production reached full capacity. The design of the flat bottles with a special label was created at the request of Johann by his brother-in-law Karl Laub from Karlovy Vary; Becherovka is still sold in the same bottles today. Johann's son, Gustav Becher, took a very important step: he registered the Becherovka trademark with the Chamber of Commerce in Cheb, because Fake Becherovka also began to appear. Gustav also began producing small porcelain glasses, which he sold as an accompaniment to the liqueur and which Becherovka lovers can still purchase today. Gustav developed a strategy of “trade deficit”: each buyer never received the ordered quantity of Becherovka. This maintained constant tension in the market. Gustav carefully monitored the financial situation of his clients and therefore was never deceived.

The family of the pharmacist Becher successfully survived all the machinations of his rivals, none of whom managed to reproduce the unique taste of Becherovka. The recipe for the drink was passed down from father to son. When the Second World War began, Becherovka's recipe was buried in the garden next to the Bechers' house. Only in 1945 was it found by Czech detectives, and since then the drink has become public property.

Becherovka is sold here

Becherovka contains a mixture of more than 20 herbs, which are poured into bags made of natural canvas. They are immersed in containers filled with alcohol and left there for about a week. Then the extract is poured into oak barrels and mixed with water and natural sugar. The aromatic elixir is infused in oak barrels of a special oval shape for two to three months. And most importantly, this drink is made only with Karlovy Vary water. They say that Becherovka has a beneficial effect on the digestive system; it is taken 20 ml with meals. Becherovka is the basis for many cocktails, a particularly popular cocktail is a mixture of Becherovka with tonic (possibly adding lemon), popularly called “concrete”.

In addition to Becherovka, famous Karlovy Vary products also include: Moser glass, Mattoni mineral water, spa waffles and pink Karlovy Vary Thun porcelain.

There are several Carlsbad bells in the collection. In "Geographical Features" you can see a pink porcelain bell reminiscent of Carlsbad - it reproduces an old picture of the Castle Tower and Castle Colonnade. , drinking mineral water ("Little Men"), and a porcelain bell with a strolling public ("Bell Houses") are also reminiscent of Karsbad. In “Ceramics” there is a porcelain bell. In “Plant Motifs” there is a porcelain bell (a stylization of another famous brand of Czech porcelain “Cesky porcelan, Dubi”) and an elegant one. A bell from (“Glass Bells”) was brought as a gift from Karlovy Vary, as well as a ceramic one (subsection “Ceramics”), coated with calcium aragonite after being in a mineral spring.

Based on materials from the guidebook “Around the World / Czech Republic. –

5th edition. – M.: “Around the World.” - 2008",

Wikipedia and the website www.karlovy-vary.cz/ru.

When the fashion of “going to the water” came to Europe, the Karlovy Vary resort began to flourish. This generally cheerful Czech city with colorful, toy-like buildings has a difficult fate. It burned in fires, it was demolished by floods, it was occupied by enemy troops... But this is all in the past, and Karlovy Vary still welcomes those improving their health and just tourists from all over the world.

HEALING WATERS OF KING CHARLES

In the Karlovy Vary area, many hot springs of mineral water come to the surface, which have healing properties and have made the city famous throughout the world.

The city of Karlovy Vary, which once bore the German name Carlsbad, stretches for about two kilometers in the gorge of the small Tepla River with a telling Slavic name, which flows along the westernmost outskirts of the Czech Republic.

The emergence and further development of Karlovy Vary is associated with the healing effects of the hot mineral springs that are located here. These sources and their use determined the history, architecture and economy of the city.

It is not yet known when people first began to live here. The very first documents that mention settlements in these places date back to the 13th century: then the villages of Tashovice and Siedlce appeared here. Later, Taszovice, Dvory and Drahovice were added to them. More ancient traces of humans were found during excavations of the settlement in Drahovica, where settlements of people from the Bronze Age were found.

Historians are confident that even then the healing properties of local hot mineral waters were well known and local residents actively used them.

The founding date of the city is considered to be 1350, when there was a large settlement here. And already in 1370, Charles IV of Luxembourg (1316-1378), King of Germany and the Czech Republic, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, granted this place the freedom and rights of other royal cities. The reasons for this act were completely prosaic: the king was strengthening his power in the Czech Republic. But popular rumor has created a legend about how Emperor Charles IV injured his leg while hunting deer in the dense forests here, but healed it with the help of local hot springs.

The name of the city combines the name of its founder and the fact of the presence of mineral springs here - Carlsbad: the German word “bad” meant “a place where people are treated with water.” Later, when German influence in this part of the Czech Republic decreased, the name was changed to Karlovy Vary: from the Czech word “vary” - “to boil”.

The privileges of Karlovy Vary as a resort were subsequently constantly confirmed by the Czech kings.

However, Karlovy Vary is not only a resort. The prosperity and architectural appearance of the city were influenced by natural disasters. The most notable are the catastrophic flood of 1582 and the terrible fire of 1604: 99 of the city's 102 houses burned down. And then the Thirty Years' War of 1618-1648 began, when the rich city was repeatedly plundered, disease and famine were rampant.

Rich people had no time for water treatment, and the townspeople had to look for something else to do. In the 17th century Many crafts developed in Charles Bars: working with tin, gunsmithing, blacksmithing, knife making, which later became traditional and flourishing to this day.

Karlovy Vary was revived as a resort at the end of the 17th century: Saxon, Polish and Russian nobles frequented it. A memorable event for Karlovy Vary is the visit to the city in 1711 and 1712. Russian Tsar Peter I the Great.

In the 18th century Karlovy Vary was popular with the Habsburg family; Empress Maria Theresa often came here. At this time, a lot of construction is underway here, Karlovy Vary is expanding significantly.

Karlovy Vary survived two world wars of the 20th century.

Today's Karlovy Vary is the largest resort in the Czech Republic.

Karlovy Vary is one of the most famous European balneological resorts, formed around sources of medicinal waters and for a long time remained a meeting place for European nobility.

The Czech resort of Karlovy Vary is known throughout the world thanks to the healing power of the numerous thermal springs scattered throughout the city. We will go through the main attractions of this unusual place

Many of our tourists, coming to Karlovy Vary, are surprised that most of the population speaks Russian fluently, but this is not surprising, because at one time many of our compatriots moved here and Karlovy Vary can well be called the most “Russian” city in the Czech Republic)

The Tepla River flows through it, which has a rather unusual smell, but this is due to the presence of those same thermal springs, so there’s nothing you can do about it, and you stop noticing the smell after a few minutes

On the embankment of the Tepla River there is one of the symbols of the city - the Mill Colonnade, built in 1871-81 according to the design of Josef Zitek, the Czech architect who built the Prague National Theater

As often happens when building something large and unusual (a striking example of the Eiffel Tower), the Mill Colonnade was already subject to severe criticism from the local population during construction, which did not, however, prevent it from being successfully completed and today one can admire the massive outlines of numerous columns

Unfortunately, the Mill Colonnade that we see today is not the way the author intended it - there was simply not enough money to build the third floor, although such a height was simply necessary for the structure, because the architect was guided by the height of the city as a whole, and a three-story colonnade would fit into the overall picture most organically. Today, looking at the monumentality of the structure, it is difficult to imagine that according to the design it should have been much higher...

Some time after the completion of construction, in 1893, the colonnade was extended to the nearby Rocky Spring, as a result of which its length reached 132 meters, and its width remained unchanged - 13 meters. In 1982, the state allocated serious funds for the restoration of the Mill Colonnade, thanks to which today we can contemplate it in all its glory - the way the residents of Karlovy Vary saw it at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries

Also on the embankment you can sit in the cafe "Eleрhant" - the same one in which Stirlitz met his wife. It is easily recognized by the golden elephant above the entrance

A little further away rises the architectural dominant of the western part of the city - the Church of Peter and Paul, erected more than a hundred years ago, in 1897

The peculiarity of this Orthodox church is that it was built at the expense of Russians who came to Karlovy Vary to improve their health. In addition, two icons, once donated by Nicholas II, who later became Emperor of the Russian Empire, are perfectly preserved in the temple.

From an architectural point of view, the church is built in the image and likeness of classical Byzantine churches

One of the favorite places for locals and visiting tourists is the Smetana Gardens, named after the Czech composer Bedřich Smetana. The park begins with a flower bed, the flowers of which are always planted in the shape of the current date. The park is located in the very center of the city, between the Elizabeth Hospital and the Main Post Office

Also in Karlovy Vary you can visit an interesting museum located on the territory of the Moser glass factory, famous throughout the world for its unsurpassed crystal products.

The plant was built in 1875 and the museum’s exposition allows you to fully experience all the changes that have occurred with the enterprise during this time - thanks to numerous archival documents, a huge number of crystal masterpieces of past times and products of the best modern masters

In the museum you can get acquainted with the full cycle of manufacturing products from unique Moser glass using video materials and see with your own eyes the masterly work of craftsmen directly at their workplaces. The plant always has a souvenir shop open where you can buy beautiful crystal items.

There is a fortress in Karlovy Vary that is memorable only for its appearance, although in addition it has a rather rich history. We are talking about the fortified city of Bečov, founded in the 13th century and guarding the trade route passing here, collecting customs duties along the way.

Due to its strategic importance, the fortress was well fortified, and the era left a Gothic imprint on its appearance. The most striking example of its former greatness that has survived to us is the Chapel of the Apparition of the Virgin Mary

But the needs grew and soon, in the 15th century, the two most ancient parts of the city were united, and a Renaissance palace with arcades was built in the center

Since then, the city has experienced several wars, which also brought changes to its appearance. In the 17th century, on the foundations of the former fortifications, a tall octagonal Baroque tower with a chapel, a library and several beautiful halls rose

At the beginning of the 19th century, the palace was rebuilt in the classical style, and a little later the city and the castle finally became one

Subsequently, the castle interiors were partially rebuilt in the Romanist style, after which they were decorated with extensive collections of paintings and tapestries

Today, in the completely restored castle there is a museum of reliquaries, the main value of which is the unique Romanesque reliquary of St. Maurus found in the chapel, purchased in the 12th century by Alfred de Beaufort and owned by the Beauforts for 8 centuries, until the Second World War, when the Beaufort princes, who owned the fortress, fled from the Nazis, hiding the relic in the basement of the chapel

A little further from the city, in its vicinity, the picturesque Loket Castle proudly stands on a high rock - a striking example of the flourishing of medieval Czech architecture.

The fortress was rebuilt many times, but in general Loket retained its original appearance - only minor parts of it underwent changes

At one time, Loket Castle was the center of the region of the same name and served as the hunting residence of the Luxembourg family. Today in the castle you can visit an interesting exhibition of local porcelain products

The castle stands in the bend of the fast Ohře River; Goethe once loved to visit its high stone walls. The castle premises have reached us almost untouched, as evidenced by their silent, harsh interiors. Here you can walk through narrow streets and small medieval squares, which bear the imprint of history, touches of the defensive past and architectural trends of the times, which is manifested in the smallest details - even in the fences of houses that are inconspicuous at first glance...

So what about the healing springs of Karlovy Vary? Today there are 15 of them in the city, some appeared by combining several smaller ones into one (Libushi), others, on the contrary, are divided into two (Upper Castle), they are all different, have different compositions and properties, and the water temperature ranges from 30°C to 72°C. The Mill Spring is considered the most useful for general prevention of the body.

If you climb the mountain at the far end of the city, you can visit an interesting pool, the water of which always contains a little healing moisture from the springs. In addition, while swimming in the pool you can admire the city lying at the foot of the hill, which creates the indescribable effect of a kind of floating “flight” over Karlovy Vary

Welcome to Karlovy Vary!

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Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic - detailed information about the city and resort. Guide to Karlovy Vary: popular attractions with photos and descriptions

City of Karlovy Vary

Karlovy Vary is a world famous resort located in Western Bohemia in the historical region of Bohemia. The city is located in a picturesque hilly area at the confluence of the Ohře, Rolava and Tepla rivers. Karlovy Vary is distinguished by its charming architecture and a large number of health resorts and sanatoriums.

City information

1. Population - more than 49 thousand people.
2. Area - 59.1 km².
3. Currency - Czech crown.
4. Language - Czech.
5. Time - UTC+1, in summer UTC+2.

Karlovy Vary - the most “Russian” resort

Historically, since the times of the Russian Empire, Karlovy Vary was one of the most sought-after resorts among the Russian intelligentsia, monarchs and nobles. Emperors, famous writers and poets rested here and improved their health. And now, the resort remains in demand among the Russian-speaking population. Here you can hear Russian speech everywhere, and most of the signs are written in Russian. Traders, waiters, and hotel staff also speak Russian. Also, a huge number of our compatriots live here. Therefore, explaining here for the most part will not be difficult.

Story

• In 1370, Emperor Charles IV visited Karlovy Vary and granted the settlement city rights and privileges of a royal city, following the example of neighboring Loket in 1370. Even then, Karlovy Vary enjoyed the fame of a resort. A calm situation was maintained in the city and a ban on carrying weapons was in effect.
• In 1401, King Wenceslas IV granted city privileges the rare right of refuge and the status of an open city without city fortifications.
• In 1582, Karlovy Vary suffered from a severe flood. The Tepla River overflowed its banks and damaged half of the city's buildings.
• In 1640, the calm history of Karlovy Vary experienced the horrors of war. During the Thirty Years' War, the resort town was plundered by the Swedes.
• In 1707 the resort received the status of a free city.

• In 1711 Peter I the Great arrived in Karlovy Vary. The city becomes very popular among Russian ruling circles and intelligentsia. Famous people often came here: emperors, princes, nobles and military leaders, writers and poets.
• Not only Russians loved Karlovy Vary. Goethe also came here often, and visited the resort thirteen times.
• In 1870, a railway was built connecting the resort with the rest of Europe.
• At the end of the 19th century, the resort's architecture changed. Buildings began to be erected in the neoclassical, neo-baroque, and neo-renaissance styles.
• In 1890 the city also suffered from severe flooding.
• During the Second World War, the city was practically not damaged, only there was an outflow of the German-speaking population.

What to bring from Karlovy Vary:

Becherovka is a famous Karlovy Vary herbal liqueur, which began to be produced in 1807 by the pharmacist Joseph Wit Becher.

Karlovy Vary oplatki are traditional waffles with a variety of flavors that have been produced since 1788.

How to get to Karlovy Vary?

You can get to Karlovy Vary by plane from many large cities: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Rostov-on-Don, Nizhny Novgorod, Krasnodar, etc. But it’s cheaper to fly to Prague or Dresden. From Prague and Dresden, Karlovy Vary can be easily reached by bus in a couple of hours. See the bus schedule from Prague here - http://jizdnirady.idnes.cz/vlakyautobusymhdvse/spojeni/. Bus schedule from Dresden - https://www.busliniensuche.de/

Mineral springs of Karlovy Vary

Healing mineral springs are the main wealth of Karlovy Vary. There are 15 springs on the territory of the city, which are grouped in 7 colonnades (Geyser, Market, Castle, Mill, Svoboda, Sadovaya and Alois Klein) and differ in temperature and CO 2 content.

The resort treats patients with diseases of the stomach and intestines, liver and biliary tract, as well as metabolic disorders (diabetes mellitus, obesity and others).

Mineral water is completely free to drink. Enough to visit the colonnades. We recommend buying special mugs for mineral water, which are sold everywhere. It is very convenient to drink mineral water from these mugs, and they are also an excellent souvenir.

Temperature of all sources of Karlovy Vary

1. Geyser (Vřídlo) - 73°C
2. Source of Charles IV. - 64°C
3. Lower Castle Spring - 55°C
4. Upper Castle Spring - 55.9°C
5. Market source - 65.2°C
6. Mill Spring - 56°C
7. Rusalka Spring - 60°C
8. Prince Wenceslas Spring - 65°C
9. Spring of Prince Wenceslas II - 64.3°C
10. Libuše Spring - 63°C
11. Rock spring - 46.9°C
12. Source Svoboda - 62.4°C
13. Garden spring - 41.6°C
14. Stepanka Spring - 14.2 °C
15. Snake Spring - 28.7°C

A modern glazed reinforced concrete colonnade in the functionalist style was erected in 1975 over the Geyser (Vřídlo), Karlovy Vary's most popular mineral spring. The Geyser Fountain, for which a separate pavilion has been built, reaches a height of 12 meters. This is the third colonnade of the source.

The symbol of the resort is the unique Geyser fountain, thanks to water pressure it rises to a height of 12 meters. For many patients, the Geyser mineral water is too hot, so it is specially cooled to a temperature of 50 and 30 °C and for drinking treatment it is diluted into five vases of the source, marked with the letters A, B and C. Part of the thermal water goes to sanatoriums and hospitals, part is used for production of Karlovy Vary mineral salt and souvenirs. The dungeon of the Geyser Colonnade, in which an excursion route has been created, is interesting.

How to get there: from the Tržnice stop (Tržnice – Market) to Teatralnaya Square, city bus No. 2 goes to the city center. The distance from the final stop “Teatral Square” (Divadelní náměstí – Divadelní naměstí) to the colonnade is only 150 m.

Colonnade operating hours: Monday - Friday 09:00 - 17:00, Saturday - Sunday 10:00 - 17:00.

The carved wooden colonnade in the Swiss style was built in 1882-1883. designed by famous Viennese architects Fellner and Helmer on the territory of the former market under the Castle Tower.

In the early 90s. In the 20th century, a complete reconstruction of the colonnade took place, into which three mineral springs were brought out - Charles IV, the Lower Castle Spring and the Market Spring:

• spring of Charles IV - there is a legend about how Emperor Charles IV treated his sore legs at this spring, the healing properties of which apparently influenced the decision to found a resort town.
• market spring - since its discovery in 1838, the spring has gone underground several times and emerged again. Its name comes from the medieval market square that formerly stood on this site.

Opening hours: daily free access.

At the beginning of the 21st century, the modernist Castle Colonnade, built in 1910 - 1912. according to the design of the Viennese architect Johann Friedrich Oman, it was rebuilt into the Castle Spa.

Only the gazebo with the Upper Castle Spring remained freely accessible. The lower castle spring is located in the Market Colonnade, and the Castle Spa offers treatments for all spa guests.

• upper castle spring - the castle spring is divided into Upper and Lower springs, due to different altitudes above sea level, the water in them is at different temperatures. The Upper Castle Spring was first discovered in 1912 during the construction of the colonnade.
• lower castle spring - the castle spring is divided into Upper and Lower springs, due to different altitudes above sea level, the water in them is at different temperatures. The main exit of the Lower Castle Spring is currently located on the territory of the Castle Spa and is used for the needs of this hydropathic clinic. It is also located on the Market Colonnade, where it is accessible to everyone.

How to get there: from the Tržnice stop (Tržnice - Market), by city bus number 2 to the final stop "Theater Square" (Divadelní náměstí - Divadelní naměstí), and from there along the same road across the Jansky Bridge to the Market Square.

Opening hours: daily, partial access.

The stone colonnade in the pseudo-Renaissance style was built according to the design of the talented Czech architect Josef Zitek in 1871-1881. The attic of the colonnade is decorated with twelve allegorical sandstone sculptures depicting the months of the year. The largest Karlovy Vary colonnade houses five mineral springs - the Mill Spring, the Rusalka Spring, the Prince Wenceslas Spring, the Libuše Spring and the Rock Spring.

How to get there: from the Tržnice stop (Tržnice – Market), by city bus No. 1 or No. 4 to the final stop “Lázně III” (Lazne III), and from there a 200 m walk along the Spa Bridge over the Tepla River and along the Mill Embankment directly to the Mill colonnade

Opening hours: daily, free entry

Sources:

• Spring of Prince Wenceslas - this spring, formerly called Bernard's spring, is displayed in two spring vases. At the end of the 18th century, the powerful fountain of the source, at that time comparable to the Geyser, rose to a height of more than four meters. Its water was previously used to produce Karlovy Vary mineral salt.
• Spring of Prince Wenceslas II - this spring, formerly called Bernard's spring, is displayed in two spring vases. At the end of the 18th century, the powerful fountain of the source, at that time comparable to the Geyser, rose to a height of more than four meters. Its water was previously used to produce Karlovy Vary mineral salt.
• Libuše Spring - formerly called the Elizabeth Rose Spring, it received its current name only in 1947. Libuše Spring is one of the hot mineral springs located in the largest Karlovy Vary colonnade, which is why it is very popular among holidaymakers and visitors to the city.
• Rusalka Spring - from the middle of the 18th century the name “New Source” was assigned to it, and in 1792-1793. A new wooden promenade was built over the New Spring, the first structure of this type in Karlovy Vary, and at the beginning of the 19th century it became the most popular spring in the resort.
• The Mill Spring, a spring known already in the 16th century, is one of the oldest captured Karlovy Vary thermal springs. In 1705, it was one of the first springs whose water was prescribed for drinking treatment. The spring's mineral water was bottled and exported throughout the world in the past.
• Rocky spring - the spring formerly came to the surface of the earth right in the trough of the Tepla River. At that time, the swamp under Bernard's Rock, in which horses were bathed, was called the Horse Hospital. The source was first captured in 1845 after part of the rock mass was broken off. A simple wooden canopy was built over the spring at that time.

The openwork cast-iron colonnade remains from the “Blanensky Pavilion” concert restaurant, built in 1880 – 1881. designed by famous Viennese architects Fellner and Helmer. In 2001, the Snake Spring was brought into it on one side, and on the other side a transition was made to the basement of the Military Resort Hospital to the Garden Spring.

How to get there: from the Tržnice stop (Tržnice – Market), by city bus No. 1 or No. 4 to the final stop “Lázně III” (Lazne III), and from there 150 m walk along the Spa Bridge over the Tepla River, past the Military Spa Hospital to Garden colonnade.

Opening hours: daily, free entry.

Sources:

• Snake Spring - The snake spring became the last publicly accessible Karlovy Vary spring in 2001, when the reconstruction of the colonnade was completed. Snake Spring contains fewer minerals than other springs, but more carbon dioxide.
• Garden Spring - the twelfth Karlovy Vary mineral spring is located in the courtyard of the Military Sanatorium and is not accessible to the public, but part of it was taken to the basement of the sanatorium, open daily from 6.00 to 18.30. You will get to the source from the Garden Colonnade, which is located in the Dvorak Gardens. The garden spring has gained great popularity among guests of the resort town due to its high carbon dioxide content.

Sights of Karlovy Vary

There are few attractions in Karlovy Vary. The city has interesting, beautiful architecture, a rich history, but in terms of cultural heritage it, of course, lags far behind Prague, Brno, and Olomouc.

Orthodox church in Karlovy Vary. The first stone was laid in 1893. The temple was consecrated in 1897. The temple was built in the style of Russian churches of the 17-18th century. The length of the temple is 41 m, the width is 14 meters, the height of the temple under the dome is 21 meters, the height of the bell tower is 40 meters.

Address: Krále Jiřího 2c 360 01 Karlovy Vary
Opening hours: daily 9.00 - 18.00

16th century church, abandoned after World War II.

Address: Sokolovská 360 10 Karlovy Vary

Originally an Anglican church, built for the needs of the Anglo-Saxon visitors to Carlsbad. A brick single-nave church with a tower in the romantic English Gothic style of the late 19th century.

Address: Zámecký vrch 4 360 01 Karlovy Vary

Located in the very center of the Karlovy Vary resort area. The Roman Catholic church was built in Baroque style. It belongs to the number of important Czech monuments. Church of St. Mary Magdalene is listed as a cultural heritage site.

Address: nám. Svobody 1 360 01 Karlovy Vary

Rock with a metal statue of a deer (1851). From here you have an excellent view of the city.

Address: Pod Jelením skokem 26/28 360 01 Karlovy Vary

A brick building built in 1914 on a stone pedestal 35 m high. Equipped with an elevator.

Address: Vrch přátelství 5/1 360 01 Karlovy Vary
Opening hours: from 9.15 to 18.45.

(Czech: Hrad Loket) is a stone castle in the Czech Republic, near Karlovy Vary. According to scientists, the castle was built as a border fortress. The castle stands in a bend of the river. Ohře, which resembles an elbow. This is where it got its name.

The castle was mentioned in 1234. It is not known exactly who its founder was - Prince Vladislav II, King Přemysl I or King Wenceslas I. In the Middle Ages, the castle was of great strategic importance. It was a powerful fortress on the border with German lands. But after the election of Charles 4 as Holy Roman Emperor, Loket Castle lost its role as a border outpost. But under the son of Charles IV, Wenceslas IV, Loket expanded and became an even more important fortress.

In the 15th century, Sigismund handed over Loket Castle to the noble family of Schlik and the castle gradually fell into disrepair. From the beginning of the 19th century to the mid-20th century, the castle was a prison.

Now Loket Castle is a cultural monument and is open to the public as a museum. We recommend climbing the castle tower, which offers stunning views of the surrounding area. It is better to combine a trip to the castle with a visit to Karlovy Vary. The castle is located about 120 km from Prague.

Address: Zámecká, Loket
Opening hours: 9.00 to 17.00
Cost: Without a guide: adults - 100 CZK, children, students, pensioners - 80 CZK, family (two adults + two children) - 300 CZK.)

The Tepla River flows through Karlovy Vary, which is located on both banks. The river got its name because of its unusual warm water, thanks to which the river does not freeze even in winter. It has an unusual smell, which can be explained by the presence of famous thermal springs in Karlovy Vary.

The Tepla River, with a total length of about 65 kilometers, flows into the Ohře River. The area of ​​the river basin is 384 square kilometers. The river is fed by snow and rain. The mouth of the river is located in Eger, at an altitude of about 380 meters above sea level.

On the river embankment there is the Mill Colonnade, which is one of the symbols of the city. It was built in 1881 according to the design of the Czech architect Josef Zitek, who built the National Theater in Prague.

Tepla River embankment

The Tepla River embankment in Karlovy Vary is always full of tourists. And this is no coincidence, because it flows through the very center of the city. There are historical houses, boarding houses and sanatoriums, exhibition galleries, a number of mineral springs and colonnades. Pedestrian and automobile bridges span the river. Within the embankment there are three parks named after. Sour cream, them. Ianna de Carro and them. Dvorak. The famous five-star Grand Hotel Pupp is also located next to the river. On the streets of the embankment there is an exhibition of Czech art glass, the Rubin holiday home, the Church of St. Mary Magdalene and other attractions. In addition, the promenade is full of restaurants, cafes and shops.