Your WEllness Destination
History of this magical town
Karlovy Vary history dates back to about 1350 when, as the legend says, Czech King and Roman Emperor Charles IV. came for hunting to this area and got familiar with the hot springs. The first permanent settlement was founded in the valley of river Ohre. In 1370 Charles IV. granted the city privileges of a free royal city.
In the beginning of healing treatment the mineral springs were used only for bathing. Mineral water bath lasted up to eight hours.
Only in 1522 medical doctor and balneologist Václav Payer recommended the mineral water for the drinking cure. All his ideas were summarized in his Latin writings Tractatus de termism Caroli Quarti Impertoris. From this moment the mineral water started to be used for drinking cure, which afterwards prevailed over baths.
In the 18th century Dr. David Becher (1725-1792) worked on the flourishing spa treatment methods in Carlsbad. He devoted his entire life to new treatment methods, modernizing Balneology and last but not least, also participated in the building of the spa town. He suggested using both mineral water baths and a drinking cure, advising to drink the mineral water while walking and proposed building colonnades over the many mineral springs.
In the 19th century the city went through extensive construction of new spa houses, which changed the face of the city as we know it today. Wealthy clientele from around the world coming for the spa treatment helped the prosperity and growth of the town. At this time a rich network of renowned spa trails was created.
In the period from the late 19th century to the world war I the town experienced its Golden Age and became the most famous spa city in Europe, the venue for the most important meetings of personalities from science, politics and arts. The town became popular with aristocrats from Russia, Poland and Saxony. The Golden Age, however, was suppressed by World War I, which was followed by the economic crisis, World War II and standardization. Spa life almost stopped.
In the period after the World War II spas were nationalized and all became a property of the state. The clientele was limited to Czech patients and guests from the Soviet Union. Hotels and sanatoriums fell into disrepair in the hands of the state.
After the Velvet Revolution in 1989, life again returned into the town. Neglected properties returned to the private hands and started to be renovated. The town recovered and started to flourish again.
Thanks to the uniqueness of spa springs and traditional spa treatment is the most famous Czech spa town of Karlovy Vary again an important and popular place for treatment of people from all over the world. The tradition, which started centuries ago, continues. We believe that the reputation of the healing mineral springs and the uniqueness of spa treatments guarantees our town for the future.
