Spa tradition
The 15th century probably marks the beginning of the Czech spa industry, though the springs in Teplice (www.teplice.cz) were known about 2000 years ago and are some of the longest and most intensively used in all central Europe.
Czech spa towns enjoy a prominent position on the world spa market which they have achieved thanks to a combination of traditional use of natural resources, modern procedures and the latest rehabilitation methods.
Famous visitors
Many important visitors have discovered and still are discovering the beauty and special atmosphere of Czech spa towns. One of the first people to take the waters was Holy Roman Emperor and Czech King Charles IV, who, it is said, discovered the miraculous properties of the Carlsbad springs when out hunting in the forests around his castle at Loket.
The list of prominent personalities to grace the Czech spas includes countless rulers, politicians, writers, composers and celebrities:
- Johann Wolfgang Goethe
- Russian Tsar Peter the Great
- Austrian Empress Maria Theresa
- Norwegian King Harald V
- members of the Rockfeller and Rothschild families.
Follow in the footsteps of emperors kings and other famous people and come and enjoy the best of what the Czech spas have to offer.
Myths and legends
There are many myths and legends surrounding Czech spa towns which have survived to this day. For instance, in Františkovy Lázně (www.frantiskolazensko.cz) every woman longing for a child visits the statue of Little Franz in the town’s park. If she touches the statue, according to the legend she will give birth to a baby within a year.
