Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad):
History
The city of Karlovy Vary was probably founded in 1348 by Charles IV, who is supposed to have found the warm springs while hunting deer. Until the 16th century, the spa water was used for baths only and afterwards for drinking. The first larger spa house was erected in 1762. Today, the city´s appearance refers mostly to construction activities from the end of the 19th century which was dominated by historicism and art nouveau. Vienna architecture had the decisive impact which was manifested in Karlovy Vary by the two architects Ferdinand Fellner and Hermann Helmer. The year of 1989 marked the onset of a promising new era for the spa treatments, culture and tourism developing freely in this second most frequently visited Czech city following Prague.
Location
This town is located amidst forest clad hills ranging between 380 and 644 m above sea level, in the deep valley of the small river Teplá. Carlsbad has an international airport and the headquarters of companies manufacturing world-famous products are located here – such as the herb liquor Becherovka, Moser crystal glass, Carlsbad porcelain and Carlsbad wafers.
Most important sights
12 mineral springs with a temperature from 30 to 72°C, the Mill, Colonnade, the Market Colonnade, the Park Colonnade, the Chateau Colonnade, the Municipal Theatre, Spa I – the Emperor´s Spa, St. Mary Magdalena Church, the Postal Square, the St. Andrew Church, the orthodox Peter and Paul Church or the Japanese Garden.
Culture, leisure time and sports
Promenade- and church-concerts, several chamber theatres, municipal theatres, galleries, art auctions, natural museums, a golf course (18-holes, oldest golf club in the Czech Republic), golf hall with a golf simulator, tennis courts, several swimming pools, an open-air pool, billiard or skittles club, horse-riding, a modern shooting range, squash and sightseeing flights.
Treatments for
Digestive tract illnesses, gall bladder diseases and bilious tract diseases, salivary gland diseases, locomotor system illnesses, metabolic diseases, circulation system diseases, obesity and periodontitis.
Spa treatments
Spa treatments (sparkling bath, carbonic acid bath, additional spa treatments, dry carbonic bath), drinking water therapy, heat treatments (paraffin packs, peloid packs, peloid wraps, parafango, fango), massages (classical massage, manual massage with soap or massage emulsion, reflex zone massage, underwater massage, body massage in a water spa with a water jet), hydrotherapy (Scotch douche, semi bath, whirl bath and contrast bath of the lower extremities, sauna, vapor bath, body wraps), physiatrics (ultrasound treatment, treatment with different electrical currents, electromagnetic field or galvanic direct current in water or with a laser), treatment gymnastics (group- or individual gymnastics, swimming-pool gymnastics), inhalations, pneumopuncture, gum irrigation, manual or mechanic lymphatic drainage, colonic irrigation with mineral water and oxygen therapy.
