Karlovy Vary

In case you want to spend a day in a very pleasant way and see the typical and most beautiful Czech spas, take a trip to Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad ), the best known Czech Spa.

The world famous spa town of Karlovy Vary, also known by its German name of Karlsbad (or Carlsbad in English), was founded in 1350 by the Czech King and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV. It is the largest spa in the Czech republic. Carlsbad are famous for their 12 springs of curative mineral waters and developed during

the centuries as one of the most luxurious destinations of political and cultural personalities: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Kafka, Alphonse Mucha, Casanova, Goethe, Schiller even Karl Marx and many representatives of the world film industry who come to Karlovy Vary as guests of the International Film Festival held every year in July.

Thje city's best-known sights are the Church of St. Andrew, the orthodox Church of Sts. Peter and Paul, the Municipal Theatre, the Mill Colonnade (Mlýnská kolonáda) and the Cathedral of St. Mary Magdalene.

Carlsbad is surrounded by romantic hilly countryside – the foothills of Krušné hory,

lies in a green valley of the river Teplá (meaning "Warm") and its setting alone gives it an atmosphere of beauty and peace.

Enjoy walk along the “Park Colonnade” and the river “Teplá”. There are over 60 mineral springs ranging from 10oC to 73.6oC (50oF - 165oF). 13 of these springs are located along our route and you can sample them all, if you like. The strongest is the Vřídlo spring, rising from the depth of 2,000-3,000 metres. The temperature reaches 73° C.

The oldest 18-hole golf course in the country is located about 5 km away from the downtown in a very hilly countryside. The golf course belongs to the oldest and most beautiful golf localities in the Czech Republic.

In Karlovy Vary don’t miss:
- A walk through the old and modern Colonades.
- Pink porcelain, famous in all the world.
- The “lazenské oplátky”,

spa Waffles in English. They come in several flavors, such as vanilla/nut and chocolate. Either buy them fresh on the street, or look for them in a grocery store.
- The most renown hot spring Vřídlo – Sprudel which springs its curative water to a height of 12 m.
- Climb to the Diana Observation Tower (there is a funicular that takes you there or you can walk your way up through the park), from where you will have a splendid view of the town and the surroundings.
- Becherovka, the Czech famous alcoholic liqueur made of herbs. The Becherovka herbal liquor has been produced in Karlovy Vary since 1807.

How to get there :
The city is located about a 2 hours scenic drive west of Prague. If you’re taking a bus it takes about half an hour longer. From the bus station, it is about a 20-minute walk to the colonnades.

Whether you go to Karlovy Vary to relax your mind, find a cure or admire the architecture, you will not regret visiting this elegant city.