- Location
- How to get there?
- The uniqueness of the resort
- Infrastructure
- Water treatment
- Attractions Karlovy Vary
- Tourist season
- Festivals and Holidays
The history of the founding of the city is connected with the name of the Czech king Charles IV. According to legend, the young king, while hunting in the forest, injured his leg. Finding a hot spring in the ground, he washed the damaged area with water, thanks to which the wound quickly healed. Now it is no longer known what in this legend is true and what is fiction. It has been reliably proven that the foundation and development of the city is associated with the hot springs found in the mountainous area. The city was founded in 1370 by order of King Charles IV, and the famous Czech spa was named after its founder.
Location
Karlovy Vary is rightfully considered one of the most famous and popular resorts in the world. Many have probably heard about the famous resort, but not everyone knows which country Karlovy Vary is located in. The city-sanatorium is located in Central Europe, in the historical region of the modern Czech Republic with the remarkable name Bohemia. Bohemia occupies half of the territory of this country, more precisely, its western part. On all sides, the balneological resort is surrounded by the mountain ranges of the Rudnaya and Doupovskaya mountains and the Slavkovsky forest.
The resort town, with a population of 53 thousand, is located in a picturesque mountainous area on the territory of a nature reserve with an area of 59 square kilometers, where the waters of the Tepla, Rolava and Ohře rivers merge together. About one third of the entire territory of Karlovy Vary is covered with beautiful forests.
The most beautiful city on the emerald hills is located just 130 kilometers from the capital of the Czech Republic. There is a daily shuttle bus from the Prague bus station to Karlovy Vary.
How to get there?
There is an international airport in Karlovy Vary for guests arriving at the resort. It is located five kilometers from the city. From here, the resort can be reached by bus or taxi in just 15 minutes. Direct flights by Aeroflot and Ural Airlines operate from Moscow, Samara, Yekaterinburg and other Russian cities.
It is easier for tourists from Prague to get to the resort by bus carrying sightseers. The excursion to Karlovy Vary is organized for the whole day. From the capital's station Florenc, regular buses run hourly. The whole journey takes two hours.
The uniqueness of the resort
Quality treatment in Karlovy Vary attracts tourists from all over the world. The highest class sanatoriums with VIP-level service are located here.
Located at an altitude of 644 meters above sea level, the balneological resort is famous for its mineral water springs, which are undoubtedly the main attraction of the city. Now the resort has twelve thermal geysers. Most of the springs are located in the so-called colonnades, which are stone galleries in which a number of pump rooms are installed. The largest and most beautiful colonnades in Karlovy Vary are Rynochnaya, Zamkovaya, Melnichnaya, Sadovaya and Geysernaya.
The largest spring in Karlovy Vary, the Vrzydlo geyser, "lives" in the Hot Spring Colonnade. The source is located opposite the Castle Tower. The eruption of a powerful jet to a height of more than 12 meters can be observed daily from 9 am to 7 pm. In a minute, the source spews at least half a ton of hot water. There are fountains and pump rooms near the geyser, from which you can draw chilled water for drinking.
Infrastructure
The resort is divided into micro-districts formed by the branches of the Ohře River and its tributary, the Tepla River. In the upper part of the city, there are sleeping areas that are not of great interest to tourists. The resort part of the city starts from the railway station and the bus station, located at the foot of the mountains.
The city is famous for its developed resort infrastructure. Buses and fixed-route taxis run along it, which can be delivered to remote corners of the village without any problems. On the territory of Karlovy Vary, there are more than 90 sanatoriums, hotels and hotels. Hotels in Karlovy Vary are divided into the following groups:
- hotels and hotels;
- spa houses;
- sanatoriums;
- diagnostic centers.
Hotels with specialized service are modern cottages for tourists. Many have everything they need for a comfortable spa vacation. The spa houses offer tourists a certain range of medical services. Sanatoriums are institutions of a therapeutic and prophylactic profile that provide complex treatment under the supervision of a physician. Diagnostic centers specialize in making diagnoses.
Famous sanatoriums and diagnostic institutions Zamecké Lázně, Lázně I, Lázně IV, and the gastronomic center in Lázně III are very popular among tourists.
There are restaurants and cafes in the city, anyone can visit the Drama Theater, the famous Becherovka Museum.
For lovers of active recreation, conditions for sports have been created. Karlovy Vary has a swimming pool, hippodrome, riding club, tennis courts and a hockey stadium. The popular spa resort Thermal is famous for its outdoor pool with thermal water. The area surrounding the resort is full of gardens and parks with hiking and cycling trails.
Water treatment
The results of the research have shown that the diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and metabolic disorders are effectively cured with the waters from the thermal springs of the resort. It is useful to drink the local water as a general tonic for diseases of the spine and joints, as well as for prophylactic purposes. Thermal waters, unique in their composition, are shown to children and adults in order to strengthen the immune system, and as a prophylaxis against colds.
Attractions Karlovy Vary
There are many of them in Karlovy Vary, all of them are located in the city center. People who come here to improve their health should definitely visit:
- the city theater opposite the Tepla river embankment;
- anglican church of st. Bows on the Castle Hill;
- Picture gallery;
- church of st. Mary Magdalene;
- Orthodox Church of Sts. Peter and Paul;
- Jan Becher Museum;
- the famous Dvořákovy gardens.
Popular attractions of the resort can be visited in one day. They are all located close to each other.
In addition to the main attractions, the resort has many picturesque parks, gardens and architectural monuments of interest for acquaintance and study.
Tourist season
The spa area of Karlovy Vary is open to the public all the time. Tourists from all over the world like to relax here all year round. The mountain climate, which is characterized by mild winters and cool summers, offers a relaxed and comfortable rest.
The tourist season lasts all year round, but the main flow of visitors falls on May-September. The resort is especially good during the summer. During this time, you can get great pleasure from excursions. July in Karlovy Vary is traditionally the hottest month. January is considered the coldest, despite the fact that the temperature in winter rarely drops below zero.
Festivals and Holidays
The largest number of festive events in Karlovy Vary takes place during the warmer months. In May, the resort is inaugurated with a ritual of consecration of mineral springs.
In June, the international film festival "Mezinrodn filmov festival Karlovy Vary" opens in Karlovy Vary, which has been traditionally held for 70 years. Celebrities from all over the world come here to win the main prize of the Crystal Globe Festival.
In the autumn, folklore festivals and concerts of classical and jazz music are held, famous for the participation of musical groups from around the world. At the end of the year, Karlovy Vary hosts a New Year's ball, accompanied by a magnificent Christmas market.
