Karlovy Vary is one of the oldest European resorts, its history goes back more than six hundred years. The most famous people have been here - for example, the city retains the memory of the stay of the Russian Emperor Peter I. Since the 18th century, Karlovy Vary has been a favorite vacation spot for the European aristocracy; members of imperial families, famous composers, writers, philosophers and politicians have a rest here. Bach and Beethoven, Goethe and Schiller have been here, the resort remembers Gogol and Turgenev, Gagarin and Gorbachev.
The main wealth of Karlovy Vary is 15 mineral thermal springs. They are very hot, the water from them is specially cooled so that you can drink it. The very access to water and sources is free and free for everyone, but there are many institutions in the city that provide medical services, because long-term treatment on the waters is under the supervision of doctors. Spring water varies in composition and is recommended for various diseases. Treatment can take place all year round. Karlovy Vary has a mild climate: cool summers and not too cold winters.
The city is surrounded by beautiful, forested mountains: here you can not only drink water, but also walk along ecological paths, ride bicycles and see natural attractions.
Districts of Karlovy Vary
Karlovy Vary is an expensive and prestigious resort designed for wealthy middle-aged people; life here is interesting, but quite calm. The heart of the city is the area around the mineral springs, but there are other places to stay for living. The following areas can be distinguished:
- Historical Center
- Tuhnice
- Drahovice
- Gejzírpark
- Dvory
Historical Center
Karlovy Vary is unique for its historical buildings. Most of the buildings were built during the heyday of the resort - in the second half of the 19th century, but there are also earlier ones. At the end of the 20th century, beautiful colonnade galleries were created over the mineral springs: there are 6 colonnades and two gazebos in total. The most famous colonnade is the Castle Colonnade. The current Art Nouveau building was built in 1910-1912, and recently became part of the closed medical complex Zamkovy Lazne. Three springs are located in the Market Colonnade (1882-1883). The largest colonnade in the neo-Renaissance style - Mill (1871-1881) - it contains as many as five springs. The cast-iron garden colonnade is the remains of a restaurant built in 1880-1881. And finally, the Hot Spring Colonnade is already an example of 20th century architecture, it was made of glass and concrete in 1975.
The historic center is amazingly beautiful, most of the hotels here are located in buildings with history (there are no others here). Living in them is not cheap, but it is an opportunity to feel yourself in the very center of European life. One of the most famous hotels is the Grandhotel Pupp. It traces its history back to 1701, when a ballroom was built on this site, and a wooden theater next to it. In 1778 these buildings were acquired by the Pupp family, in 1801 the Pupps opened the Freitafel restaurant. The modern hotel was built in 1894 by architects Robert Przygoda and Josef Nemechek. Then it was modernized several times (for example, in 1923, each room was equipped with a separate bathroom). Since the 1950s, this hotel has become a favorite place for guests of the annual film festival, which was held in the city. Since then and until now, it has been unofficially referred to as the "hotel of movie stars". Movie stars not only live here, but also act in film: the shooting of "Casino Royale" and "The Last Vacation" took place here.
No less famous is the Imperial, which was inaugurated in 1912. The list of its guests includes the Bulgarian Tsar Ferdinand I, Archduke Franz Salvador of Austria, Czech presidents Vaclav Klaus and Milos Zeman and many others. It is located not in the very center, but on a hill above the city. For its construction, a funicular was built, which continues to operate to this day and is one of the attractions of Karlovy Vary. Now this hotel is officially the best spa center in the Czech Republic.
The Embassy hotel is interesting. The hotel appeared here in the 90s. XX century, but the Embassy restaurant has been operating since 1938 and has fully preserved the historical interiors. Another famous hotel is Hotel Romance Puškin. It was built in 1899 in the very center of the resort. The building changed its name several times: at first it was Württemberger Hof, then Luxor, and it became "Pushkin" in the middle of the 20th century. Hotel PALACKY is located in one of the oldest buildings in the city, an 18th century house. It was rebuilt several times, and at the beginning of the 20th century it was reconstructed in order to return it to its historical appearance. Old manor buildings are occupied by Bristol, Astoria, etc.
There are numerous souvenir shops and expensive boutiques in the historic center, but there are almost no ordinary supermarkets with food here. The shopping center here is the three-storey Atrium shopping center.
Numerous entertainments are also located in the center. Gambling is officially allowed in the Czech Republic, so there is a casino in Karlovy Vary (of course, the most famous is at the Grandhotel Pupp). There are nightclubs (the respectable Pyramida Music Club, Lady Marion and the youthful Pyramida Music). But in general, the resort is aimed at a rich and aged audience, so they mainly play retro music here.
Tuhnice
The area that lies along the Tepla river embankment. It is not a historical, but a modern, administrative and commercial center of the city. The municipality, the train station and several bus stops are located here. Many people consider this area to be ideal for living: the historic center is just a stone's throw away, but there is no need to overpay for the opportunity to live in an old building (although there are also hotels "with history" here, for example, Hotel Adria in a 1920 mansion). There are fewer souvenirs here, but there are large supermarkets Albert and Penni Market. There are also specialized shops that are not in the historic center: plumbing, auto parts, etc. There is also a large parking lot closest to the center.
The main attraction of this area is the famous Museum of Becherovka, “16th Karlovy Vary Spring”. Since 1867, a plant for the production of this drink, invented by Jan Becher, was opened here. You can get to the museum itself and its cellars only with an excursion, but everyone is allowed into the store, and here Becherovka is cheaper than in the souvenir shops in the center.
This is not the most budgetary area for housing (however, the further west from the city center, the cheaper it is), but the most convenient for those who do not like to walk in the mountains.
Drahovice
A green area in the mountains lies to the east of the historic center. This is a budget area with good infrastructure, it is great for those who are going to live longer in Karlovy Vary. There are schools, a library, a hospital here. Here, in contrast to the historic center, which is oriented towards adults, there are playgrounds. But even here there is nothing really interesting for children, there are simply no amusement parks in Karlovy Vary. You can reach the city center here, if you are a hiker and can walk uphill (Drahovice lies above the central part of Karlovy Vary), you can take a bus. There are large supermarkets, free parking.
Please note that in the very center there are practically no parking spaces, it is pedestrian, so you still have to leave your car somewhere, why not here? In this area, accommodation with very beautiful views of the green mountains, it is convenient to take long walks from here.
Gejzírpark
This is a closed cottage village south of Karlovy Vary, designed for lovers of an active sports life. There are only a few hotels and a huge sports center. This is a tennis club that has more than a hundred years of history, badminton courts, a fitness center, a bouldering wall with tracks of varying degrees of difficulty, grounds for playing football, volleyball, basketball and hockey. Only here is the only place in Karlovy Vary specially designed for children - the rope park. From here, most often go fishing to the reservoir located to the south, or to private ponds where carp are bred.
The village is located in a picturesque forest, from here you can get to Karlovy Vary on foot or by bus. But there is nothing but sports and a few hotels here: no shops, no evening restaurants, no nightclubs.
Dvory
About 3 km from Karlovy Vary, on the other side of the Orzhi River, there is the famous Bohemian glass factory Moser. It has a museum, which is one of the most attractive sights of Karlovy Vary. The plant has existed since the end of the 19th year, the museum occupies its old buildings, and production continues in the new ones. The territory of the plant is decorated with colored glass compositions. You can visit only the museum itself, or you can also visit the glass shop of the plant.
In the same area there are golf courses and the Karlovy Vary race track. The hippodrome appeared here in 1899, was rebuilt many times, fell into decay at the end of the 20th century, and now it operates again. It hosts races, costume performances, photo shoots and much more. For some races and holidays aristocracy from all over Europe gathers.
The disadvantages are the same as in all the suburbs: there is no evening life here, a small selection of restaurants. On the other hand, the area is closest to the two largest retail outlets in Karlovy Vary: the Varyada shopping center and TESCO.
