About Karlovy Vary
 Carlsbad (Karlovy Vary) is the biggest spa town in the Czech Republic and was founded in 1358 by Charles IV, Czech king and Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. The spa operates the whole year round and is open to public at any time. Karlovy Vary is situated 120 km to the west from Prague, in the valley of the Teplá River. The healing and medicinal properties of the hot steaming mineral waters of the region are world famous. Karlovy Vary is well known for its ancient history, a beautiful architecture, its picturesque environment and of course its healing springs sheltered under the spa town’s many colonades. Through its charming centre flows the unique hot mineral water river ‘Teplá‘ embanked by romantic slopes of lanes inviting the visitor for yet another walk. Stroll up the many narrow ways into one of the many hills surrounding the spa centre and find the noble estates of this unique town, like the Hotel Villa Ritter. It is situated in a prestigious quarter, the so-called West End, an area of parks and historical villas, just next the precious Russian Orthodox church on a picturesque hill above the famous, beautiful ‘Mill Colonnade’ (Mlýnská kolonáda).
 Read more about walks around the spa here .
More about the towns architecture here .
The Colonnades
 The colonnades of the spa town have been erected above the hot springs and represent architectural landmarks and monuments to the spa tradition. They are located in places of extreme tension, caused by high concentration and pressure of water steam, extreem temperatures and the presence of carbon dioxide. Where any surface erodes they protect the stability of the springs. The various colonnades have different names and were built in different epoques. Only one of them is a modern glass consruction, a gift of former soviet leader Breshniev, and covers the springs and the geyser completely. The other premises are roofed archs and open building sheltering from heavy rain. All colonnades and the official wells are open to public, the wells and springs are usually laid into a fountain and are open 24 hours a day, so even a midnight visit is possible.
Read more about the colonnades on the spa town’s official homepage .
Celebtrities
 Carlsbad is proud of its extraordinary rich cultural tradition. Every visitor, not only those famous, has been an asset and valuable testimonial for Carlsbad. That is why Carlsbad inhabitants have always respected their guests very much and have tried to make their spa stay pleasant in every way possible. Over the centuries famous people have visited Carlsbad. Among them were : Atatürk (Turkish Founder of State), Beethoven, Brahms, Dvorák, Goethe, Gogol, Chopin, Janácek, Jungmann, Masaryk (Czech President), Peter the Great (Russias greatest emperor), Tolstoj, Turgenev, Arany, Gagarin, Marx, N. Paganini, Harald V (Norwegian king), Michael Douglas, Jackie Chan, Ahmet Necdet Sezer (Turkish president), Michail Gorbachev, J. d. Luxemburg (Grand Duke of Luxembourg) and the Armenian composer A. Chacaturjan.
Read more about who is who in Carlsbad here .
History
 The legend about the discovery of the geyser, known in Carlsbad (Karlovy Vary) as the Sprudel, was told in 1571 by Dr Fabian Sommer as followed : The Emperor Charles IV once went hunting in the woods of the hilly area full of game. As one of the hounds started to run after an animal it fell into a deep opening in the forst ground. The hunters hearing the hound howl began to drag it from the pool. Here they were amazed by the strange liquid and tasted from it. This unique wonder of nature was immediately reported to the emperor and he hurried to marvel at it. The wise ruler understood that such a special, hot water should be beneficial and soothing and may drive off many grave ailments. He then tasted from it himself and sensed assuagement and improvement of his state. Filled with joy Charles IV gave orders to settled the place and to errect buildings around the springs. Thus Carlsbad (Karlovy Vary) was founded in 1358, named “The Bath of the Emperor Charles”. Today still there are numerous ruins of a fortress wall and fragments of cellar vaults to be seen by the Deer Hill.
Read more details about Carlsbad’s history here .
There are a number of museums (the museum of Carlsbad and Jan Becher Museum), galleries and theatres in Karlovy Vary. Besides concerts at the famous hotels Pupp and Imperial you can ask at the reception of your hotel for an actual programme. The region of Karlovy Vary is rich in history and culture. Castles from the medieval till baroque periods can be found on your way from one town to another. Please ask for excursions at your hotel reception or at Veditour Karlovy Vary : … Please find out more under Leisure Time at the official website of Karlovy Vary .
Karlovy Vary has a splendid golf course where competitions are held frequently. Please see into the official website of the Czech Golf Federation . The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival . The city of Karlovy Vary invites you to a picture tour on their official website .
Events and Leisure in Karlovy Vary
Pictures of Karlovy Vary
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