Karlovy Vary, also called Carlsbad – the biggest spa resort in Czech Republic was founded by the Roman Emperor and Czech King Charles IV in 1358. Its natural hot springs with the temperature from 42°C to 73°C play, together with other natural healing resources such as gaseous carbon dioxide, mud and peat, an important role in a wide range of spa procedures and bath treatments with drinking cures. These are used to treat diseases and disorders of the digestive system as well as ailments of the kinetic apparatus. The largest thermal spring is The Hot Spring (The Geyser) that blows out of the ground to the height of 15 metres. Annually, spa guests from more than 80 countries around the world visit Karlovy Vary - the town with a symbol of chamois, a town of romantic architecture, green parks and look-out towers, promenades and colonnades, that have always been the social centre of spa life. Carlsbad gained world renown and became a much frequented social centre for the European aristocracy in the early 18th century. Today this old town of arts with a big choice of cultural, artistic and sporting activities is a place where many famous music and film festivals are held. Its historical Municipal Theatre building was reopened after a big reconstruction in 1999. Karlovy Vary offer its visitors accommodation capacity of more than 8300 beds in comfortable hotels at various price categories as well as efficient public transport: bus lines, trains, an international airport including. Traditional and outstanding products of Karlovy Vary are sold under world famous brand-names: Moser crystal, porcelain, Becherovka Liqueur, Mattoni mineral water, among other sought-after products belong spa wafers and souvenirs made of the stone from the mineral springs.
Legend concerning its founding
One of the first to record the oldest Karlovy Vary legend about the discovery of the geyser known as the Sprudel by Charles IV was the renaissance physician Dr Fabian Sommer, a native of Karlovy Vary. In his book on the use of Karlovy Vary's waters from 1571, he relates the story thus:
It is said that Charles IV once went hunting in the woods, in the hilly areas and valleys where now the hot springs do bubble up. The woods in this place were full of game. During the hunt, one of the hounds started to run after an animal. Whilst following it, the hound fell into a pool where hot water does now burst from the ground. The hound began to howl in pain. The hunters ran to the hound, believing it to have been wounded by the animal it had been chasing. The marvel which they saw amazed them greatly. They stepped closer, pulled the hound from the pool, and then tasted of the hot water which had so distressed the hound.
The entire event was reported to the Emperor Charles IV, who then went in large company himself to marvel at this singular wonder of nature. In the presence of his physicians, the wise ruler said that such hot water may drive off many grave ailments, and that it was beneficial and invigorating. Then he himself used the water (it is said that he had an afflicted leg), and sensed assuagement and improvement. The ruler was overjoyed at this, and soon gave orders that the whole place be settled, and that around the springs, houses be built. The place where the Emperor used that water was, according to information, in that place where once stood the municipal bath and where the guildhall now stands. At that place the spring wells up whose waters do not burst forth excessively, and are but warm. It is related that in this place, many years ago, a seat was cut into the rock on which the ruler sat, and wherefore it was named the Seat of the Emperor Charles. And yet this place is no longer to be found, and on it the guildhall has been built.
