If it gets too crowded, too loud or simply too much for you in the big city, there are some great escapes around Berlin. For a real switch-off program with a digital detox in the middle of nature, you’ll find modern cabins just an hour away. Are you looking for a place to explore? Then you can explore a Russian colony just 35 km from the city – with traditional farmhouses and the oldest Russian Orthodox church in Germany. And if you want to combine relaxation and exploration, you will find the spa town of Karlovy Vary around 330 km south of Berlin, in the west of the Czech Republic. The region’s thermal water is considered to be particularly healthy and effective, the city impresses with its magnificent Belle Époque architecture and the surrounding nature boasts an abundance of forests and green expanses.
The spa town of Karlovy Vary
Legend has it that the hot springs of Karlovy Vary were discovered around 1350 by Emperor Charles IV during a hunt. The town soon developed into one of the most important spas for the European aristocracy and bourgeoisie – especially in the 18th and 19th centuries. Famous personalities who appreciated the healing powers of the springs included Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Ludwig van Beethoven, Richard Wagner, Sigmund Freud and many more. Goethe’s most famous quote about Karlovy Vary is:
“I drink the water to stay healthy, not to get healthy.”
A sentence that impressively shows how beneficial the city and its water are for body and soul. Since 2021, Karlovy Vary has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Great Spa Towns of Europe. Once the most famous spa town in Europe, it is still one of the most renowned today – along with Baden-Baden, Vichy, Bath and other traditional spa towns.
The hot thermal springs
There are 13 main springs and around 80 smaller ones in Karlovy Vary. The most famous is the Vřídlo – a fountain up to 12 meters high with a temperature of around 72 °C. The water is hydrogen carbonate and sulphate and contains over 40 minerals and trace elements, including sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and iron. This composition has a particularly beneficial effect on digestion, metabolism and liver function. Traditionally, the thermal water is taken as part of a drinking cure – in proper style from the typical porcelain cups with beaks. Baths, inhalations and medical therapy programs are also part of the classic treatments. The most important drinking halls (colonnades) include the Mill Colonnade(Mlýnská kolonáda), the Market Colonnade, the Castle Colonnade and the Park Colonnade.
Architecture, culture and cuisine in Karlovy Vary
The city not only impresses with its hot thermal springs – strolling through the streets is also a pleasure. Karlovy Vary enchants with its famous Belle Époque architecture, magnificent spa houses, elegant hotels and playful pavilions. The most famous sights include the legendary Grandhotel Pupp, one of the oldest and most renowned hotels in Europe, the Baroque Church of St. Mary Magdalene and the Russian Orthodox Church of St. Peter and Paul with its golden domes. From the Diana Lookout Tower, you can enjoy a unique panoramic view of the city and the green Eger Valley.
Another highlight is the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, which attracts film fans from all over the world every July. Equally rich in tradition is the ceremonial opening of the spa season (Karlovarská lázeňská sezóna) with a procession and spa orchestra.Karlovy Vary also has a lot to offer in culinary terms: the famous herbal liqueur Becherovka, often referred to as the “13th spring”, the traditional Karlovy Vary wafers (Lázeňské oplatky) – thin, filled wafers and a typical souvenir – as well as Karlovy Vary salt, which is extracted from thermal springs and was once valued as a remedy. And of course, hearty Bohemian cuisine is a must on an autumn weekend: Dumplings, roasts, game dishes and sauerkraut are perfect for the season – and are a delicious way to round off a relaxing stay.