Richard
Wagner, Anton Bruckner, Frederic Chopin, Johann Strauss
- such a list of great musical talent might easily make
us announce that Marienbad is a town of composers. But
before making such a statement hastily, and contribute
it all to music, let us read on. Nikolay Gogol, Ivan Turgenev,
Franz Kafka, Mark Twain, Goethe, Maxim Gorkij. Now we may
venture to state that the Czech town of Marienbad - or
Marianske Lazne as the locals say - is a town of music
and literature. However, before we forget, let us quickly
add that the Austrian emperor Francis Joseph and the English
king Edward VII also enjoyed spending some time here. Marienbad
is located in the Western part of the Czech Republic, near
the German border. Its popularity comes as no surprise
if we consider that the therapeutic effect of its springs
was recognised as early as in 1528.
Marianske Lazne started slow development in the 1800s, and it soon became one
of Europe's most famous and popular holiday resorts. Travellers in those
old days often made mention of this small, but very charming and delightful
place. One of the earliest famous guests in the town was Goethe, who
was a lover of baths, and who carried the fame of Marienbad to faraway
lands. The town was developing slowly until the 1870s when a new railway
line was built, as a result of which more and more visitors arrived.
The golden age of Marianske Lazne arrived, a period of elegant health
spa hotels with equally distinguished guests, and bubbling social life.
By the beginning of the 1900s, the town was considered one of the best
holiday resorts in the continent. A large number of wealthy guests seeking
recovery from illness flooded the town, where they had the chance to
meet the above mentioned famous people, in addition to finding a cure
to their problems. For instance Anton Bruckner, who noted down his Third
Symphony in Marienbad, or Wagner, who started writing three of his operas
while he was staying in the town. The most attractive buildings in town
- including hotels built in Art Nouveau and Empire style - originate
from the great age of Marienbad, around the turn of the century. The
town's Russian orthodox church was built for the Russian tsar, and its
Colonnade is the longest such building in the world.
The Marienbad Orchestra
that was founded in 1821 plays here in the summer. Kursaal Casino, built
in 1899-91, is another famous building in the town, including a special
marble ballroom where the orchestra holds several concerts during the
winter. Today the only change in Marienbad is that it offers all the
services demanded by the modern traveller, while it has maintained its
unique atmosphere from the turn of the century. This former bath town
has become a popular location for many conferences, where guests can
enjoy all the most up-to-date services. For instance in Villa Butterfly,
the first hotel of the Danubius Hotels Group outside Hungary.
The Marienbad Orchestra
that was founded in 1821 plays here in the summer. Kursaal Casino, built
in 1899-91, is another famous building in the town, including a special
marble ballroom where the orchestra holds several concerts during the
winter. Today the only change in Marienbad is that it offers all the
services demanded by the modern traveller, while it has maintained its
unique atmosphere from the turn of the century. This former bath town
has become a popular location for many conferences, where guests can
enjoy all the most up-to-date services. For instance in Villa Butterfly,
the first hotel of the Danubius Hotels Group outside Hungary.