Marienbad – Convalescence and Recreation for the Body and the Soul
The town of Marienbad celebrates the 200th anniversary of its founding this year. The spa town rightfully famous for its healing waters hardly needs extra publicity, here we will pay tribute to this treasure box of a town through a short summary of the best features. Those of you have missed out for some reason in the past should come and visit. Those who have already been to Marienbad need no extra encouragement to return…
Town History
Marianské Lazné, better known as Marienbad, is a town in western Bohemia, only fifteen kilometres from the German border and its fame and popularity is owing to the local mineral springs. It is situated in a valley surrounded by hills and forests to the west, north and east. Around 100 mineral springs come to the surface in the area, with a water temperature of 7-12 degrees suitable for drinking cures and also for baths.
The first written record of the springs dates back to the 16th century. During the 17th century, a doctor from the nearby Teplá Monastery, Raudenius of Slavkov prescribed therapeutic treatments. During the 17th and 18th centuries, more and more buildings were erected in the current area of Marienbad and the nearby small villages. News about the healing effects of the waters spread rapidly and an increasing number of visitors arrived in the small town, prompting locals to clear paths and build roads to the springs.
The development of the spa town gained a further impetus after Dr Johann Josef Nehr had become the abbey’s doctor at the Teplá Monastery in 1779. He quickly recognised the healing powers of the spring – useful for digestive, circulatory, urological and locomotor diseases – and devoted his life to the progress of the town. As early as in 1786, he had a small spa built next to Maria spring and this was named Mariánské Lázné. In 1808, he had a private bath house built on the spot and the town was officially named Mariánské Lázné. The current form and many well-kept gardens of the town are due to the efforts of the famous gardener of the age, Vaclav Skalník.
The picturesque town received many famous visitors in the 19th century, who returned again and again to Marienbad. They included the great German poet Goethe, who fell in love in his old age with a woman named Ulrika during a visit to the spa town. The composer Chopin was another of the town’s famous guests – an international music festival is held every August to his honour.
The town also saw several royal visitors during its 200-year history. King Edward VII of England was a returning guest, spending several weeks in Marienbad every year. The Emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy Franz Joseph I would also frequent the spa town. Edward VII spent his time not only with receiving therapeutic treatments, but he would also direct European political events from Marienbad and opened the first golf course in the Czech lands in 1905.
At the turn of the century, Marienbad was considered among the best spas in Europe. Wealthy guests taking the waters would arrive in large numbers and in would socialise with the many celebrities who visited the town. Anton Bruckner wrote his Third Symphony in Marienbad and Wagner wrote as many as three operas while living in the spa. The most attractive buildings – including hotels built in Art Nouveau and Empire styles and the Casino – were raised during the town’s golden age, the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Ever since the town’s Golden Age, the only change in Marienbad has been the addition of modern services that cater for all visitor demands, while the special atmosphere has remained intact. Marienbad has now become a popular conference centre offering state-of-the-art services to participants. One such centre is operated in Villa Butterfly which was Danubius Hotels Group’s first hotel outside Hungary.
Hotels in the Town
Danubius Hotels Group operates as many as eight hotels in the immensely beautiful town. Each of the hotels is in the centre, near the drinking well and the park.
A complex consisting of two hotels linked by a closed tunnel, including the fully modernised, five-star Danubius Health Spa Resort Nové Lázné and the four-star Danubius Health Spa Resort Centralní Lázné is a special feature of the town that many local residents are proud of. Guests of both hotels have access to a wide range of therapeutic services offered by the health spa. Danubius Hotel Villa Butterfly is another outstanding member of the hotel group, located in the direct vicinity of medical springs and overlooking a park. In addition to holidays, this hotel is especially suitable for organising conferences.
For relaxation and treatments there are also another two four-star hotels operated by the Danubius Hotels Group in Marienbad: Danubius Health Spa Resort Hvezda-Skalnik and Danubius Health Spa Resort Pacifik, as well as three three-star hotels: Spa Hotel Svoboda, Spa Hotel Vltava Berounka and Spa Hotel Labé.
Wellness and Active Sports
Marienbad’s mineral springs are internationally famous for their beneficial effects on digestive problems, circulation, urological complaints and locomotor diseases. Apart from the therapies, a whole range of wellness services are available to meet every demand. Visitors devoted to active recreation can also find suitable activities in the town and its neighbourhood. Trekking, hiking and cycling are all to be tried around Marienbad. A cycle path surrounds the town, suitable for trips of 10-30 kilometres. There are several skiing opportunities, including 2 ski lifts and a ski piste, plus the area is excellent for cross-country skiing. The Czech Republic’s first nine-hole golf course was opened in Marienbad more than a hundred years ago and is still in use. The neighbourhood is also ideal for trail riding.
Excursions
There are many interesting hiking destinations in the hills of Bohemia nearby, indeed the whole area is worth exploring on foot. In a landscape dotted with castles, picturesque towns and villages and religious buildings, everyone will find something to suit their tastes and interests.
STATE CHATEAU OF KYNVART, 11 km from Mariánské Láznì:
The Chateau of Kynvart was originally a Baroque Residence, but the Austrian Chancellor Metternich had it rebuilt into an Empire Chateau in the years 1821-36. The chateau was designed by the Italian builder Pietro Nobile. The chateau contains one of the most valuable libraries in the Czech Republic. In 1928, Chancellor Metternich initiated construction of a museum there. The exhibitions in the museum offer a wide range of treasured collections of coins, natural artifacts, historical and technical curiosities, manuscripts, ancient Egyptian artifacts, historical weapons and dozens of objects of art for viewing.
THE MONASTERY OF TEPLÁ, 16 km Mariánské Láznì:
This 12 century monastery has a valuable library and museum, which exhibits its 800-year history. About 20years ago, it was all given back to the original owners, the Premontre order. Nowadays the monastery gives place to exhibitions and concerts.
CASTLE AND CHATEAU OF BEÈOV, 31 km from Mariánské Láznì: The Beèov on Teplá Castle was founded in the 13th century by the family of the Lords of Osek who owned the castle and surrounding estates for almost 200 years.
· PLZEÒ, 70 km from Mariánské Láznì: History lovers will certainly be fascinated by the richness of Plzeò's historic sights.
Josef Skupa who established a popular puppet theatre here in 1917 and created the beloved puppet characters Spejbl and Hurvínek. The place is also famous for the Skoda car factory and beer brewery.
· FRANTIŠKOVY LÁZNÌ, 37 km from Mariánské Láznì: Františkovy Láznì, the smallest but most charming town in the West Bohemian spa triangle, is located near the German border. Thanks to the uniform classicist architecture of its spa buildings and pavilions, Františkovy Láznì has preserved the allure and atmosphere that characterized "turn of the century" spa life. (Goethe, Beethoven)
· CHEB, 31 km from Mariánské Láznì:
The absolute must-see is the Romanesque castle, founded by the Emperor Friedrich Barbarossa I after 1167, and many fine attractions from the same period.
