Resort Triangle of the Czech Republic
When traveling in the Czech Republic, don't miss the opportunity to visit 3 of the 11 Great Resort Cities of Europe. And this is not a lure invented by hoteliers to empty the pockets of tourists, it is a UNESCO documented title. Let's learn more about which resorts are recognized as great and what to see there first.
In 2021, at the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee, the experts put on the World Heritage List (pardon the tautology) the object numbered 1613 with the name "Great Spa Towns of Europe". Quite a rare phenomenon, the transnational heritage site united 11 resort towns from 7 countries:
- Baden near Vienna (Austria)
- Spa (Belgium)
- Frantiskovy Lazne (Czech Republic)
- Karlovy Vary (Czech Republic)
- Marianske Lazne (Czech Republic)
- Vichy (France)
- Bad Ems (Germany)
- Baden-Baden (Germany)
- Bad Kissingen (Germany)
- Montecatini Terme (Italy)
- Bat (England)
All these famous resorts are united by a huge contribution to the development of European spa culture. Since the beginning of the 18th century, the towns founded around natural mineral water springs have been characterized by unique architecture and a special typology of resort building ensembles. Thanks to these resorts, the world learned about kurhauses, kursals, drinking fountains and galleries, covered colonnades for promenades with a cup of water. To quote a UNESCO expert opinion: "Together, these objects represent a significant exchange of human values and achievements in medicine, science and balneology.».
In this article we will focus our and your attention on the towns in the west of the Czech Republic, which form the so-called spa triangle (lázeňský trojúhelník). The resorts are located at a distance of about 50 km from each other and you can easily explore their main attractions in a weekend. So, here is what we recommend to see in the Czech resort triangle.
Karlovy Vary
The first thing to do is to go to the embankment of the Teplá river, where all the main colonnades of the resort are located. Opposite the Hot Spring colonnade you will see the beautiful church of St. Mary Magdalene. On the other side of the river, on the hills, there are viewing platforms, which we also highly recommend visiting. Don't want to climb up the mountain on foot? Karlovy Vary has cable cars for you. The most popular observation decks are Stag's Leap, Peter the Great Playground and Diana's Tower. The main thing is to walk around with your head up and admire the unique architecture of the spa! Traditionally, people come to Karlovy Vary to treat gastrointestinal diseases and diabetes.
Marianske Lazne
A distinctive feature of Marianske Lazne are the numerous parks that have turned the drinking resort into one of the most beautiful garden cities in Europe. The center of the spa is the park with the Cross Colonnade and the Singing Fountain. The Boheminium miniature park, the viewpoints on the hills surrounding the town and the Tepla Monastery from the end of the 12th century deserve attention. This is enough for a first acquaintance with the spa. The main therapeutic profile of the resort is diseases of the kidneys, urinary tract and musculoskeletal system.
Frantiskovy Lazne
The resort part of the town is very "compact", just stroll along the cozy streets, alleys and parks. You will come across manor houses, villas, drinking pavilions, churches and other buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries. Frantiskovy Lazne differs from other resorts of the triangle by its flat landscape and fewer vacationers, which makes walking easier and more pleasant. The indications for treatment in Frantiskovy Lazne are primarily gynecological and cardiological diseases.
