Sights > Historic towns > Karlovy Vary
9.3.2012 Wilzing / Number of presentasion: 195
Husovo náměstí 2, 36001 Karlovy Vary
GPS: 50° 13' 12" N 12° 52' 51" E
50.2199774 50.2199774
Tel.: 355 321 161 / E-mail
The city was started in the second half of the 14th century under the baton of King Charles IV. However, its major construction and balneological boom came 200 years later. In the 17th century, Karlovy Vary faced the hardships of the Thirty Years War as well as natural disasters. The city quickly managed to remove the consequences of catastrophes and was thus able to continue with its pursuit of balneological, architectural and cultural plans. In the course of time, the spa facilities gained more and more popularity. The prosperity of the town was aided, amongst others, by the fact it became a favorite spa destination for rich aristocrats. Without doubt, the most prominent patient who stayed in Karlovy Vary in the 18th century was Russian Tsar Peter the Great.
The expansion of balneology indirectly gave rise to new social and special-purpose buildings. At the beginning of the 18th century, the first public spa house was built along with the baroque church of St. Mare Magdalene. Further, primarily Art Nouveau development took place in the second half of the 19th century when the Mill Colonnade, the Thermal Spring Colonnade, Emperor’s Baths or today’s theater were erected. Some construction works were financed from the proceeds of thermal spring salts sales or from spa taxes, others were funded by generous benefactors from abroad.