A former freelance travel columnist for the Toronto Star, Carol has won more than 20 writing and blogging awards and honours. Check prices here. While we’re on the topic of muck, apparently Trebon’s peat baths are high on the list of Czech spa treatments to aspire to. There are plenty of day tours from Prague to Karlovy Vary. Liberec. The ‘From Prague: A Full Day Tour’ is a 9.5 hour tour that takes you around the Karlovy Vary springs, talks about the history of the spa town, and includes hotel pick up and drop off. s.src = u + '?v=' + (+new Date()); It’s about 30 minutes past Marianske Lazne by train, and the schedules don’t really jive. What have we North Americans been waiting for? By the 20th century the town was enjoying a golden era. Unlike Karlovy Vary, the springs at Mariánské Lázně are not naturally hot. By Snigdha Bhowmick Belle époque architecture, astronomical clocks, castles and châteaux, and frosty pines—a series of things come to mind when I think about the Czech Republic. Lednice is a small town that is home to an enchanting palace, the House of Liechtenstein. It has existed as a spa resort since the Middle Ages and was named after Emperor Charles (Karel) IV. Home Thorn Tree Country forums Eastern Europe & the Caucasus Czech Republic Spa town near Prague. Its peat packs are the pride of Bohemia, and it was the first ‘peat’ spa in Europe. It is also the region where… 137 places of interest. The thing is, a beer spa is fun. The most famous spa towns in Czech Republic are Teplice and the voy:West Bohemian Spa Triangle of Karlovy Vary, Františkovy Lázně and Mariánské Lázně. The views are terrific but it does require some uphill walking unless you take a cab or have a car. Jáchymov, spa town, western Czech Republic. The traditional spa cure in Karlovy Vary includes a carefully prescribed package of treatments. In the winter you can ski at Skiareal Marianky. Klimkovice. Attractions of note are the Luhačovice Spa buildings, designed by the Slovak architect Dušan S. Jurkovič, and Jurkovič’s House, a pinky brown beauty with picturesque peaks and dormers. Easily the most famous spa town in the Czech Republic, Karlovy Vary, apart from being a wonderful resort year round, is home to two national institutions: The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (the country’s largest and most prestigious), and the distillery that manufactures Becherovka, a distinctly Czech liquor flavored with anise seed, cinnamon, and a secret mixture of herbs and spices that can only be … Literally. If you want a private tour, you can check out a Full Day Carlsbad and Moser Glasswork tour here. Prague is a magical city that looks … They include things like mud packs, massage and mineral-water baths. (And just the fact that I know how to spell them shows my love.) Check prices here. Ninety km from Prague, in the foothills of the Ore Mountains, is the Czech spa town of Teplice. The Karlovy Vary region of the Czech Republic is world renowned for its therapeutic mineral springs. That’s a pretty good record for a spa town. Show vouchers. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. While you might find swimming pools filled with regular water, mineral baths are usually taken in individual treatment rooms. It’s a bit of a shock when you see its stern architecture, which is so unlike the Belle Epoque norm in town, but this contemporary hotel is historic in its own special way, offers a full range of spa treatments, has the best views in town and a prime location in the spa park. The spa culture of the Czech Republic is astonishing. They’re more focused on healing than pampering. A spa and luxury travel expert, she's written for top travel publications around the globe. Czech spa towns can rival any in Europe for beauty, architecture and scenic surroundings – and their spa tradition is strong. Spa towns in the Czech Republic have history, style and water in abundance. The quaint spa towns of Western Bohemia in the Czech Republic promise cheer and rejuvenation. It’s now part of a UNESCO protected biosphere reserve. Still, way to go Czech Republic spas!). Think Belle Epoque architecture, elaborate fountains, mineral-rich springs and woodsy nature walks. As I’m slavishly devoted to spa water, I think the thermal water is delicious, but if you don’t have a taste for salty steaming water filled with faintly odiferous minerals, salts and CO2, and you’re not trying to stave off metabolic disorders, arthritis, digestive problems or other issues, you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s disgusting. Luhačovice. Karlovy Vary ( German: Carlsbad) Karviná. Established in 1793, it’s named for the Hapsburg Emperor Franz I. Karlovy Vary is the second most popular place to visit in the Czech Republic after Prague. Other spa towns such as Mariánské Lázně and Františkovy Lázně have their fervent fans too – and then there’s always a beer spa. The Spa Triangle of Bohemia. The town has modernised, of course. One Karlovy Vary day spa that caters to travellers and has an indoor thermal pool is the Castle Spa at Zámecký vrch, 360. in Frantiskovy Lázně, the Imperial Spa menu … Plenty of good bars, restaurants & shops close to hotel. Many of the spas date back to the 1500s and are known for their impressive healing powers. The three spa towns in West Bohemia – Karlovy Vary, Mariánské Lázně and Františkovy Lázně – are known as the West Bohemian Spa Triangle. The Princess Di of her day, Sissi was a voracious hiker, striding out in the town’s surrounding hills for more then 20 km a day and wearing out the staff members who had to accompany her. On a historical note, I just learned that Empress Sisi stayed at the Vila Tereza, which now is part of the Bristol hotel group. Check prices for the 4-star Bristol Vila Tereza here. PragueThe city of Prague is not only the capital city of the Czech Republic; it is the largest city in the … Thorn Tree Country forums Eastern Europe & the Caucasus Czech Republic Sitemap. It takes a bit more than 2 hours from Florenc bus station in Prague. It’s strategic … It was founded in 1370 by the hunting-mad Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, Charles IV, who was chasing a stag when it leapt into a hot spring. Luhačovice is the largest spa in Moravia and one of the most beautiful spa towns in the Czech Republic. I haven’t done an overnight here, but the 4-star Císařské lázně, the Emperor’s Spa, dates back to 1845 and offers full service packages. You can also do some celebrity spotting on films sets around Karlovy Vary and other Bohemian hot spots. In the Czech Language, the word Lázně implies a spa town. Check prices and availability here. The Nové Lázně hotel also has one of the most beautiful indoor swimming pools in Europe, a red-pillared beauty from 1896. You can sample a dark beer bath, a hops bath, or just visit the brewery and get your beer intake that way. If you really want a serene spa getaway in the Czech Republic, Franzensbad is your man, I mean, spa.