The peaceful spirit of days gone by

Area information

The town of Karlovy Vary was founded in the 14th century by Emperor Charles IV. According to legend, he had the town built soon after his hunting party accidentally discovered the thermal springs. The spa enjoyed the favour of many noble families and wealthy burghers as early as the 16th century. However, due to several natural disasters, only a few buildings from this period have survived. Most of the historical buildings date back to the 18th and 19th centuries, when the city experienced a “period of plenty”. A number of buildings, such as the Art Deco WOLKER, were built in the rich Art Deco style.

Today, Karlovy Vary, together with Mariánské Lázně and Františkovy Lázně, is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and offers guests not only professional spa services, but also a wide range of cultural, sports and sightseeing programmes in the surrounding area.