Our modern lifestyle is very stressful and challenging for everyone without exception. Hence we all need to relieve our body and soul from time to time. The effects of leisure time spent in spas have been known in Europe for centuries: these are unique places where the calm of the countryside goes hand in hand with culture and where you can use natural resources, such as mineral springs, as well as other gifts of the Earth for your relaxation.
We would like to present a list of the runners-up for the Czech Republic in the 10th European Destinations of Excellence (EDEN) competition, whose theme was ‘Spa and Well-Being Tourism’. EDEN is a project that attempts to raise the profile of often overlooked tourist destinations, particularly those that fully live up to the philosophy of sustainable tourism. Destinations honoured in this competition must have unique charms, authenticity, and originality. The winner of the national round was the Zlín Region and the Luhačovice area with their project entitled ‘Well, well … the Luhačovice Spa’.
Svatá Kateřina Resort in Vysočina
This modern holiday resort can be found in the heart of Vysočina, about halfway between Prague and Brno. Svatá Kateřina charms everyone interested in recharging and resting in a beautiful area surrounded by nature. The resort offers modern interiors, pleasant staff, excellent and healthy cuisine, and a large wellness and spa centre. What really sets it apart, however, is that you won’t be disturbed by the noise of traffic because no cars are allowed in the resort. So just leave your car in the car park behind the gates of the resort and allow the shuttlebus service to escort you to the hotel. What they specialise in is, above all, creating peace in your soul. The therapeutic methods they use include Ayurveda treatments and yoga. Šumava Herbal Spa
ParkHotel Tosch in the Kašperk Mountains in Šumava offers the services of the Šumava Herbal Spa. This modern balneology centre focuses only on herbal procedures, including baths, herbal steam, and wraps. The deep cellar that houses the the spa is made up of natural rock and vaulted ceilings, which take you back to the simplicity of the Middle Ages while offering the comfort of 21st century technology. All the spa products, herbs, and peat come from the pristine environment of the Šumava National Park. The St Barbara spring is used in hydrotherapy, a central part of a healthy way of life. The Šumava Herbal Spa also offers a meditation trail with twelve stops in the park. There are menhirs at each stop, brought from various parts of Šumava. The unique historical atmosphere of Kašperk Castle, together with the natural energy of its surroundings, is the ideal place to rest and treatment your tired body. Thermalium Teplice in the Krušné Mountains
Teplice in Northwest Bohemia below the Krušné Mountains has been a spa town for centuries. At present, the spa specialises in treating people with issues affecting their musculoskeletal system through the use of thermal waters. Thermalium has recently opened in the Beethoven Spa and boasts two pools. One pool is used for relaxation and offers various attractions, among them water from an ancient spring that is cooled from 41 °C to 35 °C. The second is a swimming pool, where visitors can enjoy water at a temperature of 29 °C. You can also visit individual bathhouses, spas, massage therapists, the Kneipp trail, or the sauna world with Finish, steam, tropical, and bio saunas.Meditation, Yoga, and Magical Adršpach in the Broumov Region
The area of the Adršpach Rocks can be found in a remote part of East Bohemia, on the border with Poland, near the town of Broumov. The area is well known for its group of Baroque churches as well as the monumental Benedictine monastery. But what many have come to look forward to is its leisure facilities, including what is no ordinary spa. But the beauty and peace of the countryside are sure to rub off on you – indeed, they are unavoidable if you visit the more secluded rocks and trails during off-peak times. There are now also guided tours, where guides take you through the rock formations either early in the morning or in the evening. At dawn, the whole area is full of energy and vigour, delightfully quiet. In summer, it is best to set off early in the morning. Františkovy Lázně
The West Bohemian Spa Triangle: Karlovy Vary, Mariánské Lázně, and, last but not least, Františkovy Lázně. These are all spa towns not to be missed, but the last particularly stands out. The local springs were already known in the Middle Ages, when their mineral waters were distributed to faraway towns. However, the town and its spas were not founded until 1793 by decree of Francis II, and the uniform classicist architecture will make you feel as if you have stepped back in time. Františkovy Lázně is a picture-book town with a grid street plan resulting in rows of Empire and Classicist buildings, set in the middle of beautiful parks and forests. The architecture from the 18th and 19th centuries is now accompanied, as in many other spas, with a broad range of modern rehabilitative procedures and a wide offer of therapeutic and relaxation stays. Well, well … the Luhačovice Spa in Moravia
When you ask any Czech to name the most famous Moravian spa, they will definitely say Luhačovice. People have been coming to rest and recover in the foothills of the White Carpathians for more than 300 years. Luhačovice is a picture-book spa in a river valley with many curative mineral springs. The spa’s unique visual character is thanks to architect Dušan Jurkovič, who designed many buildings inspired by folk architecture at the turn of in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The numerous spa villas, the colonnade, and the large park put the finishing touches on the town’s peaceful and attractive atmosphere. Therapeutic treatments are provided in the balneology departments of the bathhouses and hotels, which are all equipped with state-of-the-art technology for providing hydrotherapeutic procedures, electrotherapy, inhalations, wraps, and all kinds of massages. This spa town is particularly well known for offering relaxation stays for seniors, women, and office workers, including wellness stays.
