Travel back into the past when you visit spa colonnades across Czechia

Karlovy Vary: Along promenades where Beethoven and Goethe used to walk.

In Karlovy Vary in West Bohemia you will be amazed by the Mill Colonnade with its statues and five sources of hot mineral water. This is the most frequently photographed colonnade you can see in this spa town. And that’s not all! There are several colonnades in this best known Czech spa town - forming together with Mariánské Lázně and Františkovy Lázně the famous Spa Triangle, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.



The Market Colonnade a little farther along, boasts a light and delicate lace-like structure, which is a balm to every romantic soul.



And you must see the cast-iron Orchard Colonnade  or the Hot Spring Colonnade, the home of the hottest spring in the Czech Republic, which jets roughly 12 metres into the air.


 

Mariánské Lázně: A symphony of water and music

While Karlovy Vary pulses with spa life, Mariánské Lázně is perfect for visitors who are looking for some peace and quiet. You can relax in the shade of the imposing Main Spa Colonnade, which bears witness to long past times. It is one of the few cast-iron colonnades that survived the turbulent 20^th century without any major modifications and only the attire of the spa guests indicates that it is actually 2024.  And you will find a pleasant surprise at the end of this gem of Baroque Revival Architecture – the Singing Fountain. (Note: The fountain is currently under reconstruction until April 2025).



Adjacent to the Main Colonnade is another historic gem – the Cross Spring Pavilion. The promenade by the Main Spa Colonnade ends at the Caroline’s Spring Pavilion.

If you want to relax even more and enjoy a minimum of people around you, visit Ferdinand’s Spring Colonnade in the local park. Heavily mineralised spring water, which is suitable for drinking and has curative properties, is available at each of the colonnades in Mariánské Lázně.

Františkovy Lázně: Therapeutic walks through a gem of Classicist architecture.

The third highlight of the UNESCO Spa Triangle, Františkovy Lázně, boasts stylish colonnades in the same Classicist style. The Salt and Meadow Spring Colonnade is located in a peaceful corner of the town and offers a relaxed atmosphere.


The largest and oldest is the New Colonnade with Carbon dioxide gas baths, located in the spa town centre. However, the gas baths are only open to spa guests.



The Vestibule of Glauber’s springs is a place where you can taste the local curative mineral water, stop for a while and soak up the atmosphere of spa life.


 

Luhačovice: When modern style merges with folklore

The spa colonnade in Luhačovice, sometimes also called the Great Colonnade, was built in the second half of the 20^th century. Even though it is now 70 years old, it is quite a modern structure compared to other spas and is unusually inspired by Functionalism! The colonnade is distinguished by its floor-plan, complemented by glazing, benches and many shops. The colonnade begins in the area next to Jurkovič house, which forms an interesting contrast with its the Art Nouveau architecture with traces of folklore. The colonnade curves elegantly and proceeds towards the central spa vestibule with the Vincentka Spring. In 2019, the colonnade and Vincentka Hall underwent a complete revitalization.

Poděbrady: A peaceful spa within reach of Prague

You will feel like you’re in paradise in Poděbrady in Central Bohemia, which is only an hour away from Prague. This small and peaceful town on the banks of the Elbe River is perfect for relaxation. And of course it has colonnades. You can walk through the Libenská Colonnade, a Constructivist gem completed before the Second World War, in the park in the centre of the town. You will also find another modern wooden colonnade in the park, as well as a few other structures where you can relax.

Lázně Libverda: An alpine spa with a history

Not far from Liberec in the Jizera Mountains you will find a small, peaceful spa town called Lázně Libverda. The pavilions of the spa houses and the colonnades have been standing here for nearly 200 years and you can heal not only your body, but also your mind, here. The spa is exceptionally peaceful, with views of the surrounding hills.  The two-wing colonnade and adjoining Classicist château, which allows spa guests to walk in the fresh air whatever the weather, is certainly worth mentioning. The entire complex is of great historic value, because this group of spa buildings has an identical architectural design and is meticulously situated in the foothill landscape of Jizera Mountains..

Lázně Bělohrad: A secret tip for a colonnade without a colonnade

Lázně Bělohrad, hidden in the heart of the Podkrkonoší region, does not offer a colonnade in the true sense of the word, but a unique experience created by nature itself. It is from its interior that the naturally sedimentary mineral known as peat, which is the basis of local treatment, originated. The spa houses are surrounded by the unique Bažantnice Park, interwoven with a series of walking trails and a dominant avenue of mature trees that resembles a spa colonnade. Instead of stone columns, it is lined with peat ponds and roofed by the sky itself. At its end, the healing Vita Spring, hidden in a wooden gazebo, springs from the mouth of a stone lion. Visitors and locals who regularly come for the mineral water can enjoy a beautiful view of the nearby church and Byšičky pond while sipping it. Together, the place has a mysterious, almost magical feel, which is supported by a number of legends.