Karlovy Vary Journals

Belle Epoch Karlovy Vary

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A May 2000 trip to Karlovy Vary by mfs

View from Our Room at the Hotel Ruze Photo - Hotel Ruze, Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic More Photos
Quote: This quiet spa town has hosted European aristocrats for centuries, and the Spa District is filled with elegant 19th century mansions built by wealthy cure-seekers. Today, this very peaceful and beautiful town offers thermal baths, spa treatments and excellent hiking.

Belle Epoch Karlovy Vary

Overview

Quote:
A very memorable experience for us was our hike up into the beautiful wooded hills behind the Grand Hotel Pupp. The Diana Observation Tower is not to be missed, and affords gorgeous views of the area.

Quick Tips:

Moderately-priced hotels are difficult to come by, so we suggest booking a hotel prior to arrival in Karlovy Vary to ensure a room at the price you want. Depending on what time of year you visit, you may also wish to book spa treatments in advance as well.

Best Way To Get Around:

Karlovy Vary is a walking town. We parked our car at our hotel and didn't see it again until we left. The Spa District is small and extremely easy to navigate, and much of it is pedestrian-only.

Hotel Ruze

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Hotel

With Our Favorite Waiter Outside the Ruze Photo - Hotel Ruze, Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic
Quote:
We arrived in Karlovy Vary by car with no hotel reservations, and began to panic when the first few hotels we inquired at had rooms priced over $150 per night. We then came upon the Hotel Ruze, situated at the head of the famous Mill Colonnade, and were surprised that the large, comfortable rooms were only about $60 per night. The kind, young staff gave us a room facing the Mill Colonnade on an upper floor that had spectacular views from two large, flower-boxed windows. The room was very comfortably furnished and had a nice bathroom and a tv. The hotel had a very good restaurant/bar that offered breakfast very morning (included with the room) on the outdoor terrace. We also had lunch and dinner he...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on December 13, 2000

Hotel Ruze
I.p. Pavlova 1
Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic
420 353 221 846

Hiking in Karlovy Vary

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Attraction

Hiking in Karlovy Vary Photo - Hiking in Karlovy Vary, Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic
Quote:
The woods are thick and there are some steep hills, but the trails are wide, well marked, and clear of debris. You'll see amazing rock formations along the trail. We hiked in late May - the weather was clear and dry and the trails were in great shape. We hardly saw any other hikers. The lower trails on the hill are marked with monuments to honor past spa visitors. If you cut through Petra Velikeho, you'll come across a large statue of Karl Marx at the bottom of the hill. Across the way from Karl is a beautiful Orthodox chuch, complete with golden onion domes, along with some impressive Belle Epoch-era mansions.

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on December 13, 2000

Hiking in Karlovy Vary

Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic

Mlynska Kolonada (Mill Colonnade)

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Attraction

On the Terrace of the Mill Colonnade Photo - Mlynska Kolonada (Mill Colonnade), Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic
Quote:
The Mill Colonnade houses five of the special springs that draw so many to Karlovy Vary seeking the "curing waters." The imposing structure features an ornate double colonnade of Corinthian columns with a balustraded upper terrace. The springs are actually small fountains located within the colonnade, and contrary to the way the building looks it is really just a shell and has no interior. There is a cafe on the upper terrace that serves drinks and snacks. The views are spectacular, and the Mill Colonnade is about as centrally located as possible along the pedestrian promenade in the heart of Karlovy Vary's spa district. It is an excellent place to rest with a book or people watch. I don't know ...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on December 13, 2000

Mlynska Kolonada (Mill Colonnade)
Mlynske Nabr.
Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic

Quote:
The town has a completely different feel from Prague or other towns we visited in the Czech Republic - it has a more Austrian lilt to it, which provided a nice contrast to the heavier, Bohemian atmosphere of Prague and Cesky Krumlov. We thoroughly enjoyed the filigreed Belle Epoch architecture. Some of the buildings looked as if they had been lifted right out of Vienna and brought to Western Bohemia. We visited in late May 1999 and were happy to see that the town was not too heavily touristed at that time. Most of the other visitors were older Germans and Russians, but they seemed to stick to the spas and go to bed early, leaving the promenades and restaurants practically to us alone in the eveni...Read More

A Word About the Springs

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Story/Tip

Quote:
We were very curious about the alleged healing powers of the springs that are all over Karlovy Vary. We discovered that certain springs are said to cure specific ailments. Many sufferers of upper respiratory ailments come to Karlovy Vary seeking a cure from the waters. All Karlovy Vary springs have the same source and have roughly the same chemical composition, although water temperatures vary at each spring, which affects the formation of sedimentation. (This sediment is called "thermal tuff." This stuff freaked us out a bit - if you put a rose in a glass of spring water for a few weeks, the thermal tuff will coat it with a reddish layer of gunk. After seeing the coated roses, which are sold...Read More

About the Writer

mfs

mfs
Sea Girt, New Jersey

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