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- Destinations
- Europe
- Czech Republic
- Karlovy Vary
Karlovy Vary
The town of Karlovy Vary, also known as Karlsbad or Carlsbad, is
the most famous of the Czech Republic's many spa resort towns. It
is a pretty Victorian place with elegant boulevards, elaborate
colonnades and brightly coloured buildings lining the picturesque
river valley, and the surrounding forested hillsides are a peaceful
and therapeutic place in which to walk.
The main focus of the town is health, and at the centre of
attention are the 12 hot springs containing a mineral content rich
in restorative and healing properties. The mineral drinking
fountains in the colonnades were once the haunt of the European
aristocracy, and today the local people gather to fill their
drinking cups, sipping and strolling in the fresh air, encouraging
the water to work its magic on their digestive tracts or metabolic
disorders. If that doesn't work the locally made Becherovka liqueur
is hailed as the 13th spring.
Although most of the spa pools and sanatoriums are reserved for
people undergoing treatment, visitors can still swim in the heated
pool above the Thermal Sanatorium. There is plenty of excellent
accommodation, unique souvenirs from the area and a myriad of
relaxing opportunities to be found.
Information & Facts
Language
Czech is the official language but English and German are
also widely spoken.
Money
The official currency is the Czech crown, locally known as the
Koruna (CZK), which is divided into 100 haler. Most credit cards
including American Express, Diners Club, Visa and MasterCard are
accepted, but it is best to have cash handy when travelling away
from Prague and the main tourist centres. Travellers cheques and
foreign currency can be exchanged at banks, bureaux de change and
some hotels; commission is highest in hotels. Banks are closed on
weekends. ATMs (known as 'bankomats') are becoming more common in
Prague and are probably the best way to obtain local currency at a
good rate and without commission. The Czech Republic is still cheap
compared to the rest of Europe, though the gap is closing.
Time
GMT +1 (GMT +2 from the last Sunday in March to the last
Sunday in October).