The Czech Republic is famous for its thermal waters. But the Karlovy Vary resort, the reviews of which we will analyze in this article, is known more than others. The healing properties of local waters were discovered, or rather, experienced by the German emperor Charles the Fourth about 600 years ago. And since then, crowned persons often come here. For the Russians, the resort was opened not by anyone, but by Peter the Great himself, who spent several months in Carlsbad (formerly called Karlovy Vary). The Tsar introduced fashion among the nobility to “waters.” Since then, many Russian nobles have come here to treat their ailments. Gogol and Turgenev were here, and Pyotr Vyazemsky, who spent several years in Carlsbad, dedicated several of his poems to the spa, and the abundance of Russians led to the fact that an Orthodox church was built here.
After the Velvet Revolution in the Czech Republic, Karlovy Vary became even more beautiful. Foreign investments have created the necessary leisure infrastructure, which now attracts not only patients in need of treatment to the resort, but also quite active tourists.
Where are Karlovy Vary
This town is located in the western part of the Bohemia region, near the border with Germany. The lion's share of tourists gets to the resort through Prague. Karlovy Vary (in the reviews it is repeatedly mentioned), are connected to the Czech capital not only by bus and rail, but even by air. And by the way, there is an opportunity to fly to the resort from Moscow and St. Petersburg without transfers. Direct flights are provided by Czech Airlines. The international airport in Karlovy Vary is located four kilometers from the city. A direct train Moscow-Cheb daily departs from the Belorussky railway station in the capital of Russia, which stops at the most famous Czech resort.
By the way, the reviews say that there are two stations in Karlovy Vary. Passengers from Russia arrive at Nizhny. And from the Upper Station you can go to another thermal spa - Marianske Lazne, as well as to the German city of Zwickau. From the airport and the Florenc bus station in Prague, yellow Reggio Jet branded cars depart for the resort.
Sources
According to tourists in the reviews, Karlovy Vary has become a celebrity thanks to its thermal keys. In total, there are twelve, but some tourists have a "damn dozen" sources. The thing is that one well, namely Zametska (Zamkovaya), is brought to two basins - the Lower and the Upper. The water in both is identical both in chemical composition and in temperature (55 ° C). The hottest and most powerful liquid discharge is the Vzhidlo geyser (72 degrees). He, moreover, is the only one who supplies water for taking baths, although they also use him for drinking. The oldest key discovered by the emperor 600 years ago is the source named after him, “Charles IV”. But that is far from all.
In Karlovy Vary, there are such thermal keys: Market, Mill, Mermaid, Wenceslas the First and Second, Sadovy, Libusi, Freedom and Skalny. And the "coldest" spring in the resort is called "Snake". The water temperature in it is only + 30 degrees. Tourists in their reviews joke that the most popular source is the one that is in full swing in all the restaurants and bars of Karlovy Vary. And it is called Becherovka. From their point of view, this vodka on herbs has no less health-improving effect than thermal waters.
Mineralization of sources
In their reviews of the treatment in Karlovy Vary, tourists argue that the whole therapeutic effect is somehow based on the healing properties of the local keys. And despite a dozen different sources, these healing waters are not too different from each other. Let's figure it out. All waters in Karlovy Vary are characterized as sodium hydrogen carbonate or sodium sulfate. They contain compounds of bromine, lithium, iron, magnesium, potassium and calcium. In the Mill Spring, water is also radon, with a concentration of 1 nCi / l. The differences between the other keys are only in temperature (from + 30 to + 72) and the degree of mineralization of carbon dioxide: from 0.4 grams to 0.74 g per liter.
Mostly, water is supplied to the bowls of drinking pump rooms. The “Mill” spring radon liquid is bottled, which is then sold throughout the Czech Republic. From Vrzhidlo, water is used for pearl, oxygen, carbon dioxide and other bathtubs and pools, as well as for irrigation, rinsing, inhalation, bowel washing, etc. The well of the Wenceslas Pervy spring has been taken to a special room in which water is evaporated - the result is the famous healing salt, which is enriched with sodium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, sodium sulfate and potassium.
Indications for treatment
What ailments heal in Karlovy Vary? Reviews of tourists indicate that most patients arriving here suffered from ailments of the stomach, liver, biliary tract and intestines. Staying at the resort for diabetics (both forms A and B) will also be positive. Water harmonizes metabolism, therefore in Karlovy Vary you can often see very obese people who lose weight. Judging by the reviews, the resort is treated not only in sanatoriums. In the town there is a balneotherapy center, clinic, pump rooms at individual sources and a whole drinking gallery.
Do not think that doctors place all their hopes in healing thermal water. Physiotherapeutic procedures, special physical education, light, heat and electrotherapy, massages are also used to help her. Spa therapy (wraps, applications and mud baths). Much attention is paid to hiking in the picturesque surroundings of Karlovy Vary. If we summarize the length of all the paths of the path, you get a hundred kilometers!
How it works
The main base for treatment in Karlovy Vary is sanatoriums. In the reviews, tourists mention that in order for the recovery course to be most effective, you need, firstly, to consult your doctor, and secondly, to take an extract from his medical history from him. This is necessary primarily because during the period of exacerbation, it is better to avoid baths and other balneological procedures. An extract from the medical history will help the doctor in Karlovy Vary correctly prescribe you a course of treatment (or rehabilitation).
Sanatoria and balneotherapy centers offer several programs. Which ones? If you live in a sanatorium, then the price of the permit includes accommodation, two doctor's examinations (upon check-in and discharge) and the same number of laboratory tests, full board meals according to the directions of the nutritionist, a drinking course and comprehensive treatment (from two to four procedures per day).
You can improve your health in Karlovy Vary and otherwise - settling in one of the resort hotels. In the clinic you can buy a course for a week, two or three. The only difference is that the food is at your discretion. The hotels offer both “breakfast only” and half or full board.
Karlovy Vary, sanatoriums with treatment: reviews
Where to settle in the resort? Professional sanatoriums, where complex treatment of guests is carried out, have many supporters. Tourists in their reviews convince that if you really want to recover, you should not spare money for it. For example, after bathing, it is better to relax in the room, going to him through the covered passage. So it is instituted in the sanatorium "Krivan" (Karlovy Vary). Reviews about this hospital are enthusiastic. All the sleeping buildings of the sanatorium are connected to the therapeutic building by covered walkways. Treatment of the gall bladder, liver, gout, pancreas is carried out on the basis of mineral water from the Mill and Sadovy sources. Patients can not only enjoy carbon dioxide, pearl, whirlpool baths and underwater showers, but also undergo a course of ultrasound therapy, phototherapy, procedures using Bernard current, paraffin, low temperatures. The resort also offers a rejuvenation program. It includes lymphatic drainage, laser therapy, flouting and more.
One of the largest and most modern treatment centers is the Imperial sanatorium. The reviews of those who visited it indicate that this is a full-fledged balneological center that allows you to conduct an initial diagnosis, make an accurate diagnosis, prescribe treatment and monitor your health and dynamics throughout the course. Gets good reviews and sanatorium Venus.
Karlovy Vary Hotels
In the reviews, other tourists advocate for hotel accommodation. After all, those are cheaper. Hotels are most often suitable for vacationers who come to Karlovy Vary for rehabilitation after an illness or for the sake of a general improvement of the body. Indeed, in this case, it is not necessary to be under the constant supervision of a doctor. Yes, and from a diet you can sometimes deviate in favor of a delicious meal.
As for the hotels in Karlovy Vary, there are many of them in the resort, and they are designed for every taste. Of the three-star hotels, tourists recommend Modena, Morava, Palacky and Astoria. The best "four", judging by the reviews, is the Carlsbad Grand Madonna. Very good conditions at Villa Ritter 4 *. As for food in hotels, the regime adapts to the wishes of customers: both breakfasts and full board are possible.
Hotels with spa treatment
It turns out that there is such an option for tourists in Karlovy Vary. As a rule, in such hotels there is a spring and with it a balneological building. The number of treatment programs, of course, is not as large as in a full-fledged sanatorium, but also impressive. Let's look at this type of hotel using the example of Richmond (Karlovy Vary). The reviews mention the anti-stress course, the program for weight loss, the package for diabetics, anti-age and others. Tourists are delighted with the hotel wellness and spa. Many baths, showers, pools, salt rooms and therms will bring the body and soul to a state of complete bliss. "Richmond" is located in an old mansion, which stands in the middle of an English park on the banks of the Tepla River. For meditation there is a Japanese garden. There is a spring of mineral water right in the lobby of the hotel. The rooms in this hotel are different categories of suites.
Such institutions also include the Ulrika complex, the Dvorjak hotel and others.
Leisure for healthy tourists
Do not think that in Karlovy Vary a deep immersion awaits you in the atmosphere of a hospital or nursing home, where all the conversations revolve around sores and the wonderful impact of water on them. The resort administration is doing everything possible to attract different categories of tourists. Holidays in Karlovy Vary in reviews are often characterized as bright and memorable. This is facilitated by a golf club, tennis courts, the ability to make hiking and horseback riding. Of course, you will not find noisy nightclubs and discos, like in Ibiza, but some hotels have provided an entertainment program for their guests.
Contraindications
Reviews of tourists about Karlovy Vary characterize the resort as a panacea for all ailments. But this is not so. Moreover, local waters can in some cases do much harm. So, pregnant women due to the threat of miscarriage should not visit this resort. Also, baths can only spur the development of cancer cells, if they are already in the body. It is undesirable to inhale vapors of hydrogen sulfide by a patient with tuberculosis. In chronic alcoholics, patients with epilepsy and mental disorders, a condition of exacerbation of the disease may occur. The list of contraindications includes liver failure, obstruction of the biliary tract, infection, infection with parasites.
How to drink local mineral water
Even if the doctor advised you on treatment in Karlovy Vary, don’t attack the sources like starving for food in the all inclusive restaurant. Excessive drinking is also harmful. This is not just a mineral water, but a mixture of substances with a high concentration. So what to do when you arrive in Karlovy Vary? In the reviews, tourists recommend that you first contact the clinic to find out which source you need and in what doses. Drinking water is recommended from special glass or porcelain decanters with a long spout that delivers liquid closer to the throat and protects tooth enamel from hydrogen sulfide. Do not pack suitcases with cans of Karlovy Vary water. After a short time, its valuable components are eroded.
General reviews
Vacationers extremely like the calm but optimistic atmosphere of the resort. Here are located both ancient, historical hospitals, in which the European nobility recovered in the 19th century, and ultramodern sanatoriums. Karlovy Vary in reviews is increasingly called a family resort, but active tourists also have something to do here.