Mariánské Lázne Spa Town

Mariánské Lázně, Czech Republic

Mariánské Lázně (Marienbad for German) is a spa town in the Karlovy Vary Region of the Czech Republic. The town, surrounded by green mountains, is a mosaic of parks and noble houses. Most of its buildings come from the town's Golden Era in the second half of the 19th century, when many celebrities and top European rulers came to enjoy the curative carbon dioxide springs. In 2021, the town became part of the transnational UNESCO World Heritage Site under the name 'Great Spa Towns of Europe'.

Although the town itself is only about two hundred years old, the locality has been inhabited much longer. The first written record dates back to 1273. The springs first appear in a document dating from 1341 where they are called 'the Auschowitzer springs' belonging to the Teplá Abbey. It was only through the efforts of Josef Nehr, the abbey's physician, who from 1779 until his death in 1820 worked hard to demonstrate the curative properties of the springs, that the waters began to be used for medicinal purposes. The place obtained its current name of Marienbad in 1808; became a watering-place in 1818, and received its charter as a town in 1868.

By the early 20th century, approximately 1,000,000 bottles of mineral water were exported annually from Marienbad. The water from the Cross Spring (Křížový pramen) was evaporated and the final product was sold as a laxative under the name of sal teplensis. The modern spa town was founded by the Teplá abbots, namely Karl Kaspar Reitenberger, who also bought some of the surrounding forests to protect them. Under the guidance of gardener Václav Skalník, architect Jiří Fischer, and builder Anton Turner the inhospitable marshland valley was changed into a park-like countryside with colonnades, neoclassical buildings and pavilions around the springs.

The name Marienbad first appeared in 1786; since 1865 it has been a town. Then came a second period of growth, the town's Golden Era. Between 1870 and 1914 many new hotels, colonnades and other buildings, designed by Friedrich Zickler, Josef Schaffer, and Arnold Heymann, were constructed or rebuilt from older houses. In 1872 the town got a railway connection with the town of Cheb (Eger) and thus with the whole Austro-Hungarian Empire and the rest of Europe.

The town soon became one of the top European spas, popular with notable figures and rulers who often returned there. Among them were such names as Johann Wolfgang Goethe, Frédéric Chopin, Thomas Edison, Richard Wagner or Prince Friedrich of Saxony, King Edward VII of the United Kingdom, the Russian Czar Nicholas II, and Emperor Franz Joseph I and many others. At those times, about 20,000 visitors came every year. It was also a popular resort and vacation venue for European rabbis and their Hasidic followers, accommodating their needs with kosher restaurants, religious prayer services, etc.

Marienbad remained a popular destination between World War I and World War II. After World War II, the ethnic German population of the town was forcibly expelled according to the Potsdam agreement, thereby emptying the town of the majority of its population. After the communist coup-d'état in 1948; it got sealed off from most of its foreign visitors. After the return of democracy in 1989 much effort was put into restoring the town into its original character. Today it is not only a spa town but also a popular holiday resort thanks to its location among the green mountains of the Slavkovský les and the Český les, sport facilities (the town's first golf course was opened in 1905 by the British King Edward VII) and the proximity to other famous spa towns, such as Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad) or Františkovy Lázně (Franzensbad).

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Details

Founded: 13th century
Category: Historic city squares, old towns and villages in Czech Republic

Rating

4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Joe Perfetto (5 months ago)
A well-run hotel with a very good breakfast and a great location. Nice sauna and a few pools for relaxation. Good garden in summer with lounge chairs..
Dala Rifat (9 months ago)
In one sentence: 5 stars hotel service and everything, restaurant service 3, therefore 4 in stars. Long(er) review: Reception: We were very satisfied with reception, the lady (check-in) and the gentleman (check-out) were very helpful and welcoming. Their hospitality were one of the highlight of our stay! (Thank you!!!) Room: Size was adequate, more than enough for 2, ammenities were all there. We had the room facing the wellness area. Our room was directly next to elevator which we found pretty practical as we could just get down to spa in a few steps. Spa: Amazing. 4 pools, some saunas and plenty of places to relax. We came on Sunday and spent lot of time in the wellness area (+ Monday as well) and there were not a lot of people due to the weekdays. We didn't try any treatments. Bar: I love their library bar -- there are books, magainzes, small board games that you could use to spend some time there. Prices for drinks were okay (and they were delicious) Restaurant: We had half-board booked, that means dinner and breakfast were included. At dinner, the staff that brought us to the table seemed to be very knowledgable and explained us about the rundown of the dinner, but the one of the staffs that were taking the order and delivering food seemed to struggle to communicate with English, and the level of service was not the one you would expect from a 5 stars hotel. For example, when we wanted to order drink, I was saying "I'm still thinking", but she mistook it as "still water" (we corrected it later on, but it was just awkward that she left the table without confirming first). Appetizers and desert was great. Fish as the main dishes was not bad either, but unfortunately the vegetarian dish could improve a bit. Breakfast The buffet was good enough, especially for the majority of guests who came from Germany. Service however, was unlike the other 5 stars restaurants we visited before: nobody guided to you where to seat, so if the waiter didn't see you sitting down, you wouldn't know they would bring coffee for you. For a busy morning, there seemed to be only one chef at the egg station. The waffle I ordered was delicious though, as it was not overwhelmingly sweet. Overall, minus the restaurant experience, it was a nice stay at Flakensteiner Spa Resort Marienbad, and I wouldn't mind to visit it again next time I'm in the area.
Joanna Ja (10 months ago)
I wasn’t expecting such disappointment at a Falkensteiner hotel. In Velden, Austria, this was a 5* experience. Here, they still either prefer Russian over Polish guests or the problem is with management and their team’s overall mindset. Located in a quiet street, in majestic, historical buildings, the hotel makes a very good impression. The male receptionist was very friendly and welcoming, unfortunately I cannot say the same so about his female colleague who seemed very stressed about some paperwork. When I went to the room, it was very dark, hot and smelled of cigarettes. It had no air conditioning and I couldn’t open the window due to heavy smokers on the adjacent balcony. Despite booking a superior room, I got a standard double room for a higher price. I went back to reception to clear the situation and was told by Jana, that it was the last room as they are fully booked. It was far from the truth, as I checked the availability online before approaching the reception. Then she proposed an upgrade for an extra 130 euro a night. I agreed to see the room and accepted the offer of Junior Suite with nice, sunny terrace. When waiting for the elevator I heard voice of Jana complaining to housekeeping just around the corner. I confronted her and explained Polish and Czech languages are quite similar and I understood every word she said. She looked at me shocked and started mumbling about how I was wrong. I then resigned from the upgrade as I wasn’t going to spend extra money on such arrogant service. In the evening I went to the bar and the Bartender seemed annoyed when I asked for the wine card. Maybe it’s a matter of understaffing, as he wasn’t the only frustrated member of the personnel. Bed (or in fact two connected beds with gap between two mattresses) was quite comfortable, the same goes for the pillows. Unfortunately the walls and door are thin as paper so you could hear and feel every other room’s door being shut or the elevator running up and down. Bathroom was spacious and had all basic amenities. The hotel provides a welcome bag with flip flops, bathrobe and a towel to use in the wellness area. And that area without a doubt deserves 5 stars- spacious indoor and outdoor pools, intimate, relaxing sauna area with different chambers to choose. The opening hours from 7 am until 10 pm are exceptional. On-site parking is spacious enough even for an SUV. Dogs are welcome and there is a long list of requirements including dogs not being allowed on beds. I read them one by one to my dog, but it wasn’t easy for him to follow :> you get a welcome pack of bed, doggy bad and some random snacks with no information on ingredients or expiry date. The breakfast buffet was very rich, with live cooking and gluten free options. Too bad such “luxurious” hotel still used the cheapest eggs from caged farms (number 3) When checking out, I tried to discuss the final room rate, but there was a different receptionist that said nothing could be done and just handed me the invoice. To summarise: not only will I not stay here again, I won’t take for granted that every Falkensteiner 5* hotel offers same level of hospitality and comfort of your stay.
Lauren Aiello (12 months ago)
My husband and I had a lovely stay! The spa manager was incredibly helpful and wonderful to chat with! I wish I could remember his name. Our interactions with him was one of the highlights of our stay. My husband and I both enjoyed spa services, as well as the pools.
Lucia Mihaliková (12 months ago)
Title: An Exceptional Stay with Just One Small Suggestion I recently had the pleasure of staying at Falkensteiner spa resort Marianske Lázně and I must say, it exceeded all my expectations. From the moment I stepped foot into the hotel, I was greeted with warm smiles and genuine hospitality. The dining experience at hotel was nothing short of exceptional. The wide array of food choices left me spoilt for choice, and the quality of each dish was impeccable. From the breakfast buffet to the evening meals, every meal was a delightful culinary journey. The wellness facilities provided by the hotel were truly remarkable. The spa treatments offered a much-needed respite from the stresses of everyday life. While my stay was practically perfect in every way, there was just one small suggestion I would like to make. It would be wonderful if the hotel could consider providing complimentary tap drinking water during lunch and dinner. This would be a thoughtful gesture for guests. Nonetheless, despite this minor suggestion, I cannot stress enough how impressed I was with everything at hotel. The staff were incredibly friendly, attentive, and always went above and beyond to ensure my comfort throughout my stay. Overall, my time at Falkensteiner spa resort Mariánske lázně was unforgettable. From the delightful dining experiences to the luxurious wellness facilities, it truly felt like a home away from home. I highly recommend this hotel to anyone seeking a memorable and indulgent retreat. I am already eagerly looking forward to returning in the future. Thank you, for creating such a delightful experience!
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