Karlovy Vary
Karlovy Vary is a city in the western part of the Czech Republic, about 2 hours drive from Prague. It is a spa town, famous for its Art Nouveau architecture and, of course, the hot springs that flow directly from the underground.
But let’s start from the beginning.
The city was founded in the 14th century and named after its founder Charles IV. In translation, it means Charles’ Hot Springs.
It is said that Charles IV went hunting in this area. One day, when he rode the horse through the woods, he fell into a small stream. To his surprise the water was hot. And because Charles was smart, he immediately thought that the water could be healing. In the beginning, the water was used only for baths and to treat the joints and musculoskeletal system. Later they started drinking it as a treatment for the digestive system.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, Karlovy Vary became an important spa town, which was visited by many European personalities.
Among the most famous were, for example, the Russian Tsar Peter the Great, the German writer J. W. Goethe, the composers Beethoven, Paganini, Chopin and the Austrian Empress Sissi.
In recent years, the city has become a major film center. Every year at the beginning of July, a film festival takes place here, where celebrities from all over the world come together. There have been such names as Michael Douglas, Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, Sharon Stone, Robert Redford, John Travolta and many others.
The most famous products from Karlovy Vary:
Becherovka – a traditional liqueur invented by the Becher family. It is drunk either straight or mixed with tonic – this is called Beton. There are different variations of Becherovka, but the traditional one is in a green bottle.
Hot springs – they flow directly from the ground and have different temperatures. To drink it properly, you need a special mug with a spout that cools the temperature of the spring.
Karlovy Vary wafers – they have a circular shape and are filled with chocolate, nuts, vanilla, etc. and they look a bit like thin paper. You can buy them in a box or on the street – fresh and warm.
Moser glass – the most famous glassworks in the Czech Republic, handmade, quality guaranteed.
Karlovy Vary film festival – it takes place every year at the beggining of July.
