A Walking Tour Through Karlovy Vary, The Czech Republic

A story of Karlovy Vary’s origins

Karlovy Vary was founded by the illustrious medieval Holy Roman Emperor and Bohemian King Charles IV (Charles = Karl = Karlovy), who used to hunt in the neighboring area. On one such occasion, the king’s favorite dog got badly hurt, and Charles IV decided to travel no further and make a camp to spend the night there. Eventually, he saw the dog bathing in a nearby spring and noticed that the wounds healed at a much faster rate than should be expected. King Charles IV concluded that the springs had magical healing powers, and ordered the town to be built - thus came the birth of Karlovy Vary.

What is Karlovy Vary famous for?

First and foremost, Karlovy Vary is famous for both its warm and hot springs. As you walk along the promenade, you will notice various fountains and drinking fountains. Pay attention to the attached info panels because as I recall, water temperatures tend to rise up to 80°C (176°F). Don’t, however, miss a chance to make use of the town’s mineral water; pour it into a container, which can be purchased anywhere, and wait for it to cool down before drinking.

Karlovy Vary is full of hotels and facilities offering various relaxing and therapeutic treatments. Bathing in thermal water, enriched with iodine or healing plants, underwater massage and hydrotherapy are some of the treatments offered.

Karlovy Vary features diverse events and performances throughout the year. Perhaps the most famous is the International Film Festival, which takes place every July. You can also attend theatrical, dancing and music performances among other entertaining events. If you arrive too early or too late for these, though, the Butterfly Museum, Wax Museum and a couple of other museums are open all year round for visitors.

Where will a walk in Karlovy Vary take you?

You will hardly miss any sites while walking in Karlovy Vary because almost everything is lined along the main promenade. The promenade begins at the nearby parking area (you can’t miss it, the promenade is linked to the parking area) and ends atop the hill providing views over the town (refer to the introductory photo). Besides splendid architecture, mostly featuring Baroque and Art Nouveau mansions and numerous monuments honoring prominent people (Karl Marx, Goethe, Charles IV, Russian Tsar Peter the Great and so on), there are also a couple of ecclesiastical structures, artistic colonnades and pavilions.

In addition to the Holy Trinity Column (in the photo) and the Hygeia statue, try to locate the Stag’s leap lookout, recognizable by the related statue. It can be found on the other side of the hill you climbed to reach the top and it’s where King Charles IV’s dog found the healing spring. You won’t have any difficulties finding the Baroque Saint Mary Magdalene Church (next to the promenade), while the magnificent Byzantine style Orthodox Church of St. Peter and Paul emerges before your eyes in its splendor as you climb the hill.