Karlovy Vary - Weight Loss Program - Day 8

Ducks getting their exercise as they battle to swim up river against the torrent of the flowing Tepla River as the humans get their exercise strolling up and down the promenade

Today was another gloomy winter day but still so much to do that there was not time to worry about the weather. After water cure, breakfast and some computer work I headed over to the spa for some time in the pool before a lymph-drainage session and then an amazing Cleopatra treatment where once again I was slathered with a salt scrub, this time mixed with condensed milk and then scrubbed so all the dead skin was loosened, then I sat in this incredible hot bath mixed with milk, honey and sea salts for 15 minutes which increased my heart rate so I’m glad it was only 15 minutes. I know it’s supposed to increase your heart rate but then you get even warmer in the water and for someone who loves heat and humidity this was even a bit much for me. Then I was slathered with a seaweed mud which was fabulous, I love the smell and then wrapped in a big plastic sheet and covered with lots of blankets and basically seemed for about 25 minutes while Sona did a face, head and neck message which is one of the best parts. Then, yes, there is more, I took a shower to get off all the seaweed and after that a head to toe massage to increase circulation and I think decrease cellulite and of course moisturize the whole body. So amazing and over two hours from start to finish with a special rose tea afterwards.

Group of Russian Tourists listening attentively to their tour guide explain the details of the construction of the Market Colonnade on which they are currently standing. Nice Picture with the St. Mary Magdalene church in the background and the side view of the modern Vřídelní Kolonáda in front of it.

And thankfully those were all my treatments for the day because my body was exhausted. I don’t know how you can get so tired from a treatment but it really takes a lot out of you.

Picture of Karlovy Vary phone booth - I think it's pretty
with the pink shopping center behind it and pretty lamp post.

But because this is a wellness program I still needed to take a walk for exercise and amazingly managed about 2 and half hours. I kind of gave myself a little project that kept me moving and I think that’s why the time flew by. I decided to go to every spring water fountain and take a picture and drink from each one. I was almost entirely successful but I couldn’t locate number 13, 14 and 16 and also number 12 is under repairs so no drinking from that today although I got a picture of the pipe sticking out of the floor. I had drunk from that fountain about a week or so ago so at least I can say I’ve drunk form them all except the missing three above. And also number 4 which is either accessible to drink right now by going into the Castle Spa which is the public one I did for two days when I first moved to my hotel in the city Centre. So I did drink from number 4 I just couldn’t do it today because the outdoor spout for this spring is under construction and I actually didn’t find it until about 6:30pm tonight so I couldn’t even get a picture of it so I’ll have to do it tomorrow, it’s just up the street from my hotel. I did find a picture of the indoor one which is a little hard to see in the picture which mostly focuses on the stone carving on the wall of the Spring Ghost who I guess watches over the springs legend says. The water fountain is right in front of the Ghost.

End of Dvořák's Park and side view of Thermal Hotel

Sculpture at main entrance to Park Colonnade and across from the entrance to Spring #12

Terracotta sculpture in Dvořák's Park

I found in my search for other information a reason for why the hot springs exist and found it interesting so I’m sharing it. “The town is located at the confluence of the Ohre and Tepla Rivers, and was established around 13 main springs and about 300 minor springs. The Vøídlo ("Hot Spring") is the hottest with the temperature of 73°C (163°F) and the others have cooler temperatures (of 60°C or less). As a result of inflow from these thermal springs, the Tepla River is actually warm to the touch. The clue to why there are hot springs here is provided by the picture above. The giveaway is the course of the river, which consists of straight sections that then sharply change direction. A quick glance at a geological map confirms that the river course follows the trace of faults, which are more easily eroded than the surrounding un-fractured granite.   The same faults that control the course of the Tepla River also provide a pathway of fractures along which water from surface can move down to a depth of 2km, where it encounters hot rock. Once the water heats up, it is less dense than cooler water and thus rises back to surface and 'daylights' as hot springs.”

Outside the hotel Elwa

Also on my information quest I found this wonderful description from a 1571 on how the town of Karlovy Vary was discovered and settled. “One of the first to record the oldest Karlovy Vary legend about the discovery of the geyser known as the Sprudel by Charles IV was the renaissance physician Dr. Fabian Sommer, a native of Karlovy Vary. In his book on the use of Karlovy Vary's waters from 1571, he relates the story thus:

It is said that Charles IV once went hunting in the woods, in the hilly areas and valleys where now the hot springs do bubble up. The woods in this place were full of game. During the hunt, one of the hounds started to run after an animal. Whilst following it, the hound fell into a pool where hot water does now burst from the ground. The hound began to howl in pain. The hunters ran to the hound, believing it to have been wounded by the animal it had been chasing. The marvel which they saw amazed them greatly. They stepped closer, pulled the hound from the pool, and then tasted of the hot water which had so distressed the hound.

The entire event was reported to the Emperor Charles IV, who then went in large company himself to marvel at this singular wonder of nature. In the presence of his physicians, the wise ruler said that such hot water may drive off many grave ailments, and that it was beneficial and invigorating. Then he himself used the water (it is said that he had an afflicted leg), and sensed assuagement and improvement. The ruler was overjoyed at this, and soon gave orders that the whole place be settled, and that around the springs, houses be built. The place where the Emperor used that water was, according to information, in that place where once stood the municipal bath and where the guildhall now stands. At that place the spring wells up whose waters do not burst forth excessively, and are but warm. It is related that in this place, many years ago, a seat was cut into the rock on which the ruler sat, and wherefore it was named the Seat of the Emperor Charles. And yet this place is no longer to be found, and on it the guildhall has been built.”

Thermal Hotel & Spa near the entrance to Karlovy Vary. It was built in 1976
and as a Communist Era building it's more functional than beautiful
and is a blight on the rest of the beauty of the city. It has the only year round
out door Olympic size heated swimming pool

I think the guildhall he’s speaking of is where the Vřídelní Colonnade stands now.

So below is my little adventure for today and what kept me out walking for a good 2 and half hours and I will still go in search of the three missing spring fountains. And in some of the pictures I placed my special Karlovy Vary drinking mug which as I mentioned in an early blog entry is specially designed with a drinking spout at the handle so that the water cools as it goes from the cup itself through the hollowed out spout to your mouth and with the hottest of the springs being around 73°C (163°F) you need that extra cooling time. You also are supposed to drink the water over the course of 10 or 15 minutes and this cup helps you walk and sip with ease. Mine, as you can see in some of the pictures is in the shape of an elephant, so cute!

Spring 1B - This is where I get my drinking cure

Spring #1 - Since the 16th century the spring and the geyser of hot mineral water was covered by many structures: the Baroque building, the Classicism colonnade, cast-iron or a temporary wooden colonnade. The next and the most recent structure surrounding the thermal spring dates from the late 60s of the 20th century. And as you can see from the pictures and from my pictures yesterday of where the geyser is, or would be if it wasn’t under construction, is also housed in this main colonnade, Vřídelní kolonáda a Vřídlo or Hot Spring Colonnade. This geyser yields on an average 2.000 litres of mineral water per minute and it’s the only source used for bathing. Due to the pressure, the column of hot spring water can spurt to the height of up to 12 meters. This Colonnade contains a total of 5 containers with thermal water each listed I believe as 1 but with either an “A” “B” or “C” and temperature to distinguish it from the others.

#1A (two spouts) - Hot Spring 72 °C

#1B (two spouts) – Hot Spring 50 °C

#1C (one spout) – Hot Spring 30°C

(In the picture the closest of the spouts is “C” and the furthest away is “A” and behind “A” is where you would look in and see the geyser if were working.

Spring #2

Spring #2 - The Charles IV Spring - 64 °C- The curative abilities of this spring may have contributed to the decision of the Emperor Charles IV to build a spa here. The discovery of Karlsbad (Karlovy Vary) is attested by the relief placed above the spring.

Spring 3 - The Market Spring - 62 °C- Since its discovery in 1838, the spring disappeared and reappeared several times. There were several boreholes drilled, thankfully allowing today’s doctors to be able to prescribe its water for drinking cures.

Spring #3

Spring #4 - The Castle Colonnade can be found above the Market Colonnade. It is composed of two sections: the Upper Spring Colonnade and Lower Spring Colonnade. The Upper Spring Colonnade is freely open to the public and it covers the Upper Castle Spring. The Lower Spring Colonnade is accessible only to the clients of the Castle Spa. Its interior contains a relief of the Springs Ghost made of iron sandstone. *Lower Castle Spring - 55 °C *Upper Castle Spring - 50 °C- Actually this is only one source which is led to the two spring vases. However, due to the greater altitude of the upper vents and the laws of physics, the Upper Castle Spring has a different temperature and CO2 content when compared to the Lower Spring.

Spring #4

Spring #4 - Outside, above Castle Spa

Spring #4 with Spring Ghost Stone Wall behind - In Castle Spa

Spring #5 – 62 °C- Is actually in the Market Colonnade at its far end and has a sign that reads 5 Trzni which when translated means Market so I think this one and the #3 are actually from the same source and I guess when it said above “Since its discovery in 1838, the spring disappeared and reappeared several times. There were several boreholes drilled, thankfully allowing today’s doctors to be able to prescribe its water for drinking cures.” They meant several spouts as well.

Spring #5 with my elephant cup

Spring #6 - Mill Spring - 56 °C- The spring has been used for the spa treatments already since the 16th century. Originally it was mainly used for bathing. It used to be possible to buy the water from this popular spring in almost all Czech pharmacies.

Spring #6

Spring #7 - Rusalka Spring 60 °C- From the 16th century and until the year 1945 it was called the New Spring. Water flowing from it used to be more popular than that of the Mill Spring. This spring used to have its own New Spring Colonnade, which was later rebuilt and renamed as the Mill Colonnade.

Spring #7

 Spring #8 Prince Wenceslas I

Spring #8 (both spouts) Prince Wenceslas II - 58 °C & Prince Wenceslas I - 65 °C- Water from this source was used to produce the Karlovy Vary medicinal salt. In the late 18th century its yield and strength could be apparently compared with the Hot Spring. The Prince Wenceslas Spring is led to two spring vases. The “Spring I” flows out directly in the Colonnade, the “Spring II” in front of the Colonnade, opposite the orchestra stage.

 Spring #8 Prince Wenceslas II

Spring #9

Spring #9 - Libuše Spring - 62 °C- Originally known as the Elizabeth Rose Spring. It was formed by connecting four small springs.

Spring #10

Spring #10

Spring 10 - Rock Spring - 53 °C- The spring was rising from the river Teplá until the year 1845. After landscaping, its water was brought to the location of today's Mill Colonnade.

Spring #11 - Freedom Spring 60 °C- This spring was discovered in the second half of the 19th century during the construction of the Spa III. It was given its current name at the end of the World War II. It was previously known as the Spa Spring and then it was named after the Emperor Franz Joseph I. The bower with the spring is situated between the Spa III and the Mill Colonnade.

Spring #11 - Freedom Spring

Spring 12 from outside the class door.

Spring #12 (Closed for repairs at the moment) - Park Spring 47,4 °C- This spring burst out during excavation of the foundation pit for the Military Spa Institution in the middle of the 19th century. The spring comes out in the MSI area next to the Colonnade. It is accessible every day from 6:00 AM to 6:30 PM.

Spring #15 - Snake Spring is 30 °C – “Spa guests have been encountering this spring since the year 2001; it contains fewer minerals than other sources, but it has larger quantities of CO2. The spring comes out from the snake’s mouth right in the Park Colonnade.”

Spring #15 Snake Spring

Addition to the above made on February 23 - Found spring 13 & 14:

Spring #13 - Dorothy Spring - Dorothy Hall - in the street At the Imperial Hotel, CO2 and a small amount of water (13th Karlovy Vary spring was also marked Becherovka.)” It is no longer in use but the large pink circular building stands perfectly along the road.

Spring#12 - Dorothy Spring

Spring #14 - Štěpánka Spring (Stephanie Spring) 13°C - This spring was discovered in 1884. Its composition made it an indispensable part of drinking cure. However, the spring vanished in the first half of the 20th century. It was re-discovered as late as 1993.” The fountain is covered by a large metal cover and no longer in use. It's located near the Richmond hotel in the park in front of it and in the white gazebo near the entrance gate. It no longer has water.

Spring #14 - Stephanie Spring

So as you can see they all look similar and in the basins there is usually residue from the natural elements in the water that in some cases looks like rust and in others calcified salt deposits.

Spring #16 Zeleznaty Pramen  (Ferrous spring) 11.9 - ° C

Spring #16 Zeleznaty Pramen  (Ferrous spring) 11.9 - ° C - Only Carlsbad cold mineral spring, called Ferrous spring rises on the slope above the right bank of the river warm in the north of Karlovy Vary (Karlsbad). Temperature of the spring with a high content of iron and arsenic is only 11.9 ˚ C. In the past colourised slope sediments ocher color due to the high iron content. Ferrous spring was first taken to be 1852. From 1856 he began to spring on medical advice Rudolf MÄNNLE used for drinking cures and its neighborhood were set up so-called iron bath in which the water is also used for bathing. In the twenties of the 20th century was a spring of spring during the construction of school buildings, today's business college, moved a few yards against the hillside, to prevent contamination of the surrounding surface water source. Sump spring thus finds itself at a depth of 8 m below the road today Bezručovy street between the school and the Children's Polyclinic. The water was then drained pipe 90 m long, winding corridor under the school building until the newly built pavilion in the form of small pillared hall. In 1961, the pavilion was repaired and fitted with spring plate with the name and the source temperature. In 1990 came the Lions club Karlovy Vary with financial support from the club LC Tischenreuth from Germany to the overall reconstruction of the colonnade. Inauguration of the restored pavilion took place after 27 October 1990. Colonnade in the form of small pillared hall on an irregular ground plan with a projecting portico trapezoidal shape. Six massive granite columns with smooth shank and low head in front carries straight entablature, which sits flat roof pavilion. The outer walls of the pavilion are divided by massive corner pilasters. The same motif is repeated in the inner wall of the colonnade clasps. In the middle of the wall is a stone bowl, which rises in the spring of cast iron lion head sculpture. Above the bowl is placed rectangular marble plaque with the inscription: "Iron SPRING 11.9 ˚ C". Colonnade is located on an elevated terrace of the bending road.

Fountain in front of Elizabeth Spa and the Old Post Office building

Row of  19th Century colorful houses on the outskirts of the town center

Building near the river just before Elizabeth
Spa promenade and after the Thermal Hotel

Fountain in the front of  the public spa Lazne (spa) V or Elizabeth Spa

The Main Post Office building (built in 1904 by Friedrich Setz) is an important milestone between the business and the spa district of Karlovy Vary. At one time it belonged among the most modern postal facilities in Austria-Hungary. At the height of the third floor there are four allegorical statues representing the pillars of connection: telegraph, rail transport, ship transport and mail. The Post Office building is one of the monuments protected by the state.

A recap of the 15 springs that I found online - Contemporary sources"

1st Hot Spring - springs from several sinkholes. Hot Spring  is brought into fountains at temperatures of 1A -72 ° 1B -50 ° C and 1C- 30 ° C.

2nd Source of Charles IV., Market Colonnade, 60.5 ° C

3rd Market Colonnade, 64 ° C

4th Lower Castle Spring, Market Colonnade, 67 ° C

4th Upper Castle Spring, Market Colonnade 50° C

5th Spring market, Market Colonnade, 57.2 ° C

6th Mill Spring Mill Colonnade, 55.6 ° C

7th Rusalčin spring (Rusalka, orig. New Spring), the Mill Colonnade, 50.6 ° C

8th Source Prince Wenceslas (I and II., Originally Bernard), the Mill Colonnade, 65.3 and 58 ° C

9th Libuše spring (Libuse; orig Elizabeth roses), the Mill Colonnade, 62 ° C

10th Rock Spring Mill Colonnade, 53 ° C

11th Source of Freedom (Svoboda; Spa orig spring, then Franz Josef), arbor at the Mill Colonnade, 60 ° C

12a). Old Orchard spring (former Imperial Spring) - alongside the Military Spa Institute, near Parkcolonnade, 47 ° C

12b). Orchard spring new

13th Dorothy, Dorothy Hall - in the street At the Imperial Hotel, CO2 and a small amount of water (13th Karlovy Vary spring was also marked Becherovka )

14th Štěpánka (near the entrance of the Richmond Resort front gate)

15th Snake Spring - Park Colonnade, znovupodchycen 2001, 30 ° C

16th Zeleznaty Pramen -Ferrous spring - Up the winding road from the Old Post Office Square and just below the Hospital 11.9° C is the only cold spring in Karlovy Vary

Personally I don’t mind the taste although each spout varies a little and number 15 is the most like a seltzer water and number 1C is probably the most mild just a hint of drinking saline solution.