If you try to understand what the Elizabethans mean to the present, you will understand a lot of the past. By understanding the past, you can learn lessons for the future.
Alžbětina lázně is currently the only place in Karlovy Vary where the true spa tradition of Varů u Lokte from the time of Václav Payer still lives. The doctor who first "prescribed" the method of Karlovy Vary spa care based on knowledge of the patient's needs and on the basis of an understanding of the exceptional natural conditions and gifts that are granted to us only here. This is not the case elsewhere in the world. It is exactly 500 years since the beginning of the ways of influencing people as we still know and use them today. It is precisely after five hundred years that we decide whether this unique will be only a past in memories, or a living reality for the future.
It sounds lofty ..."the last historic bath"..."the only public city bath"..."the Elizabethan Bath phenomenon"..."tradition, values, history, patriot, genius loci, honesty...", it sounds lofty when perceiving common everyday worries and problems, it sounds exaggerated in the face of covid, war, expensive fuel, more expensive food, and even more, it all calls out to every person "Throughout the centuries, there have been pestilence, wars, genocide, fear, hunger and oppression, but what has always raised Vary from the ashes, what always led them to a bright future? Their unique feature is the spa." The spa and the related small industry, services of all kinds, education and science, all connected to the life force of the place. Just as a blacksmith has to live by the hearth, a baker by baking and a tailor by sewing, so a spa should live from the spa industry.
Previously, everyone from a small child was led to distinguish good from evil, to pride in their destiny and in their nature, to the desire for knowledge, to values that support humanity, morality, to love for their homeland and to be open to guests and sufferers. All of this brought up a person in every place on earth who understood the uniqueness of his home, was proud of it and tried to support it to the best of his ability. Today, it is us who have the task - for the future. If they didn't think about the future before us, we wouldn't be here. That's why we too create the future. The future so that those after us can say, "I am from Karlovy Vary, a unique spa in the whole world with a developing tradition and an unceasing life, and I am proud of it."
If someone in his path has avoided the flash of money, the accumulation, spending, acquisition and easy showing off without the need to work on the content, he will not immediately perceive this. Maybe he even smiles, snorts proudly, because a million in the account, a flashy little girl, all this is more valuable to him than honor, intelligence, faith, indomitability and humility. I once heard a wonderful monologue: "Such a smart person and he leaves me to hell, for a few dirty gold coins, for false fame, that's misery...how can a person betray a person." How can a person betray himself, his surroundings, his city.
I took over Alžbětina lázně with the support of the city management led by the mayoress in 2019. Abraded, squeezed, strangled, but still with full quality services with incredibly dedicated, hardworking and professionally competent staff. There is a spark of hope burning in each and every one of them.
After a short recap of the past, I immediately started preparing the next steps, which began to be submitted from September 2019.
1) Adoption of the resolution of the city council on the maintenance of public city baths in the operation of the city with its support.
2) Strategy An easy way to the spa. From connecting city organizations by providing benefit care and services, through teaching from kindergartens to primary, secondary and higher education. As I like to say, from the creation of patriots - "sniffing the spa", to teaching in fields that can then be applied in the city and in the spa. This results in a clear strategy of supporting start-up families for the possibility of application, of course, in the necessary support of the city's housing policy. So you have a place to work, a good and convenient place to live, a quality living and cultural environment, you want to live and raise a family there and not move. Furthermore, the development of science and research by direct application to the operation of Alžbětina Lázně.
3) Involvement of Alžbětina Spa in the innovation platforms of balneology and spa industry in the Karlovy Vary region and not only as an application guarantor of research, but also as a cultural facility and a link between the private and public sectors for mutual needs.
4) Acceptance of the partnership agreement between the University of Economics in Prague and Alžbětina lázně. A program of professional internships for students in Karlovy Vary, preparation of economic strategies and analyzes of the city's strategies is prepared here. The first undertaking is a financial analysis of the planned revitalization of Alžbětina Lázně - a general comprehensive use. And then there is cooperation in obtaining subsidy support. The first implementation is support from the Ministry of Industry and Trade for the replacement of windows.
5) A comprehensive plan for overall revitalization
General of the comprehensive use of Alžbětina lázně, including a financial analysis with a plan of real feasibility and profitability in several models. This overall plan is currently awaiting acceptance by the city council with the approval of the first steps to complete the project, so that the entire action can start from the definition of financial resources.
6) Partial projects
Replacement of all windows in the building – 403 around the perimeter, 102 on the roof. This project is currently being implemented. The project of the reconstruction of the truss and roof covering, which is in the condition of the construction of the building in 1906. Realized repairs of the "Sissi" hot spring bath cabins, repairs of corridors in the basement, new electrical substation, server, software for managing the entire operation, restoration of equipment, etc. Also already submitted project to reconstruct the entrance hall and return it to its original historical form. Realization of energy savings through the use of geothermal energy, cheap energy purchases, preparation of a HV substation, solar hot water heating on roofs to the yard, etc. There are many projects ready for implementation. Now is the time to find support for their implementation.
7) Cultural Elizabeth Spa
Continuous support for holding traditional as well as new cultural and social events in the building. New Dyleň Folklore Festival, business incubators, events of the Institute of Spa and Balneology of the Karlovy Vary Region, organizing balls and parties, the previously unrealized Rock Spa, traditionally Antonín Dvořák's Master Singing Courses, Nejdl's historical seminar, dance, Wine Festival events and more.
8) Linking Elizabethan women with universities
Marketing cooperation with ZČU in Pilsen is being prepared. Internships of VŠE students in Prague that are already in operation or are just starting. Project preparation Fsv and Fa CTU in Prague. Preparation of cooperation with several other universities.
9) Partnership agreement with the city
An agreement on cooperation between the city and Alžbětinka is currently ready to be submitted together with the general plan for the comprehensive use of Alžbětiny Lázně. This is to support the fact that Alžběta's Spa provides professional rehabilitation and spa care as a public service and is the only one in the region. This clearly establishes the obligation of the spa to provide this care to the maximum extent and quality, and the city undertakes not to let it fail.
10) Association of friends of Elizabeth Spa
In communication with important artists and public figures associated with Karlovy Vary, the birth of a civic initiative, an association for the rescue and support of the Alžbětina Spa, is ready. The main milestone of this initiative is the much-needed restoration of the connection of the city's residents with the spa area and the realization that the city is there for its residents and offers them its exceptionality in the form of public baths. Furthermore, it is an initiative of responsibility in each one of us. No one will do anything for us.
… and I would keep the others to myself with permission. I am preparing several implementations, collaborations, which will further support the prestige of Alžbětinek and their development. However, only for next year, if I can continue this activity after the elections. That's up to the voters.
Since we prevented several sales and the closing of Alžbětinek, I still appeal to everyone who is not indifferent to Vary. Between the simple and the right path, let's choose the right one. As Mr. Werich would say: "It's further, but on a worse path.", but in the end we will find out that it was the right choice.
Ing. Václav Benedikt, chairman board of directors Alžbětiny Lázně as, representative of the statutory city of Karlovy Vary (YES movement 2011), native and patriot.
04/2022
Source: pr.denik.cz
