HISTORY OF ELISABETH SPA
Elisabeth Spa, or SPA5, are one of the last most significant manifestations of fading historicism in the 20th century in Karlovy Vary. A certain peculiarity that preceded the construction of SPA5 was the assessment of the location of this building, which was commented on by two prominent architects of their time, K. Hocheder and Prof. B. Ohmann, whose name is associated not only with Prague Art Nouveau, but also with his participation in the project of the Castle Spring colonnade in Karlovy Vary. The building plans were created by the city architect F. Drobny, who was also responsible for its implementation. The building was completed on June 18, 1906. Spa V is situated in the picturesque surroundings of today's Smetana Park and its front side opens towards the nearby main post office building. In the words of the architect, "a simple form was chosen for the building, following the Empire examples; avoiding false decorations and unifying a certain intimacy and harmony of the entire building in the environment of a city park". The SPA5's building really follows on from the Empire buildings of the 19th century, especially in terms of the main facade. Here, in the central, slightly convex part, a high order of columns is used, as well as pilasters in both extreme wings of the facade. Both wings are finished with significantly projecting porticos, in which an interweaving of pillars and massive columns is used. The impression of the rational use of morphological elements is also confirmed in the interior, especially in the spacious entrance hall, which acts completely in harmony with the soberly composed exterior. The size of the space is enhanced by a hanging double-arm staircase, connecting to the hall area and leading to the first floor of the spa house.
In October 1903, the city decided to build a modern spa house in the former park of Emperor František Josef - today Smetana Park. For this purpose, the city council approved on May 31, 1904, the intention to ask the bank for a loan of 4 million crowns, of which 1 million crowns would be used for construction purposes. On October 5, 1904, the city director of construction, Senior Ing. Franc Drobny, project with a budget of 1.495 million crowns. The council approved the project and construction of the spa began. In the back part of the park of Emperor Franz Josef, a beautiful building of a new spa began to rise, which was named "Elisabethbad" in February 1905 in memory of the murdered empress. The grand opening took place on June 17, 1906.
After 1970, the spa was modernized and adapted to modern balneological requirements. They are the largest and only balneological operation in Karlovy Vary, in which all types of spa procedures are provided. A 25m long indoor pool with saunas, steam, whirlpool and solarium is built in the atrium of the building.
The facade, reminiscent of a castle, opens onto a French-style park with a fountain and a four-lane avenue. Since 1963, the fountain in front of the spa has been decorated with a nude girl by Břetislav Benda. The building was previously complemented by a distinctive tall chimney.
Elisabeth Spa is one of the originally six public spas in Karlovy Vary. The spa named after Empress Elisabeth of Bavaria (Sissi) is considered an architectural landmark and offers a wide range of treatment procedures.
With Elisabeth Spa, you have the unique opportunity to experience the traditional symbiosis of natural healing sources with modern methods, thanks to our willing and very professional staff full of experts, who have often worked in the spa industry for several decades and thus have irreplaceable experience.
Our spa includes a popular pool complex with whirlpools, a relaxation pool, a children's wading pool, a sauna and a steam room in both the men's and women's sections.
We are able to recommend suitable accommodation through our partners to our clients who come to Elisabeth Spa for spa care from the Czech republic or from abroad. Elisabeth Spa does not have its own accommodation capacity. When staying with our contractual partners, it is possible to apply a discount on procedures provided in the Elisabeth Spa .
Moreover, in addition to the pool center services provided by us, treatment procedures, wellness and beauty programs, you can also use other services located in the building, which are also related to health and body care. These services are provided by third parties (renters of the building) on their own business responsibility.
The building was used in its original, unchanged form until the late 1920s, when it was decided to build a 2nd floor extension on the middle section of the rear (northwest) wing of the building; new premises were to be created here, intended for carrying out the so-called "Piešťany" mud wraps. The plans for this extension, also drawn up by the municipal building office, are dated to September 1928. They were approved in the commission procedure on November 24, 1928. The plan for the roof structure of the extension is dated February 5, 1929. Subsequently, the extension was apparently carried out in the same year. The style of the facade of the newly added floor has been adapted in every detail to the original facade of the building, the external appearance of the roof also fully respects the original baroque - classicizing concept of the building. Already after the mid-30s of the 20th century. it was apparently considered to significantly modernize the entire balneo operation. A project for the construction of a new indoor swimming pool was preserved in the archive of the building office, which was to be built in the places of the ground floor section of the boiler room near the northern corner of the building. The plan, dated 1937, was no longer implemented as a result of the political situation. In the war and post-war period, the building underwent only routine, apparently rather insufficient maintenance, and especially its technological equipment quickly became obsolete and the entire building fell into disrepair. In the mid-1960s, its condition was no longer sustainable, and therefore it was decided to carry out a total reconstruction of the building. It was carried out in the years 1969 – 1973. It included the reconstruction of the entire internal equipment and the modernization of technological equipment in order to adapt the spa to modern balneological requirements. The original courtyard of the building was then transformed into an atrium, in which a new indoor modern rehabilitation swimming pool, 25 m long, with two saunas was built. As part of the reconstruction of the building, the original high chimney of the boiler room above the northern tract, which until then was a prominent feature of the building, was also taken down.
