Get to know Karlovy Vary

Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad) is the biggest and the most important spa city in the Czech Republic. The city’s history goes back to the 14th century. No wonder Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad) is full of historical landmarks and other must-see attractions. Here are a few of the most interesting ones.

Carlsbad's colonnades

Hardly anybody misses Karlovy Vary’s (Carlsbad’s) colonnades during a visit. If you are here for a treatment, you will stroll here daily on your way to the curative thermal water prescribed by the spa physician within the drinking cure.

Sadová kolonáda (The Park Colonnade) (1880)
Mlýnská kolonáda (The Mill Colonnade) (1881)
Tržní kolonáda (The Market Colonnade) (1883)

Zámecká kolonáda (The Chateau Colonnade) (1913)
Vřídelní kolonáda (The Thermal Spring Colonnade) (1975)

Carlsbad's churches

Not only are the spa buildings interesting in Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad), but many churches and other ecclesiastical buildings also belong to architectural treasures of Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad).

Kostel sv. Máří Magdalény (Church of St. Mary Magdalene) (1737)
Pravoslavný chrám sv. Petra a Pavla (Orthodox Church of St. Peter and Paul) (1898)
Hřbitovní kostel sv. Ondřeje (Cemetery Church of St. Andrew) (1500)

Kostel sv. Lukáše (St. Luke's Church) (1877)
Kostel sv. Petra a Pavla (former Protestant Church of St. Peter and Paul) (1856)

Carlsbad's spa buildings

The buildings were built in order to provide spa care. Some of them still serve this purpose today, others unfortunately no longer do. However, their architecture is worth noticing regardless of what purpose they serve nowadays.

Císařské lázně (Lázně I) (The Emperor’s Spa - Spa I)
Lázně III (Spa III)

Alžbětiny lázně (Lázně V) (Elisabeth’s Spa - Spa V)
Vojenský lázeňský ústav (The Military Spa Institute)

Carlsbad's galleries and museums

The museums and galleries of Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad) offer both the permanent and short-term exhibitions. More information about the current events can be obtained in the info center by Mlýnská kolonáda (the Mill Colonnade).

Galerie umění (Art Gallery) (Tue - Sun)
Muzeum Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad Museum) (Tue - Sun)

Jan Becher muzeum (Jan Becher Museum) (Mon - Sun)

Carlsbad's outlook towers and belvederes

The spa woods are crisscrossed by more than 130 km of various paths and trails designed for pleasant walks. Pick one of the local outlook towers as a destination of your walk. The guide signs which can be seen at almost every turn in the forests will lead you the correct way.

Diana (altitude 547 m)
Goethova vyhlídka (Goethe’s Belvedere) (altitude 638 m)
Vyhlídka Karla IV. (Charles IV. Belvedere) (altitude 514 m)

Jelení skok (Deer Jump)
Tři kříže (Three Crosses)

Other architectural landmarks

Besides colonnades, church buildings, and museums there are many other architectural landmarks worth noticing. We have selected a few of them:

Hotel Imperial (1912)
Zámecká věž (The Chateau Tower)

Městské divadlo (The Municipal Theatre) (1886)