History
The Imperial Spa in Karlovy Vary is the largest, architecturally and artistically most richly equipped spa house in Karlovy Vary and perhaps in the whole Czech Republic. Its construction was decided by the city council on 27 April 1893. The project was commissioned to the well-known Viennese architects Fellner and Helmer, who had built 20 buildings at Vřídlo. The new building of the magnificent spa was built on the site of the old brewery, which was demolished in 1892.
1893
Karlovy Vary City Council decided on the construction of the Imperial Spa
The building of the Imperial Baths was built on the initiative of Carlsbad physicians and at the expense of the town of Carlsbad. The building was commissioned by the famous architectural firm Fellner and Helmer and at the time it was the most modern spa house in the world.
1895
Opening ceremony of the building
The inauguration took place on 5 May 1895 to great interest from the world press and the general public. The spa building offered more than a hundred baths, but most importantly, a unique system of processing and transporting peat for the preparation of baths. In one day, the bath served nearly two thousand people.
1904
Emperor Franz Joseph I visited the Imperial Baths.
The Imperial Spa was named after the Austrian Emperor and Czech King Franz Joseph I. The monarch visited "his" spa only once, during his visit to Karlovy Vary in August 1904. He toured the building, but never bathed in the baths and the bathhouse that bear his name.
1922
Renaming of the Imperial Spa to Spa I
After the establishment of Czechoslovakia, it was forbidden by law to commemorate the Habsburg monarchs and the monarchy. Therefore, at this time the Imperial Spa became Spa I.
1949
The spa is adapted for year-round operation
Until the end of the Second World War, the spa building operated only during the spa season - from May to September. Therefore, at the turn of the 1940s and 1950s, a major reconstruction of the building was carried out, which enabled year-round operation. Unfortunately, the first major losses of original equipment and technology occurred during this renovation.
1958
The building becomes a cultural monument
By decision of the Ministry of Culture, the spa building became part of the list of cultural monuments. However, this did not help the building much and its decay slowly continued.
1988
Termination of spa operations and gradual devastation
With the increasing maintenance costs came the decision to close the spa and from the late 1980s the building was used as a casino. Subsequently, it was only occasionally used for various social and cultural events and gradually fell into disrepair.
2010
Declaration as a national cultural monument
By the decision of the government, the building of the Imperial Baths was declared a national cultural monument - it was thus placed on the same level as Prague Castle, Kynžvart Castle, or the castle and chateau in Bečov.
2019
Start of the overall restoration of the spa
The owner of the building, the Karlovy Vary Region, has started a complete reconstruction of the Imperial Baths. During the almost four-year restoration, the building was returned to its historical appearance and life returned to the spa.
2023
The spa reopened to the public
Come and see for yourself!
