Františkovy Lázně

Františkovy Lázně
Town
Flag
Coat of arms
Country Czech Republic
Region Karlovy Vary
District Cheb
Commune Cheb
Elevation 442 m (1,450 ft)
Coordinates CZ 50°7′13.19″N 12°21′6.26″E / 50.1203306°N 12.3517389°E / 50.1203306; 12.3517389Coordinates: CZ 50°7′13.19″N 12°21′6.26″E / 50.1203306°N 12.3517389°E / 50.1203306; 12.3517389
Area 25.74 km2 (9.94 sq mi)
Population 5,350 (2015)
Density 208/km2 (539/sq mi)
First mentioned 15th century
Mayor Ivo Mlátilík
Timezone CET (UTC+1)
 - summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 351 01
Location in the Czech Republic
Location in Cheb District
Wikimedia Commons: Františkovy Lázně
Statistics: statnisprava.cz
Website: www.mufrlazne.cz

Františkovy Lázně (Czech pronunciation: [ˈfrancɪʃkovɪ ˈlaːzɲɛ]; German: Franzensbad) is world-renowned as a spa in Cheb District of Karlovy Vary Region in the so-called West Bohemian spa triangle. The city is a candidate for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage.

History

Franzensbad was a town in the Bohemia province of Austria-Hungary until 1918 and was populated by Sudeten Germans until their forced expulsion in 1945 by the Allies as part of a campaign to ethnically cleanse Eastern Europe of its German Population, where they were later settled in Bayreuth in the Bavaria province of Germany.

The spa

The salutary effects of the springs were known from the 15th century on. First, the water was used locally for salutary purposes, later sold all over Germany. In 1700, it reportedly sold more water than all other German spas combined. In the year 1793, the town was officially founded under the name Kaiser Franzensdorf (Emperor Francis II's village) and later renamed to Franzensbad, under which name it became a famous spa.

The local natural mineral water has a relatively high content of dissolved carbon dioxide. The effects of the carbonic baths are shown in the better performance of the cardiovascular system, in the mild decrease of blood pressure in the pulse, in the lower occurrence of chronic inflammatory processes in the body, and also in terms of rheumatics, and in the improved blood circulation in tissues and the vegetative stabilisation.

The local mud treatments represent a traditional curative method which has thermal, chemical and mechanical effects. The mud treatment consists of a thick mushy combination of mud and mineral water which is heated up to a temperature which is significantly higher than body temperature. The treatment has a positive effect on mobility of muscles and the pain in treated tissues.

The local Spa corporation is the biggest spa corporation in the Czech Republic.

It was the first peat pulp bath in the world and operated 24 mineral springs, 12 of which are still in operation.

Culture

Leisure and entertainment

The Social House is the venue of congresses, balls and other social events and the building also houses a casino.

Galleries and museums

Arts and literature

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Františkovy Lázně is twinned with:

References

  1. "Partnerstädte" (in German). Bad Soden am Taunus. Retrieved 2013-12-11.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Františkovy Lázně.
Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Franzensbad.


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