This second largest spa town, in the Czech Republic, is known for curative results, and spa visitors (and patients) enjoy the natural charm of its surroundings, and the possibility of a stay, really nice that the city offers them. 39 mineral sources are used for healing, as well as carbon dioxide, and natural mineral mud.
The city boasts of a permanent theater and it is, in all respects, an important cultural centre. The possibility of practicing sport, including the golf and water sports, joins the attraction of this spa town.
Already in the fourteenth century, the Czech peasants of the village of Úšovice experienced the healing effects of springs stemming in place where the present spa town of Mariánské Lázně (Marienbad) is situated. For this reason, the springs were called, at that time, "Úšovice sources" and, later on, "Teplá sources" according to the abbey that possessed them. It was only in 1808 when the abbey established the commune of Mariánské Lázně, which developed from 1813, the year when K. K. Reitenberger was elected abbot of the abbey of Teplá.
The agglomeration obtained the status of a public thermal station, and its construction, planned around a large park designed in English style, conducted by Václav Skalnik, gardener and decorator, intensified from 1866, the year when Marianske Lazne was elevated to a town.
The happy urban design of Mariánské Lázně was able to join the architecture of buildings and gardens with adjacent landscape into an impressive and harmonious complex. Let´s add curative effects of mineral sources as well as a climate, and a favorable natural environment: we have here the reason why Mariánské Lázně earned the nickname "Pearl of the European Spa Towns."
The historic city centre extends around the Source Colonnade and the Cross Source with a rotunda. In the vicinity, there is a source called the Singing Source, with hundreds of pipes, the water being accompanied, every odd hour, by music, and the the fountain is illuminated in the evening. Most spa facilities, and public buildings date from the second half of the nineteenth century. Mariánské Lázně has a total of about forty sources which differ from each other by their chemical composition. All contain, however, the abundant free carbon dioxide and they are all cold. Among the best known sources let´us remember the Rudolf source, the Cross source, the Ferdinand source, the Forest source, the Ambrose and Excelsior sources. Because of the diversity of sources with curative effects, the range of diseases treated, in Mariánské Lázně, is very large. Firstly, it concerns diseases of the kidneys, and of urinary tract. They are followed by metabolic disorders, diseases of the upper respiratory tract, and thouse of skin. Specialized facilites are directed at rehabilitating patients suffering from nervous disorders, and posttraumatic conditions.
The town of Mariánské Lázně is a paradise for lovers of hiking, tennis, golf, and other summer, and winter sports. The music accompanies, at every moment, spa guests, and visitors, who can hear it in concert halls or in colonnades. The International Music Festival, and the Festivities of Frédéric Chopin perpetuate the musical tradition of this spa town.