Karlovy Vary

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For other uses, see Carlsbad (disambiguation).
Coordinates: 50°13′42″N 12°51′58″E / 50.22833, 12.86611
Karlovy Vary
Town
none The main street with the Imperial hotel in the background
The main street with the Imperial hotel in the background
Flag
Coat of arms
Country Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic
Region Karlovy Vary
District Karlovy Vary
Rivers Ohře, Teplá
Elevation 447 m (1,467 ft)
Coordinates 50°13′42″N 12°51′58″E / 50.22833, 12.86611
Area 59.10 km² (23 sq mi)
Population 53,708 (2008)
Density 909 /km² (2,354 /sq mi)
Founded around 1350
Mayor JUDr.Veronika Vlková
Timezone CET (UTC+1)
 - summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 360 01
Location in the Czech Republic
Location in the Czech Republic
Location in the Czech Republic
Wikimedia Commons: Karlovy Vary
Website: www.karlovyvary.cz

Karlovy Vary (pronounced [ˈkarlovɪ ˈvarɪ] (help·info), German: Karlsbad), sometimes known in English as Carlsbad, is a spa city situated in Bohemia, the western part of the Czech Republic, on the confluence of the rivers Ohře (German: Eger) and Teplá. Carlsbad is named after Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV, who founded the city in 1370. It is historically famous for its hot springs (13 main springs, about 300 smaller springs, and the warm-water Teplá River).

In the 19th century, it became a popular tourist destination, especially for international celebrities visiting for spa treatment. The city is also known for the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and the popular Czech liqueur Karlovarská Becherovka. The glass manufacturer Moser Glass is located in Carlsbad.

The city has been used as the location for a number of film-shoots, including the 2006 films Last Holiday and box-office hit Casino Royale, both of which used the city's Grandhotel Pupp in different guises.

Carlsbad, New Mexico; Carlsbad Caverns National Park; and Carlsbad, California all take their names from Carlsbad.

Contents

[edit] History

On 14 August 1370, Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor gave city privileges to the place that subsequently was named after him, according to legend after he had acclaimed the healing power of the hot springs. However, earlier settlements could be found in the outskirts of today's city.

Due to publications by doctors like David Becher and Josef von Löschner, the city developed into a famous spa resort and was visited by many members of European aristocracy. It became popular after the railway lines to Eger (Cheb) and Prague were completed in 1870.

The number of visitors rose from 134 families in the 1756 season to 26,000 guests annually at the end of the 19th century. By 1911 that figure had reached already 71,000 but the Great War put an end to tourism and also led to the collapse of the Austro Hungarian Empire by late 1918.

The German-speaking majority protested against being made a part of Czechoslovakia by the Treaty of Saint Germain. A demonstration on 4 March 1919 passed peacefully, but later that month six demonstrators were killed by Czech troops after a demonstrations turned unruly[1].

In 1938 the Sudetenland including Karlovy Vary became part of German Reich and the entire Czech population was expelled. The German speaking inhabitants thus[citation needed] became a majority in the city until their expulsion in 1945.

Before that, the Carlsbad Decrees of 1819 had associated the city with anti-liberal censorship within the German Confederation.

Since the fall of the Soviet Union and the end of Communist rule in the Czech Republic, that has been a steady increase of Russian Mafia presence in Karlovy Vary. The Russian mob has used real estate in Karlovy Vary as a means to launder money, buying up property and creating their own airport just outside of town that runs flights to Moscow and back.[2].

A significant portion of the spa/historic section of Karlovy Vary. Major sites in photo, from left to right: The dark grey, Soviet era Thermal Spring Colonnade (also called Hot Spring Colonnade or Sprudel) features a glass chimney. Directly above it sits the twin-steeple Church of St. Mary Magdalene. The large, stately building on the center hill is the Hotel Imperial. Below it, to the right of the square, is the Opera House. The Grandhotel Pupp is the large white building to the far right.
A significant portion of the spa/historic section of Karlovy Vary. Major sites in photo, from left to right: The dark grey, Soviet era Thermal Spring Colonnade (also called Hot Spring Colonnade or Sprudel) features a glass chimney. Directly above it sits the twin-steeple Church of St. Mary Magdalene. The large, stately building on the center hill is the Hotel Imperial. Below it, to the right of the square, is the Opera House. The Grandhotel Pupp is the large white building to the far right.

[edit] Population

  • 1930 - 54,652
  • 1939 - 53,339
  • 1947 - 31,322
  • 1991 - 56,291 (3 March)
  • 2001 - 53,857 (1 March)
  • 2003 - 52,359 (1 January)

[edit] Notable people associated with Karlovy Vary

[edit] Gallery

A Bird's-eye View of Karlovy Vary

Aerial View of Karlovy Vary

[edit] References

  1. ^ Zdeněk Vališ: 4. březen 1919 v Kadani
  2. ^ Karlovy Vary governor asks the Czech intelligence service to help clear hisname - 25-01-2005 - Radio Prague

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Towns, market towns and villages of Karlovy Vary District

Abertamy • Andělská Hora • Bečov nad Teplou • Bochov • Boží Dar • Božičany • Březová • Černava • Čichalov • Dalovice • Děpoltovice • Hájek • Horní Blatná • Hory • Hroznětín • Chodov • Chyše • Jáchymov • Jenišov • Karlovy Vary • Kolová • Krásné Údolí • Krásný Les • Kyselka • Merklín • Mírová • Nejdek • Nová Role • Nové Hamry • Ostrov • Otovice • Otročín • Pernink • Pila • Potůčky • Pšov • Sadov • Smolné Pece • Stanovice • Stráž nad Ohří • Stružná • Šemnice • Štědrá • Teplička • Toužim • Útvina • Valeč • Velichov • Verušičky • Vojkovice • Vrbice • Vysoká Pec • Žlutice • Military Area Hradiště