Mariánské Lázně

Embraced by the dense, cooling forests of West Bohemia, Marienbad has a special place in the Central European spa world. Created from a boggy, inhabited valley in the early 18th century by monks from the nearby monastery, the spa houses of this elegant town soon echoed with the languages of Europe as it drew the prominent and powerful, along with their entourages, to its mineral springs and idyllic surroundings. From Kipling to the Kaiser, Goethe to Edward VII, Marienbad was once top stop on the European spa circuit. Today, after three decades of renovation, this confident Czech spa is back to its former glory, a major tourist attraction and a popular destination for day-trippers, hikers and those seeking the cure from around the globe.