Karlovy Vary , 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 and Carlsbad, California, in the United States, and nearby Carlsbad Caverns National Park take their names from Carlsbad.
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 Carlsbad – became part of Germany. Until their expulsion in 1945 the majority of the population of the city spoke German.
Before that, the Carlsbad Decrees of 1819 had associated the city with anti-liberal censorship within the German Confederation.
Karlovy Vary by Vlahos VaggelisSince 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.
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) Notable people associated with Karlovy Vary
Karl Hermann Frank, Nazi official
Johann Wolfgang Goethe, German poet, novelist, philosopher, scientist
Walter Kaufman, composer
Princess Michael of Kent (born Marie-Christine von Reibnitz), a member of the British Royal Family, was born in January 1945, prior to the expulsion of the German population
August Labitzky, composer
Johann Josef Loschmidt, scientist
Karl Marx, social scientist and philosopher, came for spa treatments for his numerous health problems. The only Karl Marx museum in the socialist world was located in Karlovy Vary, and a path in the hills where he took walks bears his name.
August Pfizmaier, Orientalist
Walter Serner, dadaist
Hana Soukupová, supermodel
Adalbert Stifter, Austrian writer
Karin Stoiber, First Lady of Bavaria
Tomáš Vokoun, hockey player
Carl Weidl-Raymon, early proponent of European unification
Beethoven, the famous composer came for spa treatments. He and Goethe would take walks together, much to the delight of the people of Karlovy Vary.
Zbyněk Drda, singer
External links
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