Frantiskovy Lazne Things to Do

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Frantiskovy Lazne - as all the spa towns I know - has a number of beautiful gardens and parks where you can stroll and enjoy the beautiful nature. One of them is the city park (Mestske sady / Kurpark). In that English style park you find a nice cafe with terrace, the pavillion where the town's orchestra performs occasionally, a monument to remember Franz II and the Stanislav spring (see below).

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The full name of the church is: Roman-Catholic church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Ugh.

Emperor Franz II himself gave permission to build this church in 1812. The works started in 1815 and were completed in 1820. This church is one of the few absolutely empire sacral buildings in the Czech Republic. The bells in the steeple are actually older than the church (16th century) and are from another, meanwhile torn down chapel. The organ is from the end of the 19th century, the paintings were created by Wilhelm Kandler in 1854 (who also worked at the castle in Prague).

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Right in the heart of the spa district is the most important spring, also the one that was discovered and used first: Francis's spring (Frantiskovy pramen). The name says it all - the town and the spring are named after the same guy, Franz II, the Hapsburg Emperor.

A small pavillion was built in 1793 to protect the spring. It is well preserved. To try this spring you must pay a (very) small fee.

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The Glaub Salt springs are very important for the spa treatments in this town. Guests drink this mineral water - it is good if one has problems with digestion. Two Glauber Salt springs were encased in 1919 and 1921 - that's when this hall was built. The architecture is quite interesting. Not as ornate as before, more functional, but still beautiful.

In 1999 they drilled another successful well. The water from this spring is milder. While the water from the older springs is only recommended for really sick people everyone can drink that of the new spring. It is cold, slightly bitter, and free.

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Smetana park / Sady Bedricha Smetany is another beautiful English style park. It is full of beautiful, quiet corners. Right in the middle is the Hotel Imperial, one of the finest hotels in the whole region. It is a four star Belle Epoque hotel, restored to old splendor. You're welcome to walk around in their formal garden but also inside the hotel (public areas only, of course).

At the northwest corner of the park is the town's theatre located. Also, one of the townhouses that borders to the park's west side has a plaque stating that composer Johann Strauss stayed there once.

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One of the mineral springs is Stanislav spring in the city park / Mestske sady. It was enchased in 1981. The mineral water - 120 litres per minute, that's about 20 gallons - comes from a depth of 61 m. The temperature of the water is 12° Celsius.

You're welcome to try the mineral water. Be prepared it tastes bitter. Not pleasant but healthy :-)

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The Casino / Kurhaus - Spolecensky dum in Czech - is the centre of social events/activities in Frantiskovy Lazne. The magnificent building was constructed in the 19th century and recently restored to old beauty - a true gem of Belle Epoque architecture.

It hosts the Casino of the town which offers offers games such as Roulette, Caribbean Poker, Black Jack and slot machines. It is open from 03:00 p.m. till 4:00 a.m.

The building also has some restaurants, cafes and bars, among them a gourmet restaurant (which I haven't tried). I can imagine it must be fun to relax on their sunny terrace sipping a drink.