Marianske Lazne Travel Guide

Located on Goethovo namesti (Goethe Square), just behind the colonnade, this museum gives you interesting insights into Marianske Lazne's history. You will get to know a lot about the springs and their effects and of course about Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, who probably was the spa's best known guest. It is especially interesting to see his rooms (when he visited Marianske Lazne, he stayed in the building where the museum is in today) - first and foremost the one with the picture of Ulrike von Levetzow who was Goethe's last love. Read more about that in my general tips!
Other interesting things in the museum: a large panoramic picture of Marianske Lazne, Goethe's original room equipment... Furthermore, the building is the oldest one of Marianske Lazne, dating back to 1818!

It is quite convenient to go to Marianske Lazne from Prague.
By Train it takes about 2,5-3,5 hours,
there are many train connections during the day, most of them are direct connections .

the price is 224 CZK one way (280 CZK by faster EC Train)

The Trains leave from Prague main railway station (Praha Hlavni Nadrazi), station easy accessible by Metro (subway)

for train schedule you can check the Railway page (is also in english & german language):
http://www.vlak.cz/ConnForm.asp?cl=E5

In Marianske Lazne You can use electrobusses from Train station to the city (about 10 minutes drive, 8 CZK )

Have a nice Trip :-)

Wealth Warning: Avoid using Chequepoint to change money in Marianske Lazne or anywhere else for that matter.

Some of my British and American friends have told me horror stories of the rip-off rates charged by Chequepoint when changing currency. The company (click on the logo so you can steer clear of it) has outlets at many tourist sites. Other VT members in Hungary and Hong Kong have reported the same kind of fraud. My advice is not to use Chequepoint under any circumstances.

Fun Alternatives: You will get much more competitive rates drawing local currency on your Visa or Visa Electron card (preferably use a cash dispenser in a bank during opening hours and check the card slot shows no evidence of being fiddled with (a favourite trick is to slip a thin additional reader in). Shield the keypad with your hand as you tap the numbers in (in another scam, a concealed webcam films your PIN number).

The oldest golf course in the Czech Republic is located in Marianske Lazne. The course was founded in 1905 by the British King Edward VII. In the 90s hosted European PGA Tour.
The best thing about the course is its variety. Every hole is unique. Unique is also the athmosphere in the stylish club house. The golf course is located above the city and due to the altitude opened from May til October.
If you want to have game, do not forget to book a tee time in advance. For details see the homepage of the Royal Golf Club Marianske Lazne. Further golf possibilities on www.marianske-lazne.info/en/golf

Equipment: Should not be a problem to hire a set

Favorite thing: Goethe visited Marianske Lazne (what was then Marienbad) first in 1820, and then in several summers. In 1821, he met Ulrike von Levetzow. Goethe was 72 at that time and von Levetzow was 17. He immediately fell in love with the girl and two years later dared to do the impossible. With the help of a friend he proposed to Ulrike! More or less logically, she didn't feel like him and rejected the proposal. Later she stated that she "loved him just like a father", but not more. Goethe became really depressed when he heard about the rejection and suffered so much that he tried to compensate his suffering in writing. On his way home, he started writing the "Marienbad Elegy" in which he mourns the loss of Ulrike's love. See this link for a complete version of the elegy. Nowadays, the elegy counts as one of Goethe's main works, regarded by some as his most personal poem.
Interestingly, Ulrike von Levetzow became very important in humanist studies later. She lived until the biblical age of 95 and thus was at the end of her life (1804-1899) the only person who had met Goethe!