People have been travelling to the Czech spa town of Karlovy Vary for centuries. Our author was there too and asked herself: Can the spa principle still have something to offer for today?
I’ve walked ten kilometers when I finally recognize my mother-in-law on the other side of the river. Next to her is my father-in-law, the musicians, and at a distance the witnesses, the priest. He has turned to the bride and groom, but he doesn’t look happy. The whole group seems gloomy. I couldn’t make it any faster, I apologize, loosen the laces of my hiking boots, sit down opposite them and order a ginger tea in the only restaurant.
I imagine how their celebration was abruptly interrupted at midnight. It was Hans Heiling’s fault, as the Brothers Grimm noted. Hans Heiling, once a wealthy man, was in league with the devil and left the wedding party to him before he threw himself into the Eger, into the sluggishly flowing water at my feet. Since then, the revelers have been petrified – a legendary rock formation.
Many people have sat where I am sitting. Like me, they set out to hike through the forest and visit the stone society. The Hans Heiling Rock is one of the most popular destinations around Karlovy Vary, as the largest spa in the Czech Republic is now called. It was called the “Salon of Europe” in the 18th century because everyone who was anyone came. A hundred years later, the high nobility came. Karlovy Vary was a place that promised many things: getting rid of gout and finding out the latest news. Having conversations and becoming the subject of conversation yourself. Bathing in warm springs and perhaps, no, definitely cultivating a love affair. Taking a cure meant setting out: the water should not come to the patient, but the patient should move to the water. That is the principle of the cure. Can it still have something in store for the present?
To find out, I checked into a room at the Grandhotel Pupp a few days ago.
Source: Stern
I’m Caroline, a journalist and author for 24 Hours Worlds. I specialize in health-related news and stories, bringing real-world impact to readers across the globe. With my experience in journalism and writing in both print and online formats, I strive to provide reliable information that resonates with audiences from all walks of life.
