S PA

T h e r m a l S pa s i n C e n t r a l E u r o p e

Immerse yourself in thermal spring and enjoy the soothing sounds of bubbling waves. Discover the relaxing power of the thermal spas in Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Austria.

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Hungary: Hundreds of Thermal Springs

Th e r m a l S p a s i n C e n t r a l Eu r o p e

“Push a birch rod firmly into the soil anywhere in Hungary and sooner or later some sort of thermal water, mineral water or spring will eventually gush forth.” The above was said by a Hungarian chemist, Vilmos Hankó, in the 19th century. It might seem an exaggeration, but the fact is that there is thermal water under 70% of Hungary’s territory. Hungary is one of the five richest countries with thermal water in the world. There are more than 1300 thermal springs in Hungary, 200 of which have got proven curative power. Budapest, itself has got more than a hundred thermal springs. In Hungary baths have been used for 2000 years for relaxing and healing. The Romans residing here in the first century were the first ones to use the local thermal baths. During the Turkish occupation in the 16th and 17th century thermal waters became popular again and several new public baths were erected. Some of these Turkish Baths are still operating and are open to the public. In Hungary thermal baths offer not only wellness therapies, but medical treatments, too. If you visit the country you shouldn’t miss out on visiting thermal baths. You can take a spa break at the unique thermal lake of Heviz or in one of the numerous bath complexes of Hungary. Heviz Spa

The Heviz Spa is located on the shores of the Heviz Lake, which is the largest thermal lake in Europe. It’s a sight for sore eyes – the lake in the middle of the wooded park with the waterNovember, 2011

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lilies which became its symbol. The water of the lake, with its particular chemical composition, and the mud covering the bottom of the lake are used for several treatments provided in the Heviz Thermal Spa. Heviz Lake is Hungary’s first and most wellknown thermal bath, which according to archaeological finds was also known to the Romans. The lake is fed by a natural hot spring so abundant, that the water of the Heviz Lake changes in every three days. The water has an average temperature of 33 ºC. As the temperature never falls bellow 24 ºC, it enables winter bathing. The constant water flow of the lake gives a natural massage effect. In addition, due to the condensation of the steam during the winter season, it creates a natural inhalatorium together with a spectacular view. The Heviz Lake is surrounded by a wood, which has an important role in protecting its special microclimate from wind, dust and noise. The mineral-rich water and the curative mud of Heviz are applied for prevention and healing, as well.

bathe in it for much longer, practically for an unlimited amount of time. The Cave Bath can be visited all year long except for January.

beauty treatments and saunas. In addition children pools, slides and water games for the whole family are available.

Sarvar Spa

Debrecen Spa

Sarvar Spa is located at about 30 km from the Austrian border. The famous thermal crystal salt of Sarvar is used for locomotive, dermatologic and gynecologic diseases. The Wellness Centre offers several types of massages,

Debrecen Spa is located near the HungarianRomanian border. The thermal water of Debrecen Thermal Baths is used for 40 types of therapies. In the wellness centre you can choose from beauty treatments, massages, while the

Miskolctapolca Cave Bath

Miskolctapolca was already famous for its thermal water during Turkish times. A 150-meter-long cave was discovered in 1936. In this site the cave bath was built. The resort now offers health spa services and wellness treatments. The thermal water (temperature: 30°C, 86°F) is reputed to cure pain in the joints, and since it has lower salt content than most thermal waters (around 1000 mg/litre), people can November, 2011

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ing the Turkish Occupation. The ancient vault irreparably damaged over the last centuries was substituted. Beside the thermal pool with golden cupola other pools with water at different temperatures were built and there’s also a hamam (a type of steam bath). Near the Turkish Baths in Eger there are Thermal Baths and an outdoor spa, too. Harkany Spa

Harkany is a spa city in South-Hungary with particular Mediterranean climate. In its indoor and outdoor pools several wellness and health spa treatments are available. The healing water of Harkany Spa is famous of its curative effect on rheumatism and psoriasis. medical therapies of the health spa department are used successfully against locomotive disorders. The Debrecen Aquapark is very popular, too. Gyula Castle Spa

Gyula is a little spa city in South-East Hungary. Gyula Castle Spa was built in the park of the Almasy Castle. You can relax in the Wellness and Sauna Centre, take health treatments in the health spa section while children will love the huge aqua playground. Eger Bath

The only Turkish Bath in Hungary outside Budapest. It was built in the 16th century, dur-

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Zalakaros Spa

Zalakaros Spa is a bath complex near the Lake Balaton with thermal bath, adventure spa, outdoor spa and wellness centre. The Thermal Spa exists since 1965, its thermal water was discovered in the course of oil research. Since then it has become a spa complex offering wellness therapies and health treatments, too. Hajduszoboszlo Spa

Hajduszoboszlo Thermal Spa is a huge bath complex with thermal bath, outdoor aquapark, indoor adventure spa and a swimming pool. The particular water of Hajduszoboszlo was discovered in 1925 in the course of oil exploration. The first bath was built 2 years later. The

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Th e r m a l S p a s i n C e n t r a l Eu r o p e

Benefits of Thermal Baths in Hungary

Aside from being a completely warm and relaxing experience, thermal baths are believed to provide several distinct health benefits. Many Hungarians treat a visit to the thermal bath as part of personal healthcare or treatment for a variety of specific ailments. Thermal baths are believed to aid in relaxing the muscles which is especially good for strained muscles and torn ligaments. The hot air that circulates inside the thermal baths in Hungary is believed to aid in strengthening the respiratory system. Thermal baths have even been said to be beneficial for treating gynecological problems.

Hajduszoboszlo Aquapark was the first water amusement park in Hungary. Bukfurdo

Hungary’s second largest bath complex is only 50 years old. The thermal water of Bukfurdo Spa Hungary was discovered in the 1950s in the course of oil exploration. Its first pool was built in 1962 and since then there have been constant developments and expansions on the premises. Today it houses 27 pools (thermal, swimming, children’s pools, adventure bath), a wellness centre and a slide complex in a pleasant wooded park. http://www.thermal-spa-hungary.com

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Tyrol: Thermal Baths and Adventure Worlds

Splashing, swimming, sitting back and relaxing  – that’s what water worlds and thermal baths in Tyrol, Austria are all about. Childrens’ hearts will leap with joy when they are splashing around in the swimming pools and enjoy November, 2011

sliding. In the meantime adults can sit back and relax in the whirlpool, take a massage and put their feet up in the relax area. From the Bärenarena Berwang to the Aigner Badl spa and the well-known Aqua Dome:

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whatever you wish for, the spas in Tyrol will for sure satisfy you! Erlebnistherme Zillertal

The modern thermal bath in Fügen, located in the Zillertal valley, provides water fun as well as a relaxing feeling. A state of the art thermal bath expects you in the Zillertal valley. A wave basin, a 133 m long “Black Hole” water slide as well as an adventure pool create a new dimension of leisure activities. There are many attractions: children can for example enjoy romping on a climbing net above the water surface. However, if you rather would like to relax, indulge into the sauna world, where pleasant light effects, stimulating aromas and calming sounds provide a cozy atmosphere. Fun and action for adults and children are offered in the outdoor pool, where a water jet, dousing shower, starfish, air bubbles, trampolines and many more attractions make not only children’s hearts thump with joy. After exhausting water experiences you can sit back and relax on the lawn, including an area of 5,000 sqm. There is even an area for babies, where they can splash to the top of their waist. Moreover there is a games area and the little ones are really enthusiastic about playing there with friends! By the way: there is also a family discount, and for all those who do not want to spend a whole day in the thermal bath, there is also a two-hours ticket. Where: in Fügen, Zillertal valley Peculiarity: a thermal bath for kids and adults

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Aqua Dome–Thermal Bath Längenfeld

The most modern thermal bath of Austria is a combination of fun and action, spa, adventures and relaxation. Relaxation in the heart of the Oetztal Alps is what expects you in the Längenfeld thermal bath. In a huge glass crystal there are the two indoor pools with warm water, which are directly connected to the basins in the outdoor area. However, three more bowl-shaped basins are located outside: the sole basin with underwater music, the massage basin with thermal water as well as the whirl basin. These pools are characterized by a unique architecture. However, enjoying these attractions is of utmost pleasure when it is snowing… The Längenfeld thermal bath is also an ideal place to spend a day with your family. The

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“Alpen Arche Noah”, an area for families and children that is completely separated from the facility, offers cascade waterfalls, fountains, a swimming pool with sand banks and a 90 m long water slide, attractions which make both adults and children get going! Generally the facility is based on the power of opposites. Heat and cold, fragrant steam and icy rain alternate. Moreover the elements stone, light and wood are central in the facility and make the unique architecture even more special. Where: in Längenfeld, Oetztal valley Peculiarity: the most modern thermal bath of Austria with unique architecture

http://www.tyrol.tl

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Th e r m a l S p a s i n C e n t r a l Eu r o p e

Jáchymov Storms: World’s First Radon Spa Who would not know the fragrance of fresh air after a storm had died down? The rain washes away everything old and dirty and all the surroundings are filled with energy of something fresh and new. Such purification is usually more intense in the mountains than in towns or valleys. The true mountain storm can perplex everyone! During long years of its existence, the city of Jáchymov in Czech Republic experienced several storms. Some were devastating, destructive and full of dramatic flashes; the others were purifying and bringing hope. One of the storms gave birth to a rarity. Something unique that literally shook the whole world. A mere one tenth gram of radium salt was the tiny and almost invisible object that the storm revealed to the world and the storm was Marie Curie Sklodowska. When French professor Bequerel discovered at the end of the 19th century that uranium compounds emit X-rays, Marie Curie was just searching for an unexplored field she could focus on in her postgraduate work. She thus concentrated on uranium ores and with her husband she was researching various intensities of radiation. They found the highest one in pitchblende  – a stone named after bad luck. Miners used to find pitchblende at the end of silver-bearing veins and the stone was associated with the November, 2011

end of sweet dreams about gained fortune. However, Bad luck brought Good luck to the Curie couple and a flash of lightning struck from the sky and stirred up the most famous Jáchymov times. "Tons of pitchblende were too expensive! Wits are sufficient instead of money: if pitchblende in its raw form is a precious mineral, then, its waste after processing should be of a minimum price. At the intercession of the Vienna Academy of Science, the Austrian government ruled to donate free of charge a ton of waste from Jáchymov, which had not been disposed of,” Eva Curie wrote in the memoirs of her mother. An accident helped it that the pitchblende from Jáchymov was at the birth of the discovery of rare radon. Not only Jáchymov pitchblende but also water streaming in the mines was full of radon, which as the miners gradually ascertained was beneficial for the treatment of wounds and diseases. And it took just a small step to establish the first radon spa in the world in 1906. Since then, more than one hundred years have passed. Water is no longer carried in wooden buckets from the mine to town bathtubs and healing effects of radon water have been examined thoroughly. The last storm split up the fog of ignorance and the lightning lit up Jáchymov as the cameras floodlight world stars.

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Beneficial Source of Radon Water

Many balneological methods apply a plentiful of chemical means. In contrast, radon treatment is a purely natural source of energy (gas released from the cracks of the earth which dissolves into underground water). In Jáchymov, the oldest operating mine in Bohemia and probably even in the whole Europe is a unique source of this natural treasure. The Svornost mine (in English: Concord) was opened in 1518 and on its twelfth level (in the depth of 500 meters under the ground) there are springs of radon water named after academician Běhounek and Marie Curie (the names of both scientists can be found in the names of Jáchymov spa hotels as well).

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The walk through the mine can be compared to a walk through a picture gallery on some spots. Evaporating radon colored the surrounding walls into unbelievable thick colors (therefore, Jáchymov uranium was used for a production of glass and porcelain colors). Red is replaced by green, blue is substituted by white, brown is transformed into yellow…And try to mix the colors yourselves, famous painters! Unique Natural Source in the Role of a Renowned Physician

For people who have problems with the locomotive apparatus or who want to prevent such complications, the Jáchymov baths are the right choice. The radon bath ranks among the most efficient balneological methods! During the bath, soft alpha rays with a minimum

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amount of radon (0.5%) penetrate the body. Within half an hour, 75% of radon is released from the body. The amount of radiation which enters the human body during a three-week treatment can be compared with one X-ray of lungs. Radon is absolutely harmless. On the other hand, it stimulates the body regeneration and significantly increases immunity. Radon baths contribute to blood perfusion of bones and joints. They cure diseases of the spine and joints, work as anti-rheumatism medicine without any side effects and moderate pain for up to 8-10 months after the cure. Radon helps after injuries and operations. It is also beneficial for people with diabetes or gout. For numerous clients suffering from rheumatism and Bechterew disease, radon treatment means inexpressible relief. The treatment can be taken during the three-week spa program in the Jáchymov Spa. You can also take single baths as an external patient. However, patients should take at least 11 baths to experience some benefits. How Is the Radon Bath Carried out

Radon water at the temperature of 35-37˚ C is pumped into the bath from down below. This unusual way which reminds you of the springs of wild water stops radon from leaking into the air. This would occur if water was poured in from a classical tap. Then, it suffices to lie down and allow small bubbles to jump along your body in peace.

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Another form of radon treatment application is the so-called Jáchymov boxes (Jáchymovské krabičky). It is a special ionizing method called brachyradiumtherapy. The client receives a minimum anti-inflammatory and painkilling dose of gama ionization whose source is radium salt. The boxes are applied directly to aching joints. It is apparent that the greatest Jáchymov storm – Curie – gave birth to a world unique discovery of radioactivity. Above all, she helped to make thousands of people feel and move better, younger and without pain every year.

By Jáchymov Spa (Lázně Jáchymov) http://www.laznejachymov.cz

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Top Thermal Spas in Slovakia

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like medicine), but all of the spas also offer soothing soaks, massages and other restorative therapies, as well as swimming and other recreational opportunities in beautiful natural settings. Because spas are considered serious medicine in Slovakia, you can also receive affordable medical treatment from physicians during your stay at any of these resorts. Some spas use mud or peat as a cure. You haven’t lived until you’ve had a mud bath – your skin will feel fabulous afterwards. And be prepared: in same-sex bathing facilities, you’ll find most Europeans are not embarrassed to soak or walk around in the nude. Vadaš Thermal Štúrovo

There are more than 1300 mineral sources in Slovakia that are used like curative water and high quality mineral water for drinking. There are 21 thermal spas built on these mineral springs. Slovakia is literally overflowing with hot springs, mineral water sources, spas and even a geyser. While in the U.S. spas are generally expensive and considered a luxury, the Central and Eastern European spa tradition stresses affordability, health and relaxation. November, 2011

There are 1,160 “registered” sources of healing water in Slovakia and 22 spa resorts. Besides being relaxing, restorative places for healthy people, spas have long been used in Europe to treat medical conditions – such as respiratory, digestive, cardiovascular, immunological and other disorders, even infertility. In fact, each spa specializes in one or more of these disorders. The main focus of the “cure” is often drinking water from the spring (and it usually tastes

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The recreation complex Vadaš Thermal in Štúrovo is well known abroad. Thanks to its capacity of 10,000 guests, refurbished swimming pools of variable size, indoor swimming pools, rebuilt buffets and sporting facilities, it provides ideal conditions for relaxation to all fans of sun and water. There are 7 external and 2 indoor swimming pools in the swimming complex, including a massage pool, external all-year sitting pool and a unique swimming pool with artificial waves, the only one in Slovakia, a Lagoon of 3800 m. The pools are supplied with thermal water from the depth of 130 m with a temperature of 39 °C. The history of the swimming pool starts in 1973 when the first geologic bores were done. The construction of the recreation complex started in 1976 and the first pools were opened two years later. The swimming complex was gradually equipped with buffets,

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bungalow accommodation and in 1983 with a hotel. After a period of stagnation in 1999 a new era of development started when an indoor swimming pool with a 25 m long pool and a smaller pool for kids were opened. In 2002 a new sitting pool with pearl massage was built as well. Thermal Corvinus Veľký Meder

First recreational pool in Thermal Corvinus Veľký Meder was started in 1974. Since the beginning, the spa has been supplied by two geo-thermal bores. In 2001, an indoor complex was built with a large pool, a bubble bath and a pool for kids. From 2004 the pools were gradually reconstructed. Among the services on offer are – TARZANIA Veľký Meder – the longest rope park in Slovakia (650 m), Sauna Centre – 4 types of saunas: infrared, steam, herbal and Finnish saunas with Jacuzzi, Massage – classic massage, reflexology massage, aromatherapy massage, relaxation massage, sport massage, Salt Cave – this salt cave is a room built from natural blocks of salt from Pakistani and Polish salt mines, Dead and Adriatic Sea, CERAGEM – thermal acupressure massage bed developed in South Korea; it helps to refine bloodstream, restores defects and reduces inflammation in the organism… Spa of Piešťany

Worldwide known Spa Piešťany is located in western Slovakia, only 86 km from the capital November, 2011

Bratislava in the northern part of the region Dolné Považie. Beautiful spa island with its luxurious park has a rich cultural and social life and numerous relaxing possibilities. Spa Piešťany offers capacity of 2000 beds and every year there are more than 40,000 patients treated. Patients come to get their treatment from all over the world – 60% of the guests are foreigners. Most of them are from Czech Republic, Germany, Austria and Arab countries.

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The spa became the largest and most famous spa in Slovakia thanks to the healing geothermal water and sulphuric mud. Hot mineral springs reach the temperature of 67-69 °C and contain 1,500 mg of mineral substances per liter. In combination with mud it gave the perfect conditions for development of the spa and its therapeutic facilities. The spa specializes in chronic rheumatic treatment and in arthritic diseases, post-accident lesions of joints and bones. It is also very

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successful in therapy of locomotion apparatus. The spa has various rehabilitation methods and techniques, mud procedures, water-treatment procedures, electric treatment, remedial gymnastics, massages. The Social Center of the spa, located in the northern part of the island, offers many cultural and artistic programs such as theatre festivals or gallery exhibitions. Excursions to the local architectural and historical monuments are organized regularly. Sometimes there are international congresses and conferences held. And, of course, the center gives opportuNovember, 2011

nities for many sport activities like: volleyball, handball, tennis, golf, swimming pools, cycling tracks along the Váh River, possibility of nautical sports and fishing. Spa of Trenčianske Teplice

A piece of Orient in western Slovakia – that is spa of Trenčianske Teplice. The spa, that is also called the Pearl of Carpathians, lies in wonderful Strážovské Mountains only 14 km from Trenčín. Mineral springs, spas, nature, parks, beautiful landscape are only a part of

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the interesting offer of the Spa. Trenčianske Teplice is one of the most visited and the oldest spas in Slovakia – the first written record is from 1397. There are several spa houses in the premises, some of them were built in more classical style, some are modern, but all of them offer great services. Probably the most interesting is the architecture of the bath Hammam situated in spa building Sima that is decorated in oriental style of Turkish bath from 19th century. It is an original copy of a summer residence in the Moorish style that was originally prepared for Egyptian governor. Springs of mineral water with temperature of 37-40 °C and with chemical composition of sulphur-calcium-magnesium-thermal-hypotonic mineral waters make the spa the ideal place for treatment of the following diseases: mobility rheumatic diseases, apparatus defects, arthritis, sclerosis multiplex, organic nervous diseases. Other therapy methods include hydrotherapy, electrotherapy, acupuncture, sauna, massages and others. Spa of Trenčianske Teplice is an important cultural centre, too. Every year an international Art Film festival and the Summer Music Festival Pohoda is held here. Interesting trips are organized to Trenčín and its castle; and also to a small village Čičmany. Thanks to the many parks and mountains it is a small paradise for the ones loving walks. The English park with a little swan lake located in the area of the spa is very romantic. http://www.slovak-republic.org