Karlovy Vary
| Karlovy Vary | |||
| Carlsbad | |||
| Town | |||
 A Bird's-eye view of Karlovy Vary
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| Country | Czech Republic | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Region | Karlovy Vary | ||
| District | Karlovy Vary | ||
| Rivers | Ohře, Teplá, Rolava | ||
| Elevation | 447 m (1,467 ft) | ||
| Coordinates | 50°14′N 12°52′E / 50.233°N 12.867°ECoordinates: 50°14′N 12°52′E / 50.233°N 12.867°E | ||
| Area | 59.10 km2 (23 sq mi) | ||
| Population | 49,781 (As of 2015[update]) | ||
| Density | 842/km2 (2,181/sq mi) | ||
| Founded around | 1350 | ||
| Mayor | Ing. Petr Kulhánek | ||
| Timezone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| - summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
| Postal code | 360 01 | ||
   Location in the Czech Republic
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 Location in Karlovy Vary District
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| Statistics: statnisprava.cz | |||
| Website: www.karlovyvary.cz | |||
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Karlovy Vary or Carlsbad (Czech pronunciation: [ˈkarlovɪ ˈvarɪ]; German: Karlsbad) is a spa town situated in western Bohemia, Czech Republic, on the confluence of the rivers Ohře and Teplá, approximately 130 km (81 mi) west of Prague (Praha). It is named after Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Bohemia, 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). It is the most visited spa town in the Czech Republic.
An ancient late Bronze Age fortified settlement was found in Drahovice. A Slavic settlement in Karlovy Vary is documented by findings in Tašovice and Sedlec. People lived in the close proximity of later Karlovy Vary as far back as the 13th century and they must have been aware of the curative effects of close thermal springs.
Around 1350, Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor organized an expedition into the forests surrounding modern-day Karlovy Vary during a stay in Loket. On the site of a spring, he established a spa called the Horké Lázně u Lokte (Hot Spas at Loket). The location was subsequently renamed after him once he had acclaimed the healing power of the hot springs, at least according to legend. Charles IV granted the city privileges on 14 August 1370. Earlier settlements can be also found in the outskirts of today's city.
Due to publications produced by physicians such as David Becher and Josef von Löschner, the city developed into a famous spa resort in the 19th century and was visited by many members of European aristocracy as well as celebrities from many fields of endeavor. It became more popular after railway lines to Cheb and Prague were completed in 1870.
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Wikipedia