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Named after the Bohemian King and Holy Roman Emperor, Charles (Karl) IV, Karlovy Vary reached its epitome during the 19th century when royalty and the rich and famous came from all over Europe to benefit from the therapeutic waters of the springs – amongst them Beethoven, Brahms, Schiller, Goethe and Marx. Of the 60 hot springs 12 of them are used for treatment, which ranges from tonics derived from the water to bathing. The alkaline sulphur springs, with temperatures ranging from 34 to 73 C were used to treat mainly digestive problems and liver disease.
Unfortunately under communist rule the town was allowed to deteriorate and by the time the political mood changed it had fallen into state of sorry disrepair. Fortunately the burgeoning tourist industry of the mid nineties brought new wealth to the area as folk flocked from Europe to the legendary Spa Town discover for themselves why it had become such a Mecca for so many leading lights of history and culture. Many of the once crumbling stucco fronted buildings have now been restored to their former elegance and although there is still work to be done Karlovy Vary is beginning to become much more than a shadow of its former self.
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