Frantiskovy Lazne (German: Franzensbad) is a small resort town near the city of Cheb in the west of the Czech Republic. The city is located near the border with Germany. Together with neighboring Marianske Lazne and Karlovy Vary, it forms the famous West Bohemian SPA triangle. The historic city center is a candidate for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Population of Frantiskovy Lazne - 5355 people. Distance from Prague - 200 kilometers.
History of the city
Frantiskovy Lazne is known throughout the world as a spa resort. The healing effect of local springs has been known since the end of the 14th century. George Agricola (1494 - 1555) in his writings speaks about the water that the inhabitants of Cheb drink. According to the laws of that time, water from springs brought to the city was used for charitable purposes. Later, this water was bottled in earthenware bottles for sale. In 1700, more mineral water from local springs was sold than at all the resorts of the empire combined. Around 1705, on the site of a mineral geyser, knownnamed Franzenswelle, a hotel was built.
The modern city was officially founded in 1793. During the reign of Emperor Francis II it was called Kaiser Franzensdorf, later renamed Franzensbad. Under this name he became famous.
The SPA center was founded by the physician Bernhard Adler (1753 – 1810), who helped turn the swampy area with trails and footpaths into a famous spa. He contributed to the expansion of existing facilities for those seeking healing.
In 1791 Dr. Adler built a new pavilion and swimming pool in Franzenswell. With this, he aroused the dissatisfaction of numerous women who earned their living by extracting, transporting and selling mineral water in Cheb. Not wanting to lose their source of income, they put up fierce resistance to the doctor's plans and ended up destroying his building. The city council sided with the doctor and assisted in the restoration and transformation of the premises into a sanatorium. A magnificent recreation area has been created and transport links have been established with the city of Cheb.
Celebrities who stayed here
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was one of the earliest known guests. His visits to Franzensbad with Johannes Urzidil were detailed in Goethe in Böhmen. Ludwig van Beethoven, accompanied by Antonia Brentano and her family, was also one of the first to visit this resort.
In the 19th century, numerous aristocrats, especially Russian nobles, werefamous doctors practicing here, which strengthened the reputation of Frantiskovy Lazne (Franzensbad) as an exclusive resort. The world's first peat bath was opened in Frantiskovy Lazne, the reviews about it were the most enthusiastic. She was very popular among the ladies.
The public SPA house was built in 1827.
The writer Maria von Ebner-Eschenbach commemorated her stay here in her early work "Aus Franzensbad" in 1858.
Other distinguished guests included Theodor Herzl, Emperor Francis Joseph I and Archduke Charles I.
In 1862, Franzensbad received an autonomous municipality and three years later city privileges.
Years of crisis
After the First World War, the resort began to lose its prestige. As part of the new state of Czechoslovakia, the he alth resort lost many of its guests and suffered greatly from the Great Depression of 1929.
After the Second World War, the German and Hungarian population was expelled from Czechoslovakia, deprived of citizenship and property in accordance with the Beneš decrees. Many of them settled in Bayreuth in German Bavaria.
SPA facilities were nationalized under the influence of the Communist Party. After the "velvet revolution" in 1989, a joint-stock company was created, which sought to improve the status of Frantiskovy Lazne and make it more attractive to foreigners.
SPA
Natural water from local springs has a unique composition - it containsa large amount of carbon dioxide and sodium sulfate. A high effect of carbon dioxide baths is observed in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, chronic inflammatory processes in the body, rheumatism. Taking mineral baths improves blood circulation in the tissues and promotes vegetative stabilization.
Mud bath has a thermal, chemical and mechanical effect, it is a traditional healing method. The combination of therapeutic mud and mineral water is heated to a temperature that is well above body temperature. The treatment has a positive effect on muscle pain and mobility.
The local resort corporation is the largest in the Czech Republic.
Types and methods of spa treatment
In Frantiskovy Lazne, treatment is based on basic SPA procedures that use natural healing resources:
- Thermotherapy (parafango wrap, mud wrap, paraffin wrap).
- Hydrotherapy (mineral bath, mud bath, foam bath, hot tub, underwater massage).
- Massages (acupressure massage, aromatherapy, reflexive foot massage, classic, lymphatic drainage, linear lower limb massage, anti-migraine, reflexive).
- Kinesitherapy (group therapeutic exercises, individual, pool exercises, manual therapy).
- Carbon dioxide therapy (gas injections, dry carbon dioxide bath).
- Relaxation massage (chocolate, honey, hot stone massage, Hawaiian).
- Other treatments (colon hydrotherapy, electrotherapy, inhalation, magnetotherapy, oxygen therapy, ultrasound).
With the permission of the Ministry of He alth of the Czech Republic, natural healing resources are used - mineral water and peat from local deposits.
Thermotherapy: mud wrap
The peat used for wrapping comes from the area of Frantiskovy Lazne. It is a sulfur trivalent peat with a large proportion of reeds. It is applied in crushed form, mixed with water, which is heated to 42-43 °C. The minerals contained in peat penetrate the skin. High temperature increases blood circulation in the body, and also improves metabolism, which accelerates the absorption of inflammatory infiltrates and relaxes both skeletal muscles and vascular smooth muscles. Treatment time - 20 minutes.
Hydrotherapy: carbonic acid bath
The carbon dioxide bath uses natural mineral water from the Stephanie spring. The water temperature is between 33 and 34 °C, this is a hypothermic bath. The sensation of cold disappears after a few seconds, when carbon dioxide bubbles form a continuous film on the surface of the skin. Carbon dioxide is absorbed by the skin and causes a chemical reaction in the body, first dilating the blood vessels near the surface of the skin and then deep blood vessels. In general, reviews indicate that blood perfusion improves, blood pressure drops. Mineral bathsare used, among other things, in diseases of the musculoskeletal system, gynecological and urological disorders. Treatment time - 20 minutes.
Mud bath
The peat used for the bath comes from the area of Frantiskovy Lazne. It is a sulfur trivalent peat with a large proportion of reeds. Peat is added to mineral water from the Stephanie spring. During bathing, the whole body heats up. After the bath, the patient feels pleasantly relaxed. Patient reviews contain information that the effect of the mud bath is also analgesic, bactericidal and virucidal. Duration - 20 minutes.
Hot tub
This is a full body bath, the temperature ranges between 36 and 38 °C. The circulation of water and air currents leads to massage, improves blood supply to the limbs, improves metabolism and stimulates skin cells. Hydromassage helps to cure lymphatic tumors, rheumatic diseases and post-traumatic conditions. It is also useful for patients with muscle atrophy, peripheral paralysis and diabetes. Duration - 20 minutes.
Carbon dioxide therapy: gas injections
Gas injections are a type of reflective therapy. Medicinal 100% carbon dioxide is used, which is injected under the skin in a maximum amount of 200 ml per session. The initial effect may be uncomfortable or even painful, but after a few minutes it turns into a pleasant, warm feeling. The skin around the injection site turns red for a short time. Reviews testifythat carbon dioxide causes small blood vessels to dilate, which in turn leads to muscle relaxation and pain relief. Repeated applications improve tissue nutrition.
Dry carbon dioxide bath
The procedure is performed in a sitting position. The legs and part of the body below the patient's waist are in a plastic bag filled with medicinal 100% carbon dioxide. The gas quickly penetrates the skin, even through clothing. There is an expansion of blood vessels, first at the surface of the skin, then deep. According to patients, due to this effect, blood pressure throughout the body drops, blood supply to the lower extremities improves, and inflammatory manifestations decrease. Elevated carbon dioxide levels have a positive effect on kidney function. The effects of a dry carbon dioxide bath are almost identical to those of a mineral bath, so this treatment is suitable even for people with skin conditions. The procedure lasts 20 minutes.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound converts electrical energy into mechanical and thermal energy, thereby massaging tissues at the micro level. Frequencies between 0, 75 and 3 MHz allow targeted treatment of deep subcutaneous structures. This leads to an improvement in blood perfusion and tissue nutrition, relaxation of muscle contractures, softening of scars and a decrease in edema. According to reviews, for musculoskeletal disorders, the effect of ultrasound is analgesic and anti-inflammatory. Duration - up to 10 minutes.
Inhalation
Mineral water is used for inhalationwater, which improves the function of the respiratory mucous membranes of the respiratory system. Water is effective against inflammation, dissolves phlegm and relieves cough. With a strong difficulty in breathing, medicines can be added to the water. In normal cases, natural s alts or plant extracts are added to the water. The procedure lasts no more than 10 minutes.
During your stay in Frantiskovy Lazne, hotels offer a wide range of wellness balneological treatments.
Springs of Frantiskovy Lazne: indications for treatment
Typically, the course of treatment is 21 or 28 days. Therapy is prescribed to patients by their physicians. The duration and content of therapeutic procedures is determined by the medical staff of the sanatorium on the basis of an examination of the subject upon his arrival at the SPA center. The doctor prescribes the exact composition of the water treatment and SPA procedures.
A trip here is indicated for diseases of the cardiovascular system, gynecological diseases, hypertension, metabolic disorders and endocrine glands, diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
Almost all sanatoriums of Frantiskovy Lazne (Czech Republic) have mineral springs on their territory. The water temperature in them is from 9 to 11 °C. Of the 21 sources, some are used for drinking, while others are used in various SPA treatments. Numerous springs can be found in the colonnades and pavilions located in the SPA area.
