Park Colonnade

Location: On the left bank of the Teplá River in the spa centre of Karlovy Vary
Period of construction: 1881
Architect: Ferdinand Fellner and Hermann Helmer
Official opening: 5 June 1881
Springs: Hadí pramen (Snake Spring)
Accessibility: Freely accessible

How to get there

Route 1:        You may reach the Park Colonnade in Dvořákovy sady (Dvořák's Park) if you walk from the Hot Spring in the spa centre along the left bank of the Teplá River, walk past Mlýnská kolonáda (Mill Colonnade) and Vojenský lázeňský ústav (Army Spa Institution). This route, which offers a pleasant walk through the city centre, is approximately 800 metres long and it will take you about 15 minutes.

Route 2:        The second alternative is to travel by Bus No. 1 or Bus No. 4 from the "Tržnice" (Market) city bus terminal to the "Lázně III" (Spa III) terminal stop. From there, walk about 150 metres across Lázeňský most (Spa Bridge) over the Teplá River and continue along the Army Spa Institution to the Park Colonnade.

History of the structure

The richly decorated cast-iron colonnade was originally a part of a two-wing roofed promenade veranda of the Blanenský Pavilion in Dvořákovy sady (Dvořák's Park) behind Vojenský lázeňský ústav (Army Spa Institution). The concert and restaurant hall was assembled from cast-iron parts made at the Blansko Iron Works. It was constructed by local builder Josef Waldert according to the design of famous Viennese architects Ferdinand Fellner and Hermann Helmer between the years 1880 and 1881. The grand opening of the complex took place on 5 June 1881 at the occasion of the start of the spa season.

In 1965, the Blanenský Pavilion and a part of the double-wing promenade veranda had become so dilapidated that they had to be demolished. Only the east promenade wing, which is known as the Park Colonnade today, has been preserved from the vast complex. Between the years 2000 and 2002, the city of Karlovy Vary launched an extensive reconstruction of the colonnade. The seep of the Snake Spring has been newly brought out to the colonnade during the reconstruction and the seep of Sadový pramen (Park Spring) is also accessible from the Park Colonnade, namely in the underground premises of Vojenský lázeňský ústav (Army Spa Institution).