Mineral Springs

Charles IV Spring

2nd mineral spring of Karlovy Vary

Spring site: Market Colonnade
Location: On the left bank of the Teplá River in the historical centre of Karlovy Vary
Date of first interception: 1769
Temperature: 65,8°C
Yield: 4.8 litres per minute
CO2 content: 250-450 mg per litre
Accessibility: Freely accessible

How to get there

Route 1: You may reach the Market Colonnade if you walk from the Hot Spring in the spa centre across Jánský most (Jánský Bridge) to Tržiště (Market) Street. The spring seep is located inside the promenade premises of the Market Colonnade. This short walk is approximately 200 metres long and takes about 5 minutes.

Route 2: If you decide for the second route, travel by Bus No. 2 from the "Tržnice" (Market) city bus terminal to the "Divadelní náměstí" (Theatre Square) terminal stop. From there, follow Route 1 across Jánský most (Jánský Bridge) to Tržiště Street.

The spring, which had been also known as Žrout (Gorger), has been rising on the site of the historical Tržiště (Market) below Zámecká věž (Castle Tower) since the Middle Ages. According to legend, Emperor Charles IV healed his ailing limbs particularly at this spring. The famed legend of the foundation of Karlovy Vary is depicted on the bronze relief hanging directly over the spring bowel. The relief is entitled "The Discovery of the Hot Springs by Charles IV" and it was created by artistic blacksmith Adolf Zörkler.

The spring had served curative purposes until 1875 when the old Town Hall was demolished. Between 1882 and 1883, the spring seep was covered by the wooden Market Colonnade built in Swiss style according to the design of Viennese architects Ferdinand Fellner and Hermann Helmer.

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Mineral Springs
Market Spring

Market Spring

The fifth mineral spring of Karlovy Vary known as Tržní pramen (Market Spring) may be found inside the wooden Market Colonnade below Zámecká věž (Castle Tower) in the historical centre of Karlovy Vary. Since its discovery in 1838, the spring has repeatedly vanished and reappeared. The spring was named after the marketplace that had been on the site in the Middle Ages.
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Lower Castle Spring

Lower Castle Spring

The third mineral spring of Karlovy Vary known as Dolní zámecký pramen (Lower Castle Spring) may be found inside the wooden Market Colonnade below Zámecká věž (Castle Tower) in the historical centre of Karlovy Vary. Zámecký pramen (Castle Spring) is divided into Horní zámecký pramen (Upper Castle Spring) and Dolní zámecký pramen (Lower Castle Spring), the temperatures of which differ due to the varying altitude of their seeps. Since the main seep of the Lower Castle Spring is accessible only to the guests of the Zámecké lázně (Castle Spa) Spa and Wellness Centre, the spring has been partially diverted to the Market Colonnade where it may be enjoyed by all spa visitors.
Mineral Springs
Upper Castle Spring

Upper Castle Spring

The seep of the fourth mineral spring of Karlovy Vary known as Horní zámecký pramen (Upper Castle Spring) may be found inside the Market Colonnade next to Zámecká věž (Castle Tower) in the historical centre of Karlovy Vary. Zámecký pramen (Castle Spring) is divided into Horní zámecký pramen (Upper Castle Spring) and Dolní zámecký pramen (Lower Castle Spring), the temperatures of which differ due to the varying altitude of their seeps. The Upper Castle Spring was made accessible to the public for the first time in 1912 during the construction of the colonnade.