Lázně Petrkov Building complex

Welcome to Spa Petrkov, where history meets the calm of nature and where water once treated bodies and souls. You are standing in front of an area that has been the center of healing and social encounter for centuries. In front of you you can see a space that breathes through history and is closely connected to the surrounding landscape, especially the nearby Spa Pond. Stop for a moment, take a breath and feel the atmosphere of this place. Imagine how, centuries ago, people in period clothes came through here, how the noise of beds sounded, and how expectations of healing were carried through the air. To understand why these baths are here, we have to go back almost 300 years. It all began in 1729, when an unexpected discovery occurred in the valley between the Holy Cross and Petrkov. A monk named Aloisius, who came from a monastery in then-German Brod, came across a healing spring. This spring did not randomly emerge from the depths of the earth, but was found in the mouth of a degraded mining stol. At that time, faith in the healing power of water was very strong and such a discovery was not only seen as a natural matter, but almost as a gift from heaven. The report on the quality of water quickly spread and reached the ears of influential personalities. CZECH NOTE: It is thanks to this discovery and support of Count Karl Josef the second of Palm-Guldenfingen that the area you see today could have been created. In 1731 the Count had the first spa building built, thus laying the foundation for the development of the whole complex. The whole complex was designed in Baroque style, which was at the time a symbol of elegance, power and harmony. Now, if you look at the buildings in front of you, notice the overall layout and rhythm of the space. Although much has changed over time, the Baroque basis still determines the character of this place. Look at the facade of the buildings and see how architecture tries to fit into the surrounding landscape. Lázně Petrkov, also known as St. John the Baptist Spa, has gradually become a sought-after target. It wasn't just a place for the sick, but a real social salon. Over the centuries, there have been nobles, military officers and later the general public. The main reason for the visits was the treatment of rheumatism and other problems with the motion apparatus, which at that time were suffering many people. Imagine the discussions that were held here and the relationships that were made here. Among the names associated with this place appear personalities such as Rudolph Lodgmann von Auen, Johann Baptist Michael Edler von Sagar or Karel Výborný. Each of them has brought their own story to the history of these baths. Now let's think about the fate of the buildings that surround you. History is not always about blossoming, but about trials. In 1890, the southern part of the spa complex hit a tragedy in the form of a great fire. The fire destroyed a significant part of the compound, but the will to continue to operate was stronger than destruction. The southern part was subsequently restored, which shows how important these spas were to the region and to people who sought relief from their pain. Now I want to take you to one of the most fascinating characters that was related to the Petrkov Spa. Around 1830, the compound was taken by a man named Eman Beránek. You may have met this name in historical books because Eman Beránek was known as the first Czech circus artist. It is a truly unusual contrast that a man from the ranks of entertaining artists, used to noise, colour and dynamics of circus movement, owned the place of reserved peace, treatment and quiet regeneration. Perhaps this combination has brought a new kind of energy and access to the spa. Another interesting thing that remains in the archives as a probability is the connection to the monarch Maria Terezia. It is believed that during her reign, the area served as a recovery facility. This would mean that people from the highest levels of society who sought shelter from the duties of the court and wanted to regenerate their forces in the silence of nature. Imagine the luxury cars that came here and the care that was given to the health of the chosen at that time. But Lázně Petrkov was not just about luxury. It was a place where water from the depths of the earth became a bridge between different social layers. From the monk Aloisius, who discovered the spring, to the count, who built the walls, to the ordinary people who came here in hopes of healing. All these fates are embedded in the very foundations of this place. Unfortunately, every golden era has its end. For Lázně Petrkov came this moment in 1948. The site was nationalized in the course of the political changes at the time. With this act, the spa operation was definitively terminated. After over two centuries, a place that served as a centre of health and social life has lost its original function. The buildings were quiet and the spring that once attracted thousands of people stopped being the center of intensive care. Now, if you look around you, you may experience some sadness that the spa is no longer functioning in full power. But let's try another way. It is thanks to the fact that the traffic has ceased, that there has been some mystery and peace that is with us today. The area is no longer a noisy centre, but a silent witness to the past, which allows us to think calmly about how our view of health, architecture and society changed. Notice how the surrounding nature slowly returns to the buildings and how the pond still reflects the sky, just as it did at the time of the count of Palm-Guldenfingen. It's a place where you can feel the continuity of time. From the miner's gutter, from which the spring came, to the baroque glory, to Mr. Lamb's circus adventure, to the silence of the present day. Thank you for joining me on this short journey in time. Lázně Petrkov are more than just a set of buildings; It is a monument to human desire for health and beauty. Now I encourage you to take your own pace on the premises. Take a walk around the buildings, see the texture of the walls and try to imagine what interviews were held here two hundred years ago. Perhaps in silence you will hear echoes of the past or feel the same peace that visitors were looking for in the baroque times. I wish you a pleasant rest of the tour and hope the story of Spa Petrkov inspired you to further discover the beauty of our landscape. Goodbye.