Městské lázně (Plzeň) Public bath

The town spa in Pilsen, located on Denis waterfront no. 1217 / 3, is a monument to the Art Nouveau period and a protected cultural monument since 1996. These baths were built between 1929 and 1932 according to the design of Prague architect Bedřich Bendelmayer. They considered the most modern in Czechoslovakia, offering a wide range of services from steam and peat baths to swimming pools and therapeutic options. After war destruction, they were reconstructed and served the inhabitants of Pilsen until 1994 when they were closed. Today, their new use is planned for cultural purposes.

The spa was created between two world wars, a time of intense national enlightenment and cultural development in Central Europe. Originally, the project was started in 1923 by the architect Bedřich Bendelmayer, but after the disagreements with the Pilsen municipality the contract was terminated and the local construction office reworked the project. The construction started in March 1926 and the first stage was completed in November 1931, when the shower, bathtub and steam bath B. The second stage with the closure of the swimming pool and steam bath A followed in March 1932, and the last stage with the healing institute was completed in November of the same year.

Architecturally, the building is based on a neoclassical concept. The original building was proud of the monumental column port and tympanone, with the main spaces located in the axis of the main entrance. After the war, the building was reconstructed according to the design of architect Václav Neckář, while some elements of the original architecture were changed. The column porticus with tympanone was removed and the risalite increased by two floors. The entrance hall was rebuilt and covered with blue glass, which changed the original appearance of the building.

From 1929 to 1994 the spa belonged to the town of Pilsen. After the war they were reconstructed and served as a public spa until they were closed in 1994. Since then they have undergone several changes of owners, and since October 2022 the building is owned by Pilsen Region. This region plans reconstruction and new use for the location of collections of the West Bohemian Gallery, construction of a multifunctional hall and as a background for regional organisations.

Key events include damage to the building during the American air raid on Pilsen in December 1944. After the war it was reconstructed and reopened for the public, the first Finnish sauna in Pilsen closed in 1968. The spa served as an important place for therapeutic services and swimming school program.

Today, the building of the former spa is in a phase of transformation, with hopes of their new cultural use. The Pilsen Region has an ambition to reconstruct the building and provide it with a new function that could attract visitors not only because of its historical significance, but also because of the location of the collections of the West Bohemian Gallery. This monument is not only a witness to Pilsen's past and architectural changes, but also a future cultural centre.

The city spa in Pilsen is an important historical place that shows the architectural and cultural development of the region. Their transformation into a new cultural centre offers a unique opportunity to explore the rich history of the city and modern art. For those who want to discover Pilsen from another angle, the spa is not only a monument to the past, but also a promise of new cultural experiences.