Mariánské Lázně, Spa town in Karlovy Vary Region, Czech Republic.
Mariánské Lázně is a spa town in the Cheb District of the Karlovy Vary Region in the Czech Republic, set in wooded hills near the German border. Over a hundred mineral springs flow through the town's territory, with 53 still used for therapeutic treatments.
The village of Úšovice was first recorded in 1273 but remained a small settlement until the late 18th century. Between 1779 and 1820, physician Josef Nehr transformed the place into an internationally known health resort that soon drew visitors from across Europe.
The name of the place derives from a small chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary, built in the forest above one of the springs. Today, the colonnade-lined center gives the town a quiet, restrained appearance that recalls European spa resorts of the 19th century.
Most public springs are easily reached on foot in the center, though some colonnades sit on hills and require moderate walking. The springs maintain a constant water temperature between 7 and 10 degrees Celsius (45 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit), so they are intended for drinking rather than bathing.
One million bottles of mineral water from the Cross Spring are exported each year, sold under the historic name Sal teplensis. This Latin name refers to the early medical recognition of the spring's mineral composition.
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