Minerální pramen Richard, Natural spring in Lázně Kynžvart, Czech Republic

Richard Spring is a natural mineral source housed in a wooden pavilion, emerging from a deep well on the southwestern slopes of Slavkovský Forest. The water flows cold with significant carbon dioxide content and minimal iron levels.

The spring was already known in the mid-15th century, but the spa itself arose only in 1822 through the Metternich family, who owned the estate from 1623 to 1945. The spring is named after Richard Metternich, son of Chancellor Metternich, who promoted the spa's development. In 1862 the mineral springs were recognised as healing, and in 1892 a bottling plant by the Kynžvart station filled the water as Richardka (Richardsquelle) for export across Europe and overseas.

The spring is named after Richard Metternich, son of Chancellor Metternich, who promoted the spa at Lázně Kynžvart. From 1892 the water was piped to a bottling plant by the Kynžvart station and sold as Richardka (Richardsquelle) in glass bottles across Europe and overseas. Since late 1994 drawing water has been paid for, by coin or chip card at the dispensing machine.

The spring is drawn from a 9.3-metre-deep well under an open wooden pavilion, and since the end of 1994 the water has been dispensed by a vending machine that accepts coins or a chip card. The yield varies with rainfall in the Slavkovský les, between 12 and 36 litres per minute. The spring is managed and regularly checked by the Dětská léčebna Lázně Kynžvart.

The water's very low iron content, 0.016 mg per litre, keeps it from spoiling through iron precipitation, so it stays drinkable far longer than most mineral waters. Total mineralisation is only about 180 mg per litre, with roughly 2,700 mg of carbon dioxide.