PoděbradyCentral Bohemia RegionPoděbradyPoděbrady is a picturesque town of many parks lying on the banks of the largest Czech river, the Elbe. You could spend days strolling through the town and its surroundings.Silvery water jets into the sunlit air, colourful carpets of flowers bloom, the famous floral clock ticks softly, bushes are carefully trimmed in the French style, airy pavilions, fountains, winding paths, a heavenly calm and an atmosphere laced with gentle drowsiness – time in Poděbrady seems to pass just a little more slowly.Natural Healing ResourcesAt the beginning of the 20th century, when dowsing was all the rage, Count Karel Bülow also succumbed to the trend. The owner of the Poděbrady chateau, Prince Hohenlohe, heard of his skills and invited the Prussian dowser to Poděbrady, watching eagerly as Bülow pointed to a spot in the chateau courtyard. On 1 August 1905, a strong spring really did burst forth from a depth of nearly one hundred metres, providing healing water to this day and bearing the name of its discoverer – Bülow‘s Spring. Two more springs followed two years later, enabling the foundation of the Poděbrady Spa in 1908. The water, still gushing from deep underground, is cold, strongly mineralised acidic mineral water of the bicarbonate-chloride-sodium-calcium type.What Is Treated HereThanks to the composition of the local mineral water, physicians in Poděbrady achieve excellent results pri-marily in the treatment of circulatory system diseases – conditions after heart surgery, myocardial infarction, or chronic forms of ischaemic heart disease. Other con-ditions treated here include vascular diseases, high blood pressure, and disorders of the venous system in the lower limbs. The spa also achieves excellent results in the treat-ment of diabetes, neurological conditions, obesity, and painful conditions affecting the spine and major joints.Highlights of PoděbradyThe town offers numerous landmarks, led by the Poděbrady Castle, which blends harmoniously into the town’s charac-ter. You’ll also find the statue of the Czech King George of Poděbrady, created by sculptor Bohuslav Schnirch, a Baroque Marian column, the Gothic Church of the Exal-tation of the Holy Cross, and much more. Equally fascinat-ing are more recent monuments – the very first function-alist railway station in Czechia, an impressive weir on the Elbe River, a unique radiotelegraph station, and of course the entire spa zone, crowned by the glass-walled Libenský Arcade with its unique reinforced concrete dome from 1938. Tips for Exploring the AreaSet out for Kutná Hora, a historic town whose monu-ments are protected by UNESCO, and marvel at the beauty of the Gothic Church of St Barbara. Or visit what may be the most romantic Czech chateau – Hrádek u Nechanic.A more unusual experience awaits you in the nearby vil-lage of Ostrá, at the Botanicus folk craft village. Here you can try your hand at forgotten skills, stroll through herb gardens, and watch the production of natural cosmetics. Travel back in time at the open-air museum of folk archi-tecture in Přerov nad Labem.If you‘re a cycling enthusiast or enjoy long rides on in-line skates, you‘ll love the riverside trail along the Elbe. It will take you all the way to the town of Nymburk or in the opposite direction to Libice nad Cidlinou. Each route offers a thoroughly pleasant ride through flat countryside, flood-plain forests, and along the calm surface of the river. Golf & SpaSpa and golf – a perfect pairing that naturally applies to Poděbrady as well. You’ll be delighted by the parkland 18-hole course of the Poděbrady Golf Club. 17actionURI(http://lazne-podebrady.cz): actionURI(http://detska-lecebna.cz): actionURI(http://spahotelfelicitas.cz): actionURI(http://visitczechia.com):
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