Alois Klein's Arbour

Location: In the park in front of Parkhotel Richmond in the southern outskirts of Karlovy Vary
Period of construction: 1997
Architect: František Vondráček
Official opening: 1997
Springs: Pramen Štěpánka (Štěpánka Spring)
Accessibility: Freely accessible

How to get there

Route 1:        You may reach Alois Klein's Arbour if you walk from the Hot Spring in the spa centre upstream along the right bank of the Teplá River to Grandhotel Pupp where you will continue up Goethova stezka (Goethe's Path) to the park in front of Parkhotel Richmond. The seep of the Štěpánka Spring is located in the wooden arbour. This route, which offers a pleasant walk through the city centre, is approximately 1.5 kilometres long and it will take you about half an hour.

Route 2:        The second alternative is to travel by Bus No. 2 or Bus No. 7 from the "Tržnice" (Market) city bus terminal to the "Richmond" stop by the Art Gallery. From there, you will walk only about 100 metres into the park.

History of the structure

Seeps of thermal water have been present on the land of the present-day park in front of Parkhotel Richmond since the 18^th century. In 1884, one of the springs was captured on the site and it was named in honour of Austrian Archduchess Stephanie. Thanks to its unique content rich in iron, the acidulous water of the Štěpánka Spring eventually became an essential component of the drinking cure taken by the spa guests. In the early 20^th century, however, the seep unexpectedly disappeared.

After a number of unsuccessful attempts, the spring finally reappeared in a new well drilled in 1993. The octagonal wooden arbour was built in Swiss style over the rediscovered Štěpánka Spring in 1997 according to the design of architect František Vondráček and it was named after Alois Klein, the original owner of the Richmond Spa Sanatorium. The Štěpánka Spring belongs among mineral springs that have not been declared a natural healing resource as yet.