Gazebos and Arbours in Karlovy

Bellevue Summerhouse

A wooden columned summerhouse

Location: on a hill in the north-east over the spa centre of Karlovy Vary
Time of construction: autumn of 1834
Architect: anonymous
Open to the public: autumn of 1834
Now: open to the public for free

Access to the building

Access No. 1: A short walk from the Sprudel in the spa centre starts in Vřídelní Street on the right bank of the Teplá River. You will turn into Ondřejská Street after 400 metres, go up, cross the main street and keep walking until you reach the highest point of the hill. You will turn to Máchova Street at the crossroads and will walk on as far as the park where the summerhouse stands. The whole trip is about 1 kilometre and takes about 20 minutes. 

Access No. 2: Another possibility is taking a bus (No. 10 and No. 15) to Drahovice, getting off at the bus stop Havlíčkova and going up Máchova Street directly to the hill with the summerhouse in the adjacent park.

History of the building

The wooden columned summerhouse Bellevue was originally a viewing summerhouse built in the ancient style in the autumn of the year 1834. It was built on a woodless hill which was originally called the Gallows Hill by the road running to Drahovice to the north-east of the spa centre. There used to be a place of execution with a gallows here which was removed after death penalty had been abolished in Austria-Hungary in 1786. The original summerhouse was pulled down owing to its very bad state on 15th June 1885 to be rebuilt again.

Today the summerhouse is surrounded by grown-up trees which block the view of the spa town in the valley.

However, a visit to the summerhouse equipped with benches offers a pleasant stop on your walks into this part of Karlovy Vary. You can also go to see a baroque statue of Virgin Mary near the summerhouse.

Gallery

Similar places

Places Worth Visiting
Gazebos and Arbours in Karlovy
Mayer’s Gloriette

Mayer’s Gloriette

The wooden lookout gazebo known as Mayer’s Gloriette was built in 1804 by Mr. Mayer, a wealthy Viennese merchant and Karlsbad native, on a rock at Jelení skok directly above the spa centre. Freely accessible all year round, the gazebo offering a spectacular view of the town centre in the picturesque valley of the Teplá River has become a sought after resting spot of spa guests on their way to Petrova výšina (Peter’s Height).
Gazebos and Arbours in Karlovy
Camera Obscura Arbour

Camera Obscura Arbour

The wooden lookout arbour was built on a plane below Tři kříže (Three Crosses) in 1997. It stands on the site where the original Camera Obscura arbour had stood before it was destroyed by a strong windstorm in 1990. The lookout offers a marvellous view of almost the entire spa centre with the valley of the Teplá River, and of a large part of the city. The lookout arbour is freely accessible all year round and it is a popular destination of the spa guests during their walks to the Three Crosses.
Gazebos and Arbours in Karlovy
Arbour at the Three Crosses

Arbour at the Three Crosses

The simple wooden lookout arbour was built on the plane by the Three Crosses in the year 2000 and rebuilt in 2006 according to the design of architect Ivan Štros. The lookout offers a beautiful view of the spa centre with the Hot Spring, the picturesque valley of the Teplá River with the surrounding hills and spa woods, as well as of the Slavkov Forest. Freely accessible all year round, the lookout arbour is a popular destination of the spa guests during their walks.