Freedom Spring Arbour

Location: Near Lázně III (Spa III) on the left bank of the Teplá River in the spa centre of Karlovy Vary
Period of construction: 1865
Official opening: 1865
GPS: 50°13'33.933"N 12°52'50.733"E
Springs: Pramen Svoboda (Freedom Spring)
Accessibility: Freely accessible

How to get there

Route 1: You may reach the Freedom Spring Arbour if you walk from the Hot Spring in the spa centre along the left bank of the Teplá River, walk past Mlýnská kolonáda (Mill Colonnade) all the way to Lázně III (Spa III). The seep of the Freedom Spring is located in the wooden arbour. The short walk through the spa centre is approximately 600 metres long and takes about 10 minutes.

Route 2: The second alternative is to travel by Bus No. 1 or Bus No. 4 from the "Tržnice" (Market) city bus terminal to the "Lázně III" (Spa III) terminal stop. From there, walk about 200 metres across Lázeňský most (Spa Bridge) over the Teplá River and continue along Mlýnské nábřeží (Mill Embankment) and Lázně III (Spa III) directly to the arbour.

History of the structure

A new thermal spring seep was discovered during the excavation of the foundation pit for the building of Lázně III (Spa III) in the early 1860s. The thermal water was captured by means of a spring bell and drawn above ground to the area between the new spa building and the former St. Bernard's Hospital below Bernardova skála (Bernard's Rock).

In 1865, the seep of the newly discovered spring was covered by an octagonal walk-through wooden arbour with columns, richly decorated with carved ornaments. The spring was originally called Lázeňský pramen (Spa Spring), it subsequently bore the name of Emperor Franz Joseph I until 1918, and in 1946, it received its current name, i.e. the Freedom Spring. The seep of the spring on the main spa promenade is a frequent stopof visitors coming to Karlovy Vary.