City rich in history
The spa was favored by many noble families and wealthy townspeople as early as the 16th century. Due to several natural disasters, only a few buildings from that time have been preserved. Most of the architectural monuments date from the 18th and 19th centuries, when the town experienced a "period of prosperity."
Timeline
- 1370: Promotion of the village to the town
- 1401: Regulation of special town´s status
- 1582: A disastrous flood
- 1604: Destructive Fire
- 1640: Sweedish plundering
- 1707: Karlovy Vary was named a free royal town
- 1711: Petr Veliký visited the town
- 1711: Russian Tsar Peter I the Great visited the town
- 1727: The last execution
- 1759: An extensive fire of the town
- 1769: Beginning of manufacture thermal salt
- 1785: Johann Wolfgang Goethe visited the town
- 1807: The first production of Becherovka
- 1870: Karlovy Vary has connected to the European railway network
- 1890: The worst flood
1370: Promotion of the village to the town
On 14 August 1370, Emperor Charles IV granted Karlovy Vary royal town privileges, known as the "Loket Town Rights" inspired by the nearby town of Loket. Charles IV stayed in the town in 1370, 1374 and 1376.
1401: Regulation of special town´s status
On 6 July 1401, King Wenceslas IV confirmed all town privileges to Karlovy Vary, and in addition to them, granted the town the rare right of asylum and the status of an open town without fortification.
1582: A disastrous flood
After heavy spring rains, water from ponds on the Teplá River burst their dams and caused a disastrous flood on 9 May 1582. The tidal wave wreaked havoc in the town. 36 out of the total of 102 houses were destroyed completely, 18 partially, and all bridges were swept away.
1604: Destructive Fire
The most destructive disaster of all times the great fire of the spa-town that brok out on the unfortunate Friday of 13th August 1604. In those days the tow had only 102 houses. The fire consumed 99 of them so only 3 houses remained.
1640: Sweedish plundering
During the Thirty Year War, Swedes plundered the spa town. The war looting and burning of towns and villages by moving troops was taking place throughout the region. Another pillaging of Karlovy Vary by the Sweden troops happened in 1645 and 1646.
1707: Karlovy Vary was named a free royal town
On 13 December 1707, Emperor Joseph I confirmed all town privileges, and unequivocally named Karlovy Vary a free royal town.
1711: Petr Veliký visited the town
Russian Tsar Peter I the Great stayed in Karlovy Vary in 1711 and 1712. Here he became famous for his manual dexterity.
1711: Russian Tsar Peter I the Great visited the town
Russian Tsar Peter I the Great stayed in Karlovy Vary in 1711 and 1712. Here he became famous for his manual dexterity.
1727: The last execution
The last execution in Karlovy Vary took place. The local municipal execution site with gallows used to stand on a rock promontory on Šibeniční (Gallows) Hill, in place of today's Bellevue Gazebo.
1759: An extensive fire of the town
On 23 May 1759, an extensive fire hit the town. It broke out in the House at the Three Moors in Tržiště (Market) Street. The fire destroyed 224 houses, including the Castle Tower and the former Karlovy Vary town hall.
1769: Beginning of manufacture thermal salt
Based on a court decree from 29 March 1769, Karlovy Vary began to produce thermal salt according to the procedure of Karlovy Vary Hippocrates, physician David Becher. They used to get the salt through thermal evaporation of water from shallow copper pans.
1785: Johann Wolfgang Goethe visited the town
Johann Wolfgang Goethe, German poet, visited Karlovy Vary for the first time on 5 July 1785. The renowned poet, who loved the region here, visited the spa town thirteen times, in 1823 for the last time.
1807: The first production of Becherovka
Pharmacist Josef Vitus Becher began his production of the famous Karlovy Vary gastric liquor known as Becherovka. He acquired the original recipe from Christian Frobrig, the personal physician of English Prince Maxmillian Friedrich von Plettenberg in 1805.
1870: Karlovy Vary has connected to the European railway network
On 19 September 1870, the railway between Karlovy Vary and Cheb opened. Karlovy Vary has connected to the European railway network, which resulted in a rapid increase in numbers of spa guests and the town impressive economic growth.
1890: The worst flood
The worst flood in the history of Karlovy Vary hit the town on 24 November 1890, and caused it severe damage. Over 400 shops and over 200 houses were seriously damaged: many of them had to be torn down. The then very popular mayor of the town, Edward Knoll, died during the rescue work.
