Luhacovice
Encyclopedia
Luhačovice (ˈluɦatʃovɪtsɛ; ) is a spa town
in the Zlín Region
, Moravia
, Czech Republic
.
It occupies a valley, whose elevation is a minimum of 250 m above sea level. The north-western edge of the valley is formed by the slopes of Malé Kamenné, the south-eastern part is formed by the forested Obětové peak (511 m above sea level), the southern section of the vale is surrounded by the hills Velké Kamenné (385 m), Solné (451 m), Zálužné (446 m), Lužné (428 m) and Ovčírny (429 m). All of these hills are part of the Vizovická vrchovina (The Vizovice Highlands
) and the Bílé Karpaty (The White Carpathians
). The highest peak in the Luhačovice area is Komonec, 672 m above sea level. The eastern and south-eastern sections of the Luhačovice vicinity are part of the Chráněná krajinná oblast Bílé Karpaty (The White Carpathian Protected Scenic Region).
von Totenfeld, which was published in 1669.
A new stage of development of both the spa and the town appears at the beginning of the 20th century when a Czech doctor, František Veselý, M.D., came to Luhačovice. He decided to get financial means to change Luhačovice into a modern Czech spa by establishing a joint-stock company, which took over the spa from the control of the Serenyis in 1902. They, however, kept on taking a significant part in it financially. The remote and not easily accessible position of the spa was overcome definitely when a local railway line was built here in the year 1904; even before the number of visitors increased due to the construction of the Vlárská Railway Line (1888) and rather more distant Northern Railway Line (1841)., The first stage of important building development of the spa area is connected with the name of the ancient Dušan Jurkovič
, the author of the fundamental reconstruction of the Janův House, the hydropathic establishement and other places.
After the setting-up of the independent Czechoslovak Republic
, mainly in the 20s and 30s, the importance of the Luhačovice spa increased together with an increasing number of inhabitants, which was also formally expressed by giving to Luhačovice the statute of the municipality in the year 1936. Further buildings of architectural importance appeared: the building of the present Municipal National Committee, the Palace-Sanatorium, the Alexandria Hotel, the "Fučik" and "Morava" hydropathics, and in the year 1935 the building of the Social Club. After the occupation of Bohemia and Moravia by the Nazi
organizations the spa was closed to the Czech public almost completely and taken possession of by the Nazi organizations. After the liberation of the town on May, 1945, another chapter in the history of the spa began.
In the years 1945-1947 a new complex of spa buildings was built: the Main and Small Colonnades, the Hall of Vincentka, the health centre. Social changes after February 1948 influenced both the life of the people in Luhačovice and the spa organization as a whole. Agriculture was collectivized, the woods were natiionalized, the state became the only owner of the natural cure sources and all balneological, accommodation and catering capacities in the spa towns. Some buildings were used to solve the housing problem, other were divided between the Central Trade Union Council and the Ministry of Health. In the year 1957 Luhačovice together with other spas was given the spa statute and the spa care was unified in the Ministry of Health. Both the spa care and environment are always in the course of improvement.
Spa town
A spa town is a town situated around a mineral spa . Patrons resorted to spas to "take the waters" for their purported health benefits. The word comes from the Belgian town Spa. In continental Europe a spa was known as a ville d'eau...
in the Zlín Region
Zlín Region
Zlín Region is an administrative unit of the Czech Republic, located in the central-eastern part of the historical region of Moravia. It is named after its capital Zlín....
, Moravia
Moravia
Moravia is a historical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of the former Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from the Morava River which rises in the northwest of the region...
, Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
.
It occupies a valley, whose elevation is a minimum of 250 m above sea level. The north-western edge of the valley is formed by the slopes of Malé Kamenné, the south-eastern part is formed by the forested Obětové peak (511 m above sea level), the southern section of the vale is surrounded by the hills Velké Kamenné (385 m), Solné (451 m), Zálužné (446 m), Lužné (428 m) and Ovčírny (429 m). All of these hills are part of the Vizovická vrchovina (The Vizovice Highlands
Vizovice Highlands
The Vizovice Highlands is an area of relatively modest but rugged highlands within the Zlin Region of the Czech Republic, named for the town of Vizovice....
) and the Bílé Karpaty (The White Carpathians
White Carpathians
The White Carpathians is the westernmost mountain range of the Carpathian Mountains.They are part of the Slovak-Moravian Carpathians, stretching from the Váh river and the Little Carpathians in the south along the border between the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the Morava and the Javorníky range...
). The highest peak in the Luhačovice area is Komonec, 672 m above sea level. The eastern and south-eastern sections of the Luhačovice vicinity are part of the Chráněná krajinná oblast Bílé Karpaty (The White Carpathian Protected Scenic Region).
History
Luhačovice is first mentioned in a historical document of 1412. It is, however, supposed to have been founded before the year 1287. At the end of the 16th century Luhačovice became the chief townlet of a manor including 12 villages. In the years 1626-1945 the manor and later the country estate belonged to the Serenyi family; they were also the first who started to make use of the mineral springs in the area and who set out to building the spa. Local names give evidence that the springs were known and used here ever since the area had begun to be settled; they are first mentioned in the book Tartaro Mastix Moraviae by Johann Ferdinand HertodtJohann Ferdinand Hertodt
Johann Ferdinand Hertodt von Todtenfeld was a German physician and writer, born in the town Nikolsburg, today Mikulov in Moravia.He is known for his 1671 work Crocologia, entirely devoted to saffron...
von Totenfeld, which was published in 1669.
A new stage of development of both the spa and the town appears at the beginning of the 20th century when a Czech doctor, František Veselý, M.D., came to Luhačovice. He decided to get financial means to change Luhačovice into a modern Czech spa by establishing a joint-stock company, which took over the spa from the control of the Serenyis in 1902. They, however, kept on taking a significant part in it financially. The remote and not easily accessible position of the spa was overcome definitely when a local railway line was built here in the year 1904; even before the number of visitors increased due to the construction of the Vlárská Railway Line (1888) and rather more distant Northern Railway Line (1841)., The first stage of important building development of the spa area is connected with the name of the ancient Dušan Jurkovič
Dušan Jurkovic
Dušan Jurkovič was a Slovak architect, ethnographer and artist. One of the best-known promoters of Slovak art in 20th century Czechoslovakia, he is remembered mostly due to his projects of numerous World War I cemeteries in Galicia. Jurkovič repeatedly stressed: The work of art is rooted in the time...
, the author of the fundamental reconstruction of the Janův House, the hydropathic establishement and other places.
After the setting-up of the independent Czechoslovak Republic
Czechoslovak Republic
Czechoslovak Republic was the official name of Czechoslovakia between 1918 and 1938 and between 1945 and 1960. See*First Czechoslovak Republic*Second Czechoslovak Republic...
, mainly in the 20s and 30s, the importance of the Luhačovice spa increased together with an increasing number of inhabitants, which was also formally expressed by giving to Luhačovice the statute of the municipality in the year 1936. Further buildings of architectural importance appeared: the building of the present Municipal National Committee, the Palace-Sanatorium, the Alexandria Hotel, the "Fučik" and "Morava" hydropathics, and in the year 1935 the building of the Social Club. After the occupation of Bohemia and Moravia by the Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
organizations the spa was closed to the Czech public almost completely and taken possession of by the Nazi organizations. After the liberation of the town on May, 1945, another chapter in the history of the spa began.
In the years 1945-1947 a new complex of spa buildings was built: the Main and Small Colonnades, the Hall of Vincentka, the health centre. Social changes after February 1948 influenced both the life of the people in Luhačovice and the spa organization as a whole. Agriculture was collectivized, the woods were natiionalized, the state became the only owner of the natural cure sources and all balneological, accommodation and catering capacities in the spa towns. Some buildings were used to solve the housing problem, other were divided between the Central Trade Union Council and the Ministry of Health. In the year 1957 Luhačovice together with other spas was given the spa statute and the spa care was unified in the Ministry of Health. Both the spa care and environment are always in the course of improvement.