Luhačovice

Luhačovice

2019 Winner - Category “Spa and Well-being Tourism”

The picturesque town-park of Luhačovice lies nestled among forests in the foothills of the White Carpathians. The fairy-like impression is created by the unique and irreplaceable architecture. The intactness and picturesqueness of this town-park in connection with the unique curative springs and developing sustainable spa tourism helped Luhačovice win the title of European Destination of Excellence in the field of Spa and Well-being Tourism.

A spa you won’t mistake for any other

The identity of the spa is determined by the buildings designed by Dušan Jurkovič. Thanks to him, Luhačovice is identifiable at first sight. The houses are like no other, they are absolutely original and immensely picturesque. The second factor that makes Luhačovice a top European destination among spas is water. There are sixteen acidulous and one sulphurous spring there. The beneficial and curative natural mineral springs with the most famous Vincentka have been tested by three hundred years of the spa's existence.

Natural regulation

The visit rate of the spa is high but it is naturally regulated by the capacity of the accommodation and the capacity of the spa care. There is a high level of nature and curative sources protection. The traditional curative spa is supplemented with stays that visitors pay for themselves, and there is also an offer of wellness activities and products. All the services, including gastronomy are at a high level of quality – from restaurants through spa cafés, to the typical local products, including traditional spa wafers. There are sports facilities, two swimming pools, a natural water slide, bowling, boat and pedal boat rentals at a nearby water reservoir, a rope centre, the Galaxie family fun park, bike and roller blades rentals, and you can use the cross-country ski trails in winter. Visitors can comfortably move around the town and make trips to its surroundings using the public transportation system. There are six marked town trails that connect to both hiking and educational trails. There is a tourist train shuttle in the town.

Explore Jurkovič and the surroundings

The distinctive architecture designed by Jurkovič can be admired on a guided tour organized by the Information Centre. There is the most famous Jurkovič’s House, as well as Chaloupka, Jestřabí Bath House, Valaška, the Water Treatment Institute with a pool, the Sun Bath House or the Music Pavilion. Luhačovice is also a town of beautiful villas that are basically a living gallery of architecture of the past century. Another remarkable building is the Neo-Renaissance Augustinian Courtyard, which also includes a Neo-Gothic chapel. The Spa Theatre and the Baroque château are also worth seeing.

The town pool is open all year round and in addition to the pool, you can also enjoy various wellness and entertainment facilities. It is no longer possible to swim in the historical pool at the Sun Spa by Jurkovič, but the experience of the preserved changing cabins and sunbathing as if during the times of the First Republic are definitely worth a try. You can cycle or use in-line skates at the adjacent Luhačovice Reservoir, or go for a swim, go fishing, rest and have fun.

The traditional events include the Spring Opening as well as regular afternoon colonnade concerts. There are also theatre festivals, brass music festivals, the Luhovaný Vincent festival, a traditional fair, as well as the Janáček and Luhačovice Classical Music Festival. The traditional pétanque tournament, definitely a spa sport, is also popular. You can enjoy an extraordinary evening out in the First Republic night club in the Alexandria Hotel with a perfectly created atmosphere of the 1930s.

There are many remarkable sites in the vicinity. The Baroque château in Vizovice, the historical royal town of Uherský Brod or the rare Slavic village of Vlčnov famous for its customs and traditions, the most famous of which is the Ride of the Kings, inscribed on the  UNESCOlist.