Hot Spring Colonnade

About

Hot Spring Colonnade is the modern heart of Karlovy Vary’s spa tradition, built in the 1970s as a bold glass-and-concrete pavilion to showcase the town’s most powerful spring. Its centrepiece is the Vřídlo geyser, erupting up to 12 metres high and delivering mineral water at around 72°C. This is the only spring in the city strong enough to supply all spa facilities, making it both a natural wonder and an engineering backbone of the town. Inside, visitors can watch the geyser through large viewing windows and taste the hot mineral water at designated taps. The interior also features displays about the geology and history of Karlovy Vary’s springs, including the formation of the famous spa stone, aragonite, which grows naturally from mineral deposits. The colonnade often hosts small exhibitions and seasonal events, adding cultural life to its functional design.

Karlovy Vary Czech Republic

Location

The Hot Spring Colonnade (Vřídelní kolonáda) is located on the right bank of the Teplá River in the heart of Karlovy Vary’s spa centre, near Divadelní náměstí (Theatre Square). Built in 1975 in a Functionalistic style from glass and reinforced concrete, it is the third colonnade structure on this site and arches over the town’s most famous spring. Nearby attractions are all within a short walking distance. The stunning neo-Renaissance Mill Colonnade is just 150–200 metres away on the opposite riverbank, housing five more mineral springs. Just a few steps from the Hot Spring Colonnade stands the Church of Saint Mary Magdalene, a Baroque landmark that dominates the spa centre. The elegant Market Colonnade and Park Colonnade are also easy to reach on foot, along with the historic Grandhotel Pupp and the Imperial Spa. Other notable sights within easy reach include the Castle Tower on a rock above the old town, the Diana Observation Tower (accessible by funicular from Grandhotel Pupp), the Jan Becher Museum dedicated to the local herbal liqueur, and Moser Glassworks. The Hot Spring Colonnade is freely accessible and serves as the main starting point for exploring Karlovy Vary’s spa heritage.