Lázách

Lázách is the Czech term used to describe spas or spa towns, and more broadly the network of facilities and services centered on therapeutic waters and health treatments. The word denotes both the places themselves and the spa culture that surrounds mineral springs, baths, and related therapies.

Spa towns typically developed around natural mineral springs and bathhouses, often arranged along promenades, parks, and architectural ensembles built to accommodate visitors seeking health care and leisure. Traditional therapies include mineral baths, mud or peloid treatments, hydrotherapy, inhalation therapies, and physical rehabilitation. Over time, these towns became cultural and social centers, shaping a distinctive urban landscape with hotels, sanatoriums, and curative facilities.

In the Czech Republic, three towns are commonly cited as a historic spa core: Karlovy Vary, Mariánské Lázně, and Františkovy Lázně, together known as the Lázeňský trojúhelník or the Spa Triangle. Other towns with notable spa traditions include Jáchymov and Teplice. The sector has long attracted visitors from Central Europe and beyond, contributing to local economies through health tourism, hospitality, and related services.

Today, lázách encompasses a range of offerings, from traditional spa therapies to modern rehabilitation and wellness programs. Some treatments are part of medical care or health-insurance schemes for eligible patients, while others are pursued as private wellness experiences. The field continues to balance preserving historic spa heritage with modernization and sustainable tourism practices.