Slovakia is literally overflowing
with hot springs, mineral water sources,
spas and even a geyser. While in the
U.S. spas are generally expensive
and considered a luxury, the Central
and Eastern European spa tradition
stresses affordability, health
and relaxation.
There are 1,160 "registered"
sources of healing water in Slovakia
and 22 spa resorts. Besides
being relaxing, restorative places
for healthy people, spas have long
been used in Europe to treat
medical conditions –
such as respiratory, digestive, cardiovascular,
immunological and other disorders,
even infertility. In fact, each spa
specializes in one or more of these
disorders.
The main focus of the "cure"
is often drinking water from
the spring (and it usually
tastes like medicine), but all of
the spas listed below also offer soothing
soaks, massages and other restorative
therapies, as well as swimming
and other recreational opportunities
in beautiful natural settings.
Many of the spa pools are open to
the public. Because spas are considered
serious medicine in Slovakia, you
can also receive affordable medical
treatment from physicians during your
stay at any of these resorts.
Some spas use mud or peat as a cure.
You haven’t lived until you’ve
had a mud bath – your skin will
feel fabulous afterwards. And be prepared:
in same-sex bathing facilities, you’ll
find most Europeans are not embarrassed
to soak or walk around in the nude.
Make arrangements for your spa stay
either directly with the spa or through
local travel agencies in Slovakia
(link to that section under Travel
Agencies)
More information on spas
in Slovakia:
 The
healing properties of drinking from
the 17 cold mineral springs near the
remarkably well-preserved
medieval town of Bardejov
were known as long ago as 1247 and
are considered most beneficial for
treating digestive, non-specific respiratory
and metabolic disorders. Located near
the Polish border in East Slovakia
and surrounded by pine forests, this
spa was once a favorite of Austro-Hungarian
and Russian aristocrats. Bardejov
is a perfect base from which to explore
the many charming wooden Greek-Catholic
churches of the area, most
from the 18th century and usually
found in Rusyn villages. In fact the
spa has its own open-air museum
with wooden churches, thatch-roof
cottages and other folk architecture
moved to the site from nearby villages.
Another day trip from Bardejov is
to Medzilaborce to visit the Andy
Warhol Modern Art Museum.
 The
best reason to visit this thermal
spring spa is its location near
Slovakia’s most famous castle,
Bojnice Castle,
site of the annual Festival
of Spirits and Ghosts. The spa’s
hot springs offer relief to people
suffering from rheumatism, other joint/spine
conditions, recent injuries or surgeries.
Another nearby attraction is the historic
town of Prievidza, with a baroque
church and monastery.
The warm waters of this spa have
been used to treat infertility,
gynecological problems and women who
have recently undergone mastectomies,
hysterectomies and other gynecological
surgeries. Located near Ruzomberok
in the north-central part of Slovakia.
 On
a wooded island filled with gardens
and sculpture, connected to the town
of Piestany just one hour from Bratislava,
is Slovakia’s best-known
spa. Piestany’s sulfur
hot springs and healing mud are used
to treat rheumatism and those with
neurological or locomotive disorders,
as well as recent injuries or post-operative
trauma. The spa has several historic
buildings, dating from the
19th century, including the Secessionist-style
(Viennese Art Nouveau) Thermia Palace.
One of the springs is named after
Beethoven, just one of many illustrious
patients to take the water at Piestany.
Don’t forget to look at the
Balneology Museum – all about
spas.
 Close
to the Mala
Fatra mountains at the foot of
hills with extraordinary rock formations
lies a spa known for the curative
powers of its thermal waters since
the 14th c., Rajecke Teplice. Considered
beneficial to those with neurological,
psychological and locomotive disorders,
the spa’s springs also
feed swimming pools, which are open
to the public. From the spa
it’s easy to visit the ruins
of Lietava castle or the early 20th
c. chateau of Kunerad.
 The
name (translation: glass thermal springs)
comes from the fact that a glassworks
existed here as long ago as 1340.
Sklene Teplice spa in the hills of
Central Slovakia was begun in the
17th c. and was famous enough by the
18th c. that geologists held an international
convention here in 1786 to discuss
natural thermal waters. The very hot
waters (up to 145°) treat nervous
and locomotive disorders. One of the
most striking features is a thermal
bathing pool in a cave. From
the spa, it’s easy to walk to
the foundations of a medieval castle,
Pusty hrad ("the deserted castle"),
destroyed in 1602.
Located just 15 km from the city
considered the heart of Slovakia,
Banska Bystrica, is a spa renowned
for its treatment of circulatory
and cardiac conditions --
Sliac. First references to Sliac’s
mineral springs were in 1244, although
they were not used for curative purposes
until the 17th c. The surrounding
Zvolen basin offers many attractions:
Zvolen castle, which
hosts a theater and performing
arts festival every summer,
the city of Banska
Bystrica (center for the anti-fascist
movement during World War II) and
the awe-inspiring Badinsky ancient
forest.
 This
spa town near Trencin
is more than 100 years old, nestled
in a valley amongst green hills. The
local hot springs used to treat those
with locomotive disorders and post-traumatic
conditions are just part of the reason
to visit; architecture buffs will
be impressed by the Bauhaus-style
Green Frog (Zelena zaba) swimming
pool complex hidden in the woods,
as well as the Mahnac building. The
exotic Turkish interior
of the Hammam bathhouse (part of the
spa) is also worth seeing.
If the Lucky spa is dedicated to
the treatment of female conditions,
Turcianske Teplice – one
of Slovakia’s oldest spas -
is for the men. Hot thermal
springs (to 116°) were known for
their healing powers as early as 1402,
and today are used to treat diseases
of the urinary tract, kidneys, prostate,
as well as inflammation and degeneration
of the joints and spine. The picturesque
spa is graced with an extensive,
peaceful wooded park
and a 19th c. Moorish-style
bathhouse topped by a striking
blue dome.
The majestic peaks of the
High Tatras
form the backdrop of this small, scenic
spa at the edge of a pine forest.
A favorite with hikers and skiers,
as well as those visiting the historic
sights in the area (particularly the
medieval town of Levoca),
Vysne Ruzbachy was known as a source
of thermal springs as far back as
the 15th century but had its heyday
in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
It also features the largest
thermal pool made of travertine
in all of Slovakia, with an enormous
tree growing on an island in the middle
of it. This spa treats those with
nervous disorders and high
blood pressure.
Located at 4,445 ft. above sea level
in the Tatra National Park at the
foot of the High
Tatras, Strbske Pleso –
also the name of the Tatra’s
second largest glacial lake (pleso)
– has an unmatched setting.
Offering treatment for respiratory
conditions, such as asthma and allergies,
the spa makes a perfect base from
which to explore not only this compact
Alpine mountain range, but also the
nearby historic regions of
Spis and Liptov. Please note
that a recent (November 2004) windstorm
destroyed most the forests in the
area, but the resort is functioning
normally.
 There
are several waterparks with extensive
recreational facilities, as well as
pools that make a welcome break from
sightseeing. The most popular is Aquapark,
close to the High Tatra mountains
in the city of Poprad, operating year
round, it offers swimming pools, golf
course (with the world’s longest
fairway), horseback riding, mountain
biking and trekking, as well as skiing
during the winter. More info www.aquacity.sk
. Another park is Aquathermal
in Senec. For more info www.aquathermal.sk.
A third is Tatralandia
in Liptovsky Mikulas, www.tatralandia.sk/indexen.php.
More information on swimming
and thermal pools: www.swim.sk
|
