Czechia gets another spa town as Frymburk receives official designation

The Czech Republic will have another spa town as of July 1, 2024, as the country's Health Ministry approved the official designation of Frymburk as a natural therapeutic spa town. The South Bohemian locale on the banks of the Lipno Reservoir joins the ranks of UNESCO-recognized Czech spas in Karlovy Vary, Františkovy Lázně, and Mariánské Lázně.

Frymburk will become the fourth spa town in South Bohemia and the 36th in the Czech Republic, but it's just the second to receive the designation since 1989, following Lednice. The town has a population of just 1,400 people, but attracts tens of thousands of tourists annually, and plans to accommodate 200 guests for spa treatments daily.

This landmark designation opens the door for the development of spa facilities similar to those in other Czech locales, but uniquely tailored to Frymburk’s environment and medical infrastructure.

The spa’s treatment offerings will focus on balneotherapy, utilizing natural peat for various treatments, and will include physical and movement therapies like fitness, yoga, and therapeutic exercise.

Frymburk’s Wellness Hotel will spearhead these initiatives, utilizing the healing properties of local peat harvested from nearby forests. The Wellness Hotel will undergo significant renovations, including the conversion of a conference hall into a comprehensive modern spa facility.

"[I have] an indescribable feeling of joy, because I have been waiting for this day for the last 15 years of my life," Frymburk Mayor Oto Řezáč stated through a press release. "This is a key decision. We met a huge number of different conditions. In layman's terms, we now have confirmation from the highest places that Frymburk is a place beneficial to health."

Significant investments, amounting to tens of millions of Czech crowns, are planned for infrastructure and promotion throughout Frymburk. The Wellness Hotel is already constructing a spa pavilion and undergoing other renovations to accommodate the upcoming spa services.

The town is also developing infrastructure around its peat harvesting sites, including access roads and environmental impact assessments. Additionally, Frymburk is enhancing its tourism amenities, creating scenic rest areas and trails in the surrounding forests.

"This is just the beginning for us," Řezáč adds. "We have a huge amount of work ahead of us, including in the field of marketing."