A famous spa in Bohemia near the border with Germany, Marianske Lazne is not as pretty or as large a town as Karlovy Vary. The spa hotels and adjacent park, however, are magnificent. At the turn of the 20th century, the resort was a playground of the rich and famous (Edward VII, Sigmund Freud, Franz Kafka and Richard Wagner used to frequent the baths). It was converted into a medical complex in World War II and then into a vacation spot for the proletariat. It was allowed to crumble under communism, and parts of it are still under restoration.
In addition to indulging in a spa experience, make a day trip to Lazne Kynzvart and its chateau or the monastery at Tepla. Marianske Lazne is 75 mi/120 km west of Prague.
