Mineral springs and spa architecture give Luhačovice a clear focus for a cultural discovery trip. At Vincentka, you can taste the water cold or warm, at the spring and at the serving counter. In the Vincentka Hall, an interactive exhibition adds information about Luhačovice’s mineral waters. This brings together tasting the water and learning about the local mineral springs.
Mineral springs and spa tradition
Aloiska is Luhačovice’s oldest mineral spring. It supplies 3 litres per minute and is tapped at a depth of 14 metres. Its age, flow rate and tapping depth give this spring its own distinctive character. The Nový Jubilejní spring has been open to the public since 2013. As seasonal visiting arrangements may change, it is best to check them in advance for a specific visit.
The buildings also tell the story of the spa tradition. The town centre is an urban conservation area. Currently, 40 properties, including buildings and works of art, are listed in the Central List of Cultural Monuments of the Czech Republic. Designed by Oskar Poříska, the colonnade draws on Dušan Jurkovič’s style and links his freestanding buildings to form a compact spa centre.
Architecture and local history
The listed Sluneční lázně complex has reopened to the public after careful restoration. An exhibition there explores the spa tradition across three themed sections. The history of architecture can also be traced through individual buildings: one building from the original complex of Janův dům, which consisted of two buildings, was remodelled by Dušan Jurkovič in the Art Nouveau style in 1902. Jurkovič’s first new building was constructed in 1903–1904 in the style of the National Art Nouveau movement.
Another historic feature is the outdoor swimming pool with wooden changing cabins. It was built in 1903 and repaired and conserved in 1999. The museum in Luhačovice has a different focus: it presents an ethnographic collection from the 1920s, as well as more recent collections on local spa traditions and history. Temporary exhibitions and accompanying programmes for schools and the public round out the offering.
Festival date, narrow-gauge railway and hike
The traditional Otevírání pramenů festival takes place on the second weekend in May. It brings together mineral springs and impressive spa buildings with traditional costumes, Art Nouveau-style costumes, historic cars, dance and singing. If you would like to plan your trip around the festival, check the event dates; specific programme items may change.
Since 2005, a ride on the tourist narrow-gauge railway has been one of Luhačovice’s visitor attractions. For specific planning, it is worth checking the current timetable. Another way to spend your time here is a 16-kilometre hiking route around the town. It offers views of the surrounding area and has an elevation gain of 250 metres. Its length and elevation gain give you a clear basis for considering this hike as a separate item on your itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Všemina, Valašské Klobouky, Zádverice, Velký Ořechov, Sazovice, Žlutava, Ludkovice, Komárov.
See the overview of the wider region: Zlín District.
