Many attractions have faded from the spa forests of Mariánské Lázně in recent decades, such as cafés, restaurants, and especially belvederes and other historic sights. They began to emerge, together with the extensive network of promenades, at the dawn of the town's history. They reflected the past glory of the town, which used to host celebrities from all over the world. These places became objects of interest to many outstanding personalities, such as the Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm, Goethe, Chopin, Wagner, Jan Neruda, the English King Edward VII, Franz Kafka and many others, all of whom were enchanted by the beauty of the nature in the surroundings.
Friedrich's Stone - Bedřichův kámen (Friedrichstein)
A block of stone from a rocky outcrop in Little Switzerland (Malé Švýcarsko) bears a memorial tablet with a Latin inscription on it reading:
"Naiads cured and rich flora pleased the King of
The tablet relates to Friedrich August (Bedřich August II.), the King of Saxony, who visited Mariánské Lázně several times in the years 1834 - 1835. Besides being cured, he also collected herbs here. His herbarium, containing 521 specimens, was one of the first local botanical registries. Sadly, his passion for botany proved to be fatal. While traveling to
The block with its tablet is the most interesting part of Little Switzerland, which is a romantic slope in a stony ocean full of interlocking, gradually fading promenade paths. The name "Little Switzerland" is derived from a former Swiss cabin which used to stand under Kamzík (probably at the site of the former lookout point of Hirtenruhe).
Hirtenruhe
An elegant one-storey tower used to stand here. It was erected in 1847, but the surrounding forests overgrew it by 1879. In 1837, Dr. Frankl had once described a lookout point at this site named Schäferlust.¨
Waldstein's Monument (Waldsteinův monument)
Visitors can find Waldstein's Monument behind the headquarters of the company Léčebné lázně M. L. It was built in honor of the noted visitor Earl Ernest von Wakdstein-Wartenberg in 1836. In Felbinger's chronicles of Mariánské Lázně, the monument is depicted as a grey marble vase standing on a pedestal, with a poem celebrating the earl's benefaction to the poor. The Earl died in Mariánské Lázně in 1832. A replica of the vase was created by V. Eibl during the 60s, but was demolished several days after its installation.
Friedrich Wilhelm Heights
This dominant lookout point is located on the hilltop of Žižka Hill (Špičák). The place was named in honor of the Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm IV who laid the foundation stone to the altar of the
Mescery's Belvedere (Mesceryho vyhlídka)
This is a belvedere situated on a plateau above a boulder outcrop at the Royal hotel. A decorated wood pavilion used to stand here. The building was inaugurated in 1850 in honor of an important guest of Mariánské Lázně - the Czech proconsul, Baron von Mescery.
Charles's Cross (Karlův kříž)
The cross stands above the town's market hall. This is an authentic sightseer's attraction visited by many luminaries who were eager to take in a view of the spa valley, namely Goethe, K. Reitenberger and V. Skalník. This is the most frequently captured town view on the historical engravings.
The founder of Mariánské Lázně, Karel Reitenberger, had this cross erected as an "eternal light for spa guests ", according to his own words. Reitenberger had many foes in the abbey due to his generosity in supporting the building of Mariánské Lázně. In 1827, he was forced by his opponents to resign, and went into exile in Wilten,
Goethe's Retreat (Goethovo odpočívadlo)
Goethe's Retreat is formed by a sandstone obelisk and two stone rest places on the slope of Hamelika Hill. J. W. Goethe used to sit here on a bench with Ulrika von Levetzow, or all by himself, spending a long time in contemplation. The obelisk was built in August 1848 in honor of Goethe's three stays in Mariánské Lázně from 1821 - 1823. The construction was financed by the spa fund. The memorial was decorated with Goethe's poem "Wanderer’s Song at Evening" - words that he had engraved on a windowpane in Harc - and it reads:
Only wait, you too will
Clements's Place
This used to be the favorite place of the abbot Alfréd Clements of Teplá. The place was equipped with a simple bench which the dignitary used to sit on. During his times, Mariánské Lázně experienced its largest building boom (1888 - 1900).
Hamelika Lookout Tower
It was named after Hamelika Hill; and likewise the
(Stephanie's Heights)
Stephanie's Heights were built and named in honor of the Crown Princess Stephanie of
Memorial to the Fallen of World War I
The memorial lies on a geological trail. It used to be ringed by an ornamented wrought-iron fence. This hallowed site was graced by an entrance gate, stone seats and a stone cross standing at the center of its symbolic cemetery. Natural boulders bear memorial copper plates with the names, and the date and places of death of soldiers who were citizens of Mariánské Lázně, and descendants of important personalities of the town's history.
Franz's Stone - Františkův kámen (Franzensstein)
A wood pavilion supposedly once stood here. Later, a stone memorial without any inscription was erected at the site. No further information exists about how the name arose.
Amalie's Belvedere (Amáliina vyhlídka)
The Duke Joseph of
Key:
- Friedrich's Stone (Bedřichův kámen)
- Amalie's Belvedere (Amáliina vyhlídka)
- Hirtenruhe
- Clement's Place (Clementsovo místo)
- Stephanie's Heights (Štefanina výšina)
- Franz's Stone (Františkův kámen)
- Karola
- Mescery's Belvedere (Mesceryho vyhlídka)
- Charles's Cross (Karlův kříž)
- Waldstein's Monument (Waldsteinův monument)
- Goethe's Retreat (Goethovo odpočívadlo)
- Memorial to the Fallen of World War I (Památník padlých
- Hamelika
