Janské Lázně was once crisscrossed with dozens of roads and paths, along which ladies in dresses and hats strolled, gallant men invited them for a cup of coffee, and the spa band played for them every day. Many roads and houses have disappeared, but the unique atmosphere of the spa town, enhanced by mountain scenery, has not disappeared.
Today, bands play on the colonnade, which is the pride of every spa town. The Art Nouveau building replaced the earlier decorative all-wooden Colonnade and was built in 1904 by Trutnov builder Jan Blažek according to the design of the Viennese architect Peter Paul Brango. And what would a spa be without a spring - the Janská Lázeň thermal spring springs directly under the Spa House building, where it is collected from a depth of 50 meters. The wells that provide it from a depth of 700 - 1400 meters are called the Janský and Černý pramen.
The only spa on the Czech side of the Giant Mountains is located at the foot of the Black Mountain at an altitude of over 600 meters above sea level in a zone of pure sub-mountain climate with healing trails that in many places reach the mountain range. It is not surprising that the local climate in the vicinity of the spa acts as a healing element of climatotherapy, which is exceptionally suitable for the treatment of chronic diseases, allergies and respiratory diseases. Together with thermal mineral water, these natural healing resources are a balm for body and soul.
The spring was discovered by a squire and perhaps the Pope bathed in it too
According to legend, the warm healing spring in Janské Lázně was discovered in 1006 by Jan of Chockov, the squire of the knight Albrecht of Trautenberg. However, it is more likely that the spring was found in the second half of the 15th century by prospectors who were looking for ore and precious metals. Their presence here is also evidenced by the mention in the chronicle of Šimon Hüttel of an iron forge built near the spring, which burned down in 1485.
And it is quite possible that the papal legate Aeneas Silvius Bartholomeus Piccolomini, later Pope Pius II, bathed in Janská studánka, who allegedly consecrated the healing spring. At that time, the territory, which was part of the Vlčice estate, was owned by the Zilvar family from Pilníkov. They had a primitive spa facility established by the spring and a mill built in place of the burned-out mill.
The Schwarzenbergs made the spa famous
In 1675, Jan Adolf Schwarzenberg bought the Vlčice estate. The Schwarzenbergs then owned it for another 112 years. Prince Jan Adolf, an enlightened and creative personality of the family, tried to occupy the depopulated areas with capable farmers after the hardships of the Thirty Years' War. And he paid great attention to Svatojanské Teplice - later Johannisbad - because he saw a promising future in the spa industry. He built twenty new houses, an inn and a spa house here. The local healing cures became famous under the Schwarzenbergs and the spa continued to flourish. From that time there is the oldest surviving medical report on Janské Lázně, which was written by the provincial physicist of the Margraviate of Moravia.
This year's celebrations of the anniversary of the discovery of the healing spring were also attended by Prince Karel Schwarzenberg, who planted a commemorative tree in the newly created spa park.
The wonders of local water
Old publications state that up to 30 springs flow in the vicinity of Janské Lázně, most of which have unfortunately disappeared due to drought or construction activities. The most famous Janský and Černý springs are collected for the needs of the spa - they are used in the spa baths and swimming pools. The local thermal spring is a simple mineral water of the bicarbonate-calcium-sodium type.
Modern analysis of springs in 1934 brought further development. Professor Oskar Baudisch from the United States discovered the same effects as the water in Warm Springs in Georgia, where American President Roosevelt was being treated at the time. Based on his recommendation, in 1935, MUDr. Viktor Sellner from Svoboda nad Úpou introduced the treatment of the consequences of poliomyelitis here, the first in Europe.
The Vesna Children's Hospital, which is now renowned, was built in 1981 by an Italian company from Milan. It successfully treats children under the age of eighteen with nervous and neuromuscular diseases, cerebral palsy, diseases of the musculoskeletal and respiratory systems, after injuries and orthopedic surgeries, after oncological treatment and with childhood obesity. The adult spa hospital, which is located right in the center of the spa town opposite the Art Nouveau Colonnade, is visited by clients after musculoskeletal surgeries, after strokes and with other nervous, neuromuscular and respiratory diseases.
Hurray for sleds and skis
The sledge, a means of transport used to transport and haul wood or hay, became a source of entertainment and extra income a hundred and twenty years ago. At the end of the 19th century, sledge tracks were built on the slopes of Černá hora and very popular races were held there. In 1913, a kilometre-long electric lift was put into operation, leading from the post office to Zvonička (today the upper station of the Idyla lift). Over time, sledging replaced the increasingly popular skiing, but the sledge track from Černá hora is still popular today. This track is called the Bell Road and the name probably comes from the times when the sledges were equipped with bells, the jingling of which notified others that they were driving along this road, and thus served as a warning against a sudden collision.
Even before the massive development of skiing, a whole range of other sports were practiced here. Tennis courts were transformed into ice rinks in winter, and right in the city center, on the colonnade, they played, wonder of the world - metaná, the predecessor of today's Olympic curling. In 1924, a large ski jump was built in the forest opposite the Janská Lázeň Evangelical Church, at the time the largest in the Giant Mountains, with a critical point of 40 meters. The jumps of the conqueror and record holder of the jump, Franz Wende from Svoboda nad Úpou, many times exceeded 50 meters.
The big glory came in February 1925, when international ski competitions were held in Janské Lázně, subsequently recognized by the International Ski Federation as the second World Ski Championships. The main disciplines included cross-country skiing over various distances and ski jumping. The competitions were visited by around 12 thousand guests. As in modern history, the organizers struggled with occasional shortages of snow, which was brought from the forest on sledges.
Nowadays, after snow fun or just a walk, visitors can relax in the spa's Aquacenter, which offers a rehabilitation pool and hot tubs (indoor and outdoor) filled with thermal mineral water, water massage screens, bubble beds, and saunas until the evening hours.
Ski resort Černá hora in the last century and today
Three years later – in 1928 – the first cable car in Czechoslovakia was put into operation, to Černá hora. The technical masterpiece measures 3,174 meters and overcomes a height difference of 644 meters. The cable car leading to Černá hora in two cabins for 33 people transported up to 120 people per hour from the platform in the center of Janské Lázně and the ticket cost only 25 CZK.
You can still find the platform in the city today, with the difference that the cable car has replaced its cabins with eight-seater ones, which are not available anywhere else in the Czech Republic. SkiResort Černá hora – Pec, with 41 kilometers of slopes, is today the largest ski resort in the Czech Republic.
Cycling, hiking and treetop walking
In addition to the ski paradise, there are many places in the surrounding area that are worth visiting on foot, by bike or by car. Countless hiking and cycling trails of varying difficulty and length start from Janské Lázně. In 2017, you can walk along the restored good old spa trails, and in the summer the Krkonoše treetop trail will be completed. The horizontal part of the trail will lead up to 23 meters above the terrain. After 410 meters, it will dive into an underground cave with a diameter of thirteen meters, where visitors will walk through an underground exhibition with 3D models and will be able to study the microworld of the soil, from roots to the smallest animals. A trail will lead from the concrete cave to a 45-meter-high tower. With a height and length of 1300 meters, the trail will be one of the largest in Europe.
Right in the spa area, there are many opportunities for outdoor fun from spring to autumn - both adrenaline-fueled and more peaceful. Families with children love the Muchomůrka Farmapark with live animals and the Forest Rope Park, which also has a special section for small children up to 140 cm tall. You can use the road train for trips to the surrounding area.
