This must have been very frustrating for all supporters of Luhačovice inscription to WHS list as this spa town originally initiated the process but it has been eventually omitted from the 2020 nomination called the Great Spas of Europe…

During my trip to central Moravia (Kroměříž and Olomouc WHSs) this summer, I did an afternoon detour to Luhačovice. The region of White Carpathians, where this spa town is located, is familiar to me, because I traveled there quite often some 10-20 years ago because of unique meadow landscape with the highest concentration of terrestrial orchids in the Central Europe. But I have never visited Luhačovice before, and must say that there is a huge contrast between this popular spa town and surrounding rural landscape.

Unfortunately, I had only 3 hours for my visit at Luhačovice that is not enough to explore every interesting place in detail, but it was enough to understand at least briefly what this spa town is about.

Besides the original but unassuming village of Luhačovice around the former castle and the Luhačovice Dam at just opposite corner, there are interesting districts in between related to the spa boom in 20th Centuries and included to the nomination:  (i) White District close to the railway station with the post office and several villas for spa guests built in functionalistic style, (ii) the area around the Main Colonnade, (iii) adjacent area of the Central Spa District with Sun Spas, and (iii) the Prague District with villas built in diverse styles of 20th Century for spa guests called after several neighborhoods in Prague.

I like functionalism, but for now I omitted detailed exploration of the White District as it only partly contributes to the potential OUV. Something similar can be said about the Prague District that is obviously more colorful than the White District.

The area around the main colonnade is visually the most interesting part of Luhačovice, and not only visually, because there are mineral springs that can be tasted for free. This part was carefully reconstructed this year and it is in an excellent shape now. It consists of small baroque chapel, embankments around river Šťávnice with colorful bridges and tennis courts, all completed by the representative set of spa buildings in styles spanning from the art deco, the unique neo-eclectic style inspired by traditional Slavonic architecture to the post-war functionalism and constructivism, and the so-called Brussels style (inspired by Czechoslovak exhibition in EXPO in Brussels). The blend of half-timber neo-Slavonic style of Jurkovič House (PHOTO) with clean lines of Main Colonnade and perfectly reconstructed monumental Vincentka Colonnade is what makes this place exceptional.

The half-timber spa houses of the Central Spa District are also exceptional but they are still waiting for careful reconstruction.

To conclude: Luhačovice Spa area is different as compared to locations included to the Great Spas of Europe proposal. It is more modern and less “international” and I found it kind of unique – the question is if it is enough. The representatives of Luhačovice did not give up their ambitions towards the WHS list, and I support their effort. In the case of the West Bohemian Spa Triangle I expect quick inscription this year.