Lázně za císaře pána

This album of historical photographs, selected, edited and annotated by the photographer and owner of a family collection of old photographs, Pavel Scheufler, presents the world of spas at the twilight of the monarchy, when prominent figures from across Europe, including members of the nobility and the Emperor himself, flocked to the healing springs. All of them, just like ordinary people, sought not only health but also relaxation and well-being at the healing springs. They had plenty of options. Small, lesser-known spas in the Czech lands offered quiet retreats and tranquillity. By contrast, the beautiful promenades, cafés and casinos in Karlovy Vary, Mariánské Lázně and Františkovy Lázně invited visitors to enjoy themselves and forge friendships and romantic relationships. And all this was closely observed by photographers, whose photographs now provide us with a unique insight into this lost world of yesteryear.