What Is a Drinking Cure — and Why Marienbad?
The drinking cure is one of the oldest and most natural forms of spa therapy in Europe. The concept is straightforward: you drink prescribed amounts of mineral water from specific springs, at set intervals and at the right temperature, while walking slowly through the spa park. What sounds simple triggers a cascade of physiological processes in the body that no supplement or bottled mineral water can replicate.
Mariánské Lázně — known internationally as Marienbad — is uniquely suited for the drinking cure for one reason: over 40 mineral springs emerge within the town, each with a different chemical composition. This natural diversity is unmatched anywhere in Europe. While most spa towns offer one or two types of mineral water, a spa physician in Marienbad can design a drinking plan combining several springs throughout the day, tailored precisely to a patient's diagnosis.
The tradition stretches back more than two centuries. Since the first scientific analyses of the springs in the late 18th century, Marienbad has grown into one of Europe's foremost drinking cure destinations — a legacy recognised in 2021 when the town was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the Great Spa Towns of Europe.
The Six Main Springs and Their Properties
Křížový Pramen — Cross Spring (Kreuzquelle)
The Cross Spring is the most heavily mineralised spring in Marienbad. It contains high concentrations of dissolved salts — primarily sulphates, bicarbonates, and sodium. Its elegant pavilion stands at the heart of the spa park, surrounded by the late 19th-century colonnade.
Indications: Digestive tract disorders — gallbladder, liver, and pancreas conditions. The Cross Spring stimulates bile production and promotes intestinal peristalsis. It is also prescribed for elevated cholesterol and lipid metabolism disorders.
Taste: Strongly mineral, slightly salty. It can be intense for first-timers, so starting with smaller amounts is recommended.
Lesní Pramen — Forest Spring (Waldquelle)
The Forest Spring is the most famous and popular spring in Marienbad. It rises directly inside the Ensana Centrální Lázně (Central Baths) building, where it is freely accessible to hotel guests and the public alike. Its moderate mineralisation makes it the ideal starting point for anyone new to the drinking cure.
Indications: Metabolic disorders, general wellness, and convalescence. The Forest Spring is frequently prescribed as the base spring for a daily drinking plan.
Taste: Milder and more pleasant than the Cross Spring, with a slight iron note.
Rudolfův Pramen — Rudolf Spring (Rudolfsquelle)
The Rudolf Spring is one of the most visited springs in town. Its chemical composition makes it particularly effective for urological conditions — it promotes natural diuresis and helps regulate urine pH, which prevents the recurrence of kidney stones.
Indications: Kidney stones, chronic urinary tract infections, gout. Patients regularly report the spontaneous passing of small stones during a three-week cure.
Taste: Moderately mineral with a slight metallic undertone.
Karolinin Pramen — Caroline Spring (Karolinenquelle)
The Caroline Spring is distinguished by its elevated magnesium content, which plays a key role in numerous metabolic processes. The drinking hall is located near the Central Baths.
Indications: Urological and nephrological conditions, diabetes, gout, mineral metabolism disorders. The magnesium also supports the nervous system and helps with muscle cramps.
Taste: Mildly bitter, owing to the high magnesium content.
Ambrožův Pramen — Ambrose Spring (Ambrosiusquelle)
The Ambrose Spring is unique in serving a dual purpose — it is used both for the drinking cure and for inhalation therapy. Mineral aerosol from this spring moisturises the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, eases expectoration, and reduces the frequency of inflammatory episodes.
Indications: Chronic bronchitis, asthma, recurrent upper respiratory infections, sinusitis. The inhalation facility is located within the Maria Spa complex.
Taste: Mild, with a faintly saline quality.
Mariin Pramen — Mary Spring (Marienquelle)
The Mary Spring is the source of natural carbon dioxide of 99.7% purity. Unlike the other springs, the Mary Spring is not used for drinking — it supplies the gas for CO₂ injections and dry carbon dioxide baths. It is one of the purest natural CO₂ sources in all of Europe.
How to Do a Drinking Cure Properly
The drinking cure in Marienbad follows a time-tested protocol that has changed very little in two centuries. Getting the process right is essential for the therapy to be effective.
The Morning Round — the Heart of the Cure
The main drinking session takes place in the morning, 30 to 60 minutes before breakfast. You slowly sip 200 to 300 millilitres of mineral water from your prescribed spring while walking through the spa park or along the colonnade. The slow walking aids mineral absorption and gently stimulates digestion.
The water temperature of Marienbad's springs is around 7 to 10 degrees Celsius — these are cold mineral springs, quite different from the hot springs of Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad). The low temperature has a therapeutic purpose: certain minerals are better absorbed when the water is cool.
If you are accustomed to spa traditions from places like Bath or Baden-Baden, the cold water may come as a surprise. Give it a few days — most visitors find it refreshing once the initial adjustment passes.
Late Morning and Afternoon
Depending on the doctor's prescription, the drinking cure is repeated before lunch and sometimes in the afternoon. The total daily amount typically ranges from one to two litres, spread across three or four sessions. Never drink the entire quantity at once.
Rules to Follow
- Drink slowly — one cup (200 ml) over 15 to 20 minutes of walking
- Not on a full stomach — always 30 to 60 minutes before a meal
- Do not mix springs on your own — each spring has a different composition, and the wrong combination can be counterproductive
- Follow the prescription — dosage and spring selection should always be discussed with a spa physician
The Spa Cup — Tradition Meets Function
An essential accessory for the drinking cure is the traditional spa cup — a porcelain mug with a flat handle that doubles as a drinking spout. This distinctive shape is not merely decorative: the spout allows you to sip the mineral water slowly, in small mouthfuls, while also protecting your tooth enamel from prolonged contact with the highly mineralised water.
Spa cups are sold in every souvenir shop in town, with prices starting at a few euros. If you do not have a cup, you can bring your own bottle, but the traditional cup is genuinely more practical — and it makes a lovely souvenir to take home.
Where and When to Visit the Springs
The main springs in the colonnade and spa park are open daily, typically from 6:00 to 18:00. Exact opening hours may vary by season — check the practical information page for current details.
The Forest Spring inside the Central Baths building is accessible outside these hours for Ensana hotel guests — simply walk down to the ground floor of the Ensana Centrální Lázně hotel, where the spring flows freely.
The best time for the drinking cure is early morning, between six and eight o'clock. The springs are quieter at that hour, and the fresh air in the park is particularly invigorating.
Getting to Marienbad
Mariánské Lázně is located in western Bohemia, about 160 kilometres from Prague (roughly two hours by car, three by train). The town is also well connected to Germany — Munich is approximately three and a half hours by car, Nuremberg two and a half, and there are rail connections via Cheb on the border. For visitors coming from further afield, Prague's Václav Havel Airport is the nearest international hub. More details are on the practical information page.
A Tradition Spanning Two Centuries
The first scientific analyses of Marienbad's springs were carried out in the late 18th century by physician Johann Josef Nehr, who documented the therapeutic effects of the mineral water and laid the foundations for systematic balneology at the site. Abbot Karl Kaspar Reitenberger of Teplá Monastery subsequently opened the springs to the public, and in 1818 the settlement was officially declared a spa town.
Since then, monarchs, statesmen, and artists have come to Marienbad for the drinking cure. Goethe visited three times and immortalised his experience in the famous Marienbad Elegy. King Edward VII of England was a regular guest. Chopin composed here. What drew them all still holds true today: the remarkable variety of springs and their healing power, set amid the beautiful forests of the Slavkov range.
In 2021, Marienbad's springs were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the Great Spa Towns of Europe — the drinking cure is one of the reasons the town earned that distinction.
Before You Begin
The drinking cure is not a substitute for medical care but a powerful complement to it. Before starting, always consult a spa physician who will prescribe the right springs, dosage, and schedule for your diagnosis. Some springs may be unsuitable for certain conditions — the heavily mineralised Cross Spring, for example, is not recommended for patients with high blood pressure.
Bring comfortable walking shoes for the park, your own water bottle as a backup, and above all, enough time. The drinking cure cannot be rushed. It is a ritual that connects body, nature, and two hundred years of tradition — and that is precisely where its power lies.
