The spa town of Karlova Studanka

It the early 1800s and the area was called Austrian Silesia as Vincent Priessnitz rose into fame for healing diseases using hydrotherapy and diets. He propagated remedies like fresh air, exercise, rest, water and suitable food. The spa founded by him still exists, in the city of Jesenik, now in the Czech republic. And in the surrounding area more Spa's have been founded in the past few hundred years.

Karlova Studanka is a spa town that was named by the New York Post in 2013 as one of 46 destinations that you must visit. And rightly so as this small town has an atmosphere that takes you back in time. The mostly wooden Spa buildings in a beautiful park-like setting, with cobblestone roads. The other buildings are pastel colored and the whole place looks like people dressed in the fashion of the late 19th century can appear any moment.

The treatments in the Spa are still a bit communist era, or you might say hospital like and spartan. But gel and mud baths, CO2 baths, herbal compress and various massages are all on the spa-menu. And the mineral water that is high in Iron and clean air help with chronic inflammation, hypertension, respiratory diseases and also have effect after chemotherapy, I was told. But for me the town is mostly a visible treat.

Trofeo Ski Jeseniki

Once a year the town has a surprise in store. From all over the Czech Republic vintage cars arrive for the Trofeo Ski Jeseníky. There is the Czech Tatra truck who won Paris-Dakar three times. And among the classics a 1917 Dodge, a Bentley from 1938 and some more cars from the Tatra factory, including the streamlined Tatra 87 from 1946 with it's eight cylinder engine in the back, and a remarkable rear fin. Really one of the most exotic cars ever made. The cars arrive on Saturday and are exhibited on Sunday.