Rajecké Teplice

Rajecké Teplice is a spa town in the Žilina District, Žilina Region in northern Slovakia.

History

The first reliable written record was in 1376. It has town status since 1989.

Geography

The town lies in the Rajčanka river valley, 15 kilometres (9 miles) south of Žilina.

History of the spa

Located between the Lúčanská Malá Fatra and Martinské hole Hills at the valley of the Rajčanka river, the spa is marked as Thermae on a map from 1376, but a deed by Luis the Great gives the first written account of the hot water springs named Villa Tapolcha. In the donation deed made by the king Vladislaus II for Štefan Zápoľský from 1496, the spa is referred to as "possessio Thoplycza", what could mean a settlement or a hamlet.

The Lietava domain had been developed at the beginning of the 17th century and it covered the thermal spa together with the broad surrounding and the first settlements from which the present spa - Rajecké Teplice – had developed. The first buildings included the spa house and an inn for wealthy guests, with the first detailed description of the spa given by professor Cranz in his balneography.

There were three spa pools available for guests and the treatment focused on paralysis, rheumatism, oedema and various dermatological diseases.

The construction of the mansion began in the beginning of the 17th century (1610) and new construction of the spa was commenced at the end of the 18th century, since the Palatine Juraj Thurzo liked this spa, as can be seen from a written document from 1604. The Palatine Thurzo built a brick house with six rooms. The Lietava domain was split after his death, and the spa had not benefit from this and began to deteriorate. The new prime time of the spa came only by the end of the 18th century, when baron Ján Kalis, one of the heirs of the Lietava domain, built a brick house with 14 rooms at significant costs. The spa at those times was divided for gentry, burghers and common people and there were three roofed pools: Noble, Common and Poor.

The first description of the thermal water in Rajecké Teplice comes from 1776 and it was written by Pavol Adami. In 1793, Dr. Amadé Kelin, a physician of the Turčianska County, published in Vienna the first monograph about Rajecké Teplice, promoting the spa town throughout Hungary.

The 19th century saw a comprehensive development of spa facilities, with spas becoming a popular summer residence for gentry, high aristocracy and wealthy bourgeoisie.

The number of visitors decreased rapidly after World War I and Rajecké Teplice became a spa of only a local importance. Numerous constructions of treatment tracts took place in 1925–1937, such as the Spa House, Baník Spa Institute and Veľká Fatra and Malá Fatra Hotels. During the era of the Slovak State, the spa was taken over by the Workers' Social Insurance Company in 1941 that built an open-air swimming pool with thermal water. In 1959, Rajecké Teplice was given a status of a spa town, demarcating the area of the spa and ensuring protection of the healing springs.

In modern times, the biggest boom of the spa can be seen after World War II. Rajecké Teplice was declared to be a city in 1989.

Spa Aphrodite today

The spa went through an extensive renovation after 1996, thanks to the efforts of the new owners, which changed the spa out of all recognition, making Rajecké Teplice an attractive place to spend both therapeutic and relaxation wellness stays. Thermal springs of acratoteriem type with a 38 °C (100 °F) thermal water are used in the balneology centre at the Aphrodite Spa House to treat inflammatory and degenerative diseases of the movement apparatus, joints, spine, neurological diseases and occupational diseases.

The Spa House has become a magnet attracting both domestic and foreign visitors with its indoor areas decorated in ancient style, giving it a particular atmosphere of peace and luxury. The balneology centre equipped with the state-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic devices offers a complete range of procedures aimed at therapeutic, relaxation and beauty effects: water treatment, classical massages, Scottish shower, oxygen therapy, carbon bath, manicure and pedicure. All the services are provided as a one-stop-shop – balneologic procedures are carried out in super standard conditions, accommodation is provided in the four-star Aphrodite hotel, there is a top restaurant offering quality meals, stylish café accompanied by auxiliary services – a beautician and a coiffeur. Both the Spa House as well as the hotel and relaxation tract meet all the European standard requirements and belong to the most visited sites both by Slovak and foreign clients – Czech, German, Austrian, Polish and other spa guests who appreciate balneotherapy at the top level, a qualified team of professional staff and quality services at specific centres, like to come back. The pleasant calming environment of the park around a pool with rocky artefacts ensures a comfortable accommodation for clients and spa visitors in the hotel facilities. Everything is within reach and in the vicinity concentrated around the balneology centre. In addition to the four-star hotel, you can dwell also in 7 accommodation facilities of various categories, situated nearby the spa house in the beautiful surrounding of the spa park, around the pool with fountains and rocky artefacts.

International relations

Twin towns – Sister cities

Santa Maria del Cedro is twinned with:

External links