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The origin of Darkov Spa dates back to 1867, when the first spa season was established. Previous scientific analysis of the natural curative source, iodine-bromine water called "brine", had been carried out. It was known as a "curative well" amongst the local people, who made use of it for their treatment.
Later it was found that the origin of water, with its favourable influence on the vascular system, as well as the locomotive apparatus, is from a tertiary period, and it can reasonably be called "the gift from the deep".
The reputation of the spa spread very quickly. In the years 1895-1902 other accommodation facilities were built as the first two buildings became insufficient for the task. The spa park, with its distinctive species of trees, was established.
Another construction period was undertaken in 1931. With the exception of the two World Wars, when rooms were transformed into a military surgery, Darkov Spa was fulfilling its purpose. Earl Larisch-Mönnich was the last owner of Darkov Spa before 1945, after which it came into the possession of the government for a number of years.
As the brine is saved in the pockets of coal fields, the spa had to face the effects of the local coal mining activities, and for some time there was actual destruction of the spa. For this reason the construction of new facilities was started in the opposite suburbs of Karviná town.
This new complex of interconnected buildings was put into operation in stages through the years 1976, 1980 and 1989, and became known as the Rehabilitation Sanatorium
The buildings are characterized by the typical austere architecture of that period, but with its spatial facilities they allowed the treatment of immobile clients to be carried out with completely new diagnoses, especially for conditions after cerebral apoplexy, injuries or operations on the locomotive organs.
Both spa resorts - Darkov Health Resort and the Rehabilitation Sanatorium - worked as one economic entity of the state-owned company. Thanks to the cessation of the coal mining activities, the original spa buildings could be gradually reconstructed and renewed from 1989, and, by today, all of them meet with the demands of today`s standards in spas on the highest level. Because of its architectonic features some of the buildings were declared cultural sights and the spa park, which was renovated, was registered as a significant scenic sight.
From September 1, 2003 Darkov Spa became a public limited company which continues its 135 years old tradition of the significant spa. With the help of investments put into modernization, the spa aspires to achieve still more qualitative and attractive surroundings. |
