Home → Spas → Mariánské Lázně → Culture and Art

Culture and Art

Theatre in Mariánské Lázně

The town’s theatre inherently belongs to the cultural life in Mariánské Lázně. Its origins reach back to 1820, when the first plays started to be performed in a temporary wooden theatre.

The classical style stone theatre was built in 1868, shortly after the declaration of Mariánské Lázně as a town. The theatre was opened on 17th August 1868 – on the eve of the emperor’s Frantz Josef I birthday. At that time the theatre was very modern and it has outstanding acoustics.

In 1952 the theatre was renamed as the Theatre of N.V. Gogol on the occasion of a celebration of Russian literature.

The Theatre of N. V. Gogol, which nowadays stages classical as well as modern work and presents various theatre groups, is a jewel of Mariánské Lázně.

Churches in Mariánské Lázně

In 19th century people of various religions met in Mariánské Lázně, therefore there was a need to build tabernacles for different religions.

The local Roman-catholic church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, which stands in the middle of Goethe Square, belongs among rare cultural monuments. It is of interest that leading towards its entrance are 33 steps, which represent the 33 years of Jesus Christ’s life.

An interesting site is also the Evangelic church, here in 1923 Albert Schweitzer had a concert on the local organ. This concert is placed amongst the most significant cultural events in Mariánské Lázně.

For more than hundred years the Orthodox church of St. Vladimír, has stood in Mariánské Lázně. It was built especially for spa guests from Russia. Its luxurious interior and an extraordinary architecture attract visitors up to the present day.

Guests, who arrived from England, initiated the construction of an Anglican chapel. The British king, Edward VII also regularly visited this chapel.

There used to stand a synagogue in Mariánské Lázně, which was opened by the local Jewish community and Jewish spa guests on 1st August 1884. But the synagogue was burnt down and destroyed during the infamous Crystal night from 9th to 10th November 1938.

Museums in Mariánské Lázně

If you are interested in history, we would like to recommend a visit of the local Municipal Museum, which is dedicated to the history of spas, the personality of J. W. Goethe and also to the geologic and natural conditions of this area.

If you are interested in the personality of the famous Polish composer Fryderyk Chopin, you should take the opportunity to visit the Chopin House, where you can find a display devoted to his visit to Mariánské Lázně.

Cultural events in the spa centre

The cultural and conference centre Casino is the place, where numerous cultural events take place. This tradition reaches back into history when the Casino welcomed distinguished guests. In 1904 a Czech opera diva Ema Destinnová performed here and her performance induced huge public acclaim. In 1946 the first International Film Festival in the then Czechoslovakia took place at this very place.

An annually part of spa life is the Chopin music festival.

Some hotels also organise various cultural events, for example the hotel Hvězda – Skalník and the hotel Nové Lázně (New Spa).

During the season there are held regular concerts, which sweeten the stays for spa guests, on the spa colonnade.

A traditional part of cultural life in Mariánské Lázně has also become the annual spa season opening combined with the blessing of the springs, which is carried out in the second weekend in May.