Piešťany: Around the lake and around the island
Friday July 5, 2013
We weren't too sure if Piešťany would have enough of interest to warrant spending a day there but it did. We had beautiful weather and our campgrounds were located directly on the pleasant Sĺňava water reservoir. After seeing many people cycling past, I noticed that there was a bicycle path on the water's edge circling the little lake and it looked like it would make a nice ride.
We weren't too sure if Piešťany would have enough of interest to warrant spending a day there but it did. We had beautiful weather and our campgrounds were located directly on the pleasant Sĺňava water reservoir. After seeing many people cycling past, I noticed that there was a bicycle path on the water's edge circling the little lake and it looked like it would make a nice ride.
A view from the bike path around the reservoir
Here surf boards were used as tables, a novel idea.
On our way into town after circling the reservoir, we passed by a farmers market. Here we saw more vegetables than we had seen the whole time since traveling in Slovenia, Croatia or Hungary. So far there was little more on the shelves than onions, green peppers and tomatoes (very good tomatoes, I must admit), but here we saw a variety of very fresh vegetables and fruit. Nothing fancy or exotic, but seasonal and from the region.
At the farmers market
We found the center of Piešťany fairly quickly, the town isn't big. There are a a few remaining old buildings and much shabby patching up from the communist era, renovation wouldn't be the right word. The main drag was a pedestrian zone, the atmosphere was pleasant and relaxed with lots of people sitting outdoors enjoying a morning coffee.
Window reflecting the facade across the way
Grand Hotel
Number 27
We then proceeded to have a look at Piešťany's claim to fame, its thermal baths located on an island in the Váh river. Here several hot springs emerge with temperatures of 67–69 °C (153–156 °F), originating in a tectonic break at 2,000 meters depth. The sulfate–carbonate water - very smelly - is used in pools and tubs and sulfurous mud is also used for treatment.
Although the spa at Piešťany has been famous for centuries, it wasn't until the middle of the 20th century that the baths (here and in Hungary) were expanded and made available to all. Previously it was only a select few, the famous and well to do, who could afford to come here.
Although the spa at Piešťany has been famous for centuries, it wasn't until the middle of the 20th century that the baths (here and in Hungary) were expanded and made available to all. Previously it was only a select few, the famous and well to do, who could afford to come here.
The beginning of 20th century was marked with the building of several new hotels in secession style, here Spa Hotel Thermia Palace with building for balneotherapy Irma (1912)
Living sculpture in front of the Palace Hotel
Medicinal drinking water, a cure-all -
You could help yourself, but the water was very hot and we didn't have a cup with us.
We got a whiff of the water and I doubt I would be able to drink the recommended amount of warm, sulfury water on an empty stomach, or at all.
Symbol of the spa, statue of a man who no longer needs his crutch (by R. Kuhmayer)
We rode our bikes around the little island, had a look at the architecture of the hotels and returned to our campsite. In the evening I cooked up a nice vegetable concoction from the products we had bought at the farmers market.