Piešťany

Piešťany, European renowned antirheumatic spa is a traditional and attractive centre of tourism. It is situated in the south-west of the Slovak Republic, in the valley of the river Váh, at the foot of the range of hills Považský Inovec, 162m above the sea level. The distance from Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia is 86km. Already in the diluvial ages there lived primitive men of the Neanderthal type in the surroundings of the local hot springs, whose working instruments have been found in the Čertova pec cave near Piešťany and in a near village called Banka. There are also a lot of finds from later periods, when Celtic, German and eventually Slavic tribes took turns in setting this area. The first written reference to Piešťany dates back to 1113.

The spa treatment has been developed since the half of the 16th century, and already in balneography, dated from 1545, its author Juraj Wernher emphasises extraordinary curative effects of the Piešťany hot springs. It the 18th century a spa village began to rise on the right bank of the Váh. It has flourished extraordinarily especially since the year 1889, when the Winter family acquired it to a long-time lease. Piešťany became a fashionable spa known in many countries all over the word.

Further development of the spa started in the 60´s of the 20th century, when modern spa complex was built. At present, Piešťany in the most important and the best spa in Slovakia. The town of Piešťany with a wide range of services, shops, hotels, restaurants, cultural and social centres and with several therapeutic recreation facilities is situated on the right bank of the Váh. On the left bank of the Váh surrounded by its warm arm is located the spa island. Here, in the middle of the parks, the spa therapeutic facilities and houses with complementary services are situated. The two parts of the town are connected by two bridges. The Colonnade bridge with interesting architecture server to pedestrians, and the Krajinský bridge to the motor traffic. South of bridge, there is the dam Sĺňava, its length more than 6 km, providing excellent conditions for recreations, water sports and fishing.

There are hotels, campingsites, recreation facilities, ship-yards, thermal water pool, etc. on the right and on the left bank. There are attractive cultural and social activities held both in the town and on the Spa island. The Piešťany Festival of Music and Drama has rich traditions, plastic art exhibitions of illustrious artists are organised in the spa parks. The promenade orchestra and concerts of various artists and music groups make the stay of patient and visitors more pleasant. The exhibitions are held in exhibition hakks and a wide range of other activities in the open-air, the House of art on the embankment of I. Krasko, having at its disposal a music and a theatre hall for 600 persons. The social centre on the Spa island uses the Congress hall with the seating capacity for 400 people as well as the Little hall for 150 people. The Municipal Culture Centre with a theatre has the seating capacity of 200.

The Municipal Cinema has auditorium for 450 visitors, the open-air cinema can house 1650people etc. There are 18 objects situated in the Piešťany are, witch are included in the list of national cultural monuments for their exceptional value. Here belong e.g. the Napoleon spa, the spa house Pro Patria, Thermia palace and the balneotheraphy Irma. the Colonnade and the Krajinský bridge, monastery and church of the Knights of the John, the church of the St.Martin, the parish church and other sights. Those, who love the folklore will be interested in the richness of Preserved folklore art monuments.