I found this from ResearchGate:

Gräfenberg Spa, a small vestige of old Austria in the north-eastern corner of the Czech Republic. January 2006.
In the valley between the Reichensteiner and Altvater Gebirge lies Jesenik (Freiwaldau). About 2Km above its centre, on the sunny side is the spa Gräfenberg, once an independent place but now administratively part of Freiwaldau but physically still quite separate, a little "old Austria" Although hardly known today, around 1900 it was nearly as famous a spa as Karlsbad. Its fame was entirely due to a local man, Vincenz Priessnitz (1799-1851), son of a peasant, who developed cures by using cold spring water to heal various ailments, and founded the first hydrotherapy spa, well ahead of the now better known Pfarrer (Reverend) Kneipp. At first treatment took place in his home, but gradually more buildings were added. The most important one, now called "Sanatorium Priessnitz", was built in 1910 in Art Nouveau style; despite its later addition it still conveys the impression of old Austria. It is the most important part of a "spa landscape" which gradually developed. Apart from the buildings serving as both accommodation for patients and treatment centres, there is a bandstand and many walkways with benches for resting. But unique among spas are the numerous "monuments ", financed by grateful patients, at the approximately 60 springs. Amongst them is one financed by English patients in 1848. The largest is a monument of a lion by the famous Munich sculptor Schwanthaler, now used as the logo of the spa. After its heyday prior to WW I, Bad Gräfenberg, experienced a decline and it was only after the "velvet revolution" in Czechoslovakia in 1989, when it became a limited company, that a new rise began. Nowadays it is used by 12-15,000 patients p.a., mostly Czech citizens, but also Poles (the border is only a few Km away), Slovaks, Germans (mainly from Saxony) and others. During the summer months it operates to near capacity but there is a relatively low attendance in winter, despite the fact that there are good winter sports facilities. The positive development over recent years is also due to vigorous advertising and to the low charges compared to the major spas in the Czech Republic and elsewhere.

Authors: K. A. Sinnhuber

Last edited by C. Wetzel-20609; 01/25/2024 12:03 AM.