On 1 July 1895 the Empress visited the Bardejov Spa Elizabeth of Bavaria (Sisi), to regain new life strength after the tragic death of her son. She stayed at the Deák Hotel (today's Elizabeth Spa), probably in room 218, overlooking the spa world. She devotedly adhered to the spa regime and drank from the Lobogo healing spring, now called Elisabeth. On her departure on 22 July, she acknowledged: „I feel healthy, refreshed - like an eighteen-year-old.“
In her footsteps will lead you „Sisi and her stops“ nature trail“ - an easy 2.3 km long route with 7 stops, which will take you through the spa forest park and remind you of the places that inspired it.
The experience is enhanced by a visit Sisi Museum Suite (in the Alžbeta Spa House), where you can see the exhibition, buy themed souvenirs and transport yourself to the imperial era - for an entrance fee of just € 1.
The culmination of the cultural summer in Bradejov Spa is Elizabethan Day, which is held at the end of August as a memorial day to honour the Empress's visit. The festive programme includes a historical carriage procession, sketches, concerts in period costumes and the opening of the Museum Suite - the whole atmosphere is free to attend.
Wandering through the most beautiful corners of the Bardejov Spa
1st stop: Alžbetín Park, monument - bronze statue of Sisi (Július Donáth)
„It is easy to imagine that Her Majesty's visit to Bardejov left a deep, indelible mark on the souls of the local population. Since 1895, whenever spring arrived and the spa season opened, her memory has filled the hearts of the people, and throngs of visitors have made their way to the Hotel Deák, where they have looked up with reverence to the terrace from which the noble lady has so often enjoyed the unparalleled beauty of the spa panorama.“
On August 11, 1901, Chief Mayor Bárdossy convened a confidential meeting of leading members of the City Council, the Joint Stock Company, the tenants of the baths and prominent guests, whom he informed of his decision to initiate proceedings in the matter of erecting a monument to Queen Elizabeth in the baths. And the collection began. In the matter of Elizabeth's monument, the then Vice-Mayor Jozef Tahy presented a spirited proposal to the representative body of the Šarišská stool to vote for a larger financial contribution. He devoted much energy and all his influence to the growth of the monument's foundation and in 1903 he personally attended a large meeting devoted to the preparation of its unveiling ceremony. The committee for the preparation of the monument decided that the monument would be made by Július Donáth in bronze, the figure would be rendered in a seated form, and the base would be made of domestic Hátszegsz marble. The artist undertook to make the work for 12 000 crowns. On 25 July, the pedestal of the monument was delivered and placed immediately. The monument itself - a bronze statue was erected in the first third of August with the personal assistance of the artist.
2nd stop: Friendship footbridge
The Friendship Bridge is 54.2 m long and its tower is 11.6 m high. The bridge was designed by the Czech garden architect Ivar Otruba and was put into operation in 2011. With its unusual length, it has become one of the landmarks of the spa and a frequent photography destination. At the time of its opening, it was one of the five longest wooden footbridges in Slovakia.
„The noble queen has a very simple lifestyle. Early in the morning at the new bath house she takes a warm mineral bath, then has breakfast. Her breakfast usually consists of a soft-boiled egg and freshly milked milk. After breakfast, Her Majesty, accompanied by Countess Mikes or her Greek tutor, goes for a walk, and it is remarkable the tenacity and perseverance which the noble lady displays in doing so. She walks tirelessly through the beautiful woods for 3-4 hours at a stretch without once resting. .... spa guests respect the respectful distance to the utmost and try their best not to disturb her tranquility.“
3rd stop: Above the swimming pool
Under the forest on the very outskirts of Bardejov Spa there is a summer swimming pool with water heated to a pleasant 27°C. In addition to the large 33x15 m pool, there is also a small 4x4 m children's pool. This natural swimming pool was built in 1930 during the time of Dr. Mikulas Atlasz.4th stop: Oxygen track
The original oxygen runway was built in 1974. It was restored and made operational again in 2014. It is 1 km long and has fourteen stations for relaxation and movement exercises. Currently it serves spa guests and all visitors who want to exercise, but also those who like to spend their free time with pleasant walks in the forest environment.5th stop: Black puddle
In the beautiful forests above the spa lake runs the forest nature trail Čierna Mláka, which was opened to the public in 2008. It consists of three circuits of varying difficulty. The first circuit is easy with a length of 1.9 km and an elevation of 100 m. The second circuit is moderately demanding with a length of 3.7 km and an elevation of 220 m. The third circuit is challenging with a length of 3.9 km and an elevation of 290 m. At the beginning there is an information map with basic information about the trail and interesting facts about the site itself, forestry, fauna and flora, viewpoints, historical monuments and others, providing 18 thematic stops. The trail leads past the wooden lookout tower of Zborovský hrad, the stone terraced lookout on the main ridge of the Čergov Mountains and the chapel of St. Hubert. There are benches for relaxation and contemplation, wells for refreshment and fireplaces for sitting with friends. The forest nature trail is open all year round.6th stop: Pond
The lake in Bardejov Spa is a popular place for pleasant relaxation and rest. The area of the pond was dredged, the dam, the outlets of the pond and also the steps were repaired. The pond was originally built as a water reservoir for the needs of the water supply system of Bardejov Spa. Repairs continue with the cleaning and reconstruction of the dam, which is located in the forest, 200 metres above the pond itself. This dam has a very important role. It serves to catch the tidal wave so that, during periods of intense rainfall, it catches all the deposits of dirt, sand, stones and branches and thus prevents the pond itself from silting up.7th stop: Parčík Diana, Hotel Alžbeta, former hotel Deák
Sisi stayed at the Hotel Elisabeth, formerly the Hotel Deák, during her stay in Bardejov Spa. On this occasion, a side entrance to the hotel was built especially for Sisi and her entourage. Sisi was a disciplined patient who strictly adhered to the spa regime. On the recommendation of her attending physician, she drank water from the Lobogo Spring (now the Elizabeth Spring).
„Her soul has always longed to be in the bosom of nature!
Her moments of rest were mostly spent in the beautiful countryside, as if she wished, through her adoring love for it, to allow her carefully protected feelings, full of memories, to share in the pleasure of recollection and contemplation, and, through her beloved solitude, to keep these memories intact and preserved ... And it is this very threat and inexorable nature that has changed, turned all joy into sorrow, shown how a healthy, developing force can be suddenly destroyed, that everything is finite and transient, and how quickly life passes ....
She loved nature - that which so ruthlessly performs its executioner's task - and in return she welcomed it into her bosom.
.... Multa pars tui vitavit Libitinam ....“
Bardejov, 1. August 1903 Július Schultz
