VOL. 68, NO. 2 - AAFI-AFICS, Geneva - UNOG

CECHY SPA TRIANGLE : HEALTH AND WELLNESS
This follows an AAFI-AFICS group travel visit to Prague, Ceske Budejovice, Cesky Krumlov, Karlovy Vary,
Dresden (29 September - 6 October 2008).
Formerly a Slavic kingdom, Bohemia became a province of the newly formed Czechoslovakia by the Treaty
of Versailles in 1919. The region of Cechy in the western part of independent Czech Republic consists
chiefly of a plateau closed by mountains that has been a destination for prospectors, Christian pilgrims, spa
visitors and nature lovers.
Amongst the historical, architecture, leisure and natural features, it is endowed with therapeutic minerals
from its deep thermal springs and hot mud pools. Its mountains and forests are protected as natural
monuments or reservations. There are many rare flower and plant species with marshes, natural lakes and
bog lands. Nature trails can be explored that are designed to protect rare animal species, bog vegetation,
salty swamps and other unique features that have formed during different geological periods of the region.
Some 150 years ago the Cechy Spa triangle of Marianske Lazne, Karlovy Vary, Frantiskovy Lazne was a
fashionable European centre. “Taking the waters” in the historical towns were the powerful and rich from
Europe and the wider world including emperors and tsars, kings and sheikhs, aristocrats, artists and people
from the rich upper middle class. Those who could not afford to stay in the spas could have the healing water
delivered while the poorest could draw it directly from the natural thermal springs.
Between the late nineteenth century and start of World War I the so-called Golden Age of the Cechy Spa
triangle saw the construction of elegant colonnades in the towns. Intended to enable walking and drinking of
mineral water directly from the springs, they became part of the spa social life for the rich visitors. These ‘airy
temples’ of healing waters took on a life of their own and remain features of the spa towns today. The
colonnades are popular with visitors who continue to drink water from the thermal springs.
After a period of steep decline, more recently the region of the Cechy Spa triangle has been revitalised
offering modern facilities of balneology in its many spas throughout the region. In the footsteps of rich and
famous, the historical towns provide a variety of medical and dietary cures targeted to treat specific health
disorders while others focus on regeneration of health and wellness, relaxation, cosmetic and related
treatments.
In addition to the imperial elegance of buildings with Baroque and other periods of architecture, luxury hotels
and shops, the spa towns boast miraculous healing effects for curists … that could be related to blessing of
the springs that opens the new spa season … in Karlovy Vary.
Called the ‘thirteenth spring’, for two centuries a popular Czech herbal liqueur Becherovka “invented” by a
local pharmacist has a reputation for ‘healing power’.
Ita Marguet
BOOK REVIEW
Equality of Men and Women at Work
Eve C. Landau and Yves Beigbeder (AAFI-AFICS Committee member) have just published “From ILO
Standards to EU Law: The Case of Equality between Men and Women at Work” (Martinus Nijhoff Publishers
2008). The Foreword has been written by Emeritus Professor and Judge Lucius Caflisch, at present Member
of the UN International Law Commission.
The book portrays the achievements and progress of equality at work between men and women. The
relevant UN Conventions and the numerous ILO Conventions and Recommendations are recalled. The
European Union has applied and developed the universal ILO standards, empowering rights of equality with
effective remedies through EU legislation and enforcement by its Court of Justice. The issues covered
include equal remuneration and treatment, positive or affirmative action, dignity of the worker, maternity
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