Lądek Zdrój is one of the oldest spas on the territory of modern day Poland. Even though the town is located on the slopes of the Golden Mountains, it is not gold that brings riches to the area. What does are the hot springs of water suffused with radioactive gases. The springs have been in use for over 750 years. Only one out of the seven springs now in operation was artificially bored.

The first records of bathing facilities in Lądek date from April 1241, but the facilities themselves must have existed earlier, since the records refer to... their destruction by the invading Mongols. The weakly mineralized radon active, fluorine and sulfuric waters of Lądek have had a great influence on patients for centuries. In 1498 the sons of a local prince, named Georg, Karl and Albrecht, commissioned the construction of a bathing facility named Jerzy (now Stary), existing to this very day. This building, together with the stone St. John Bridge over the Biała Lądecka river, constitutes the oldest monuments of the town.Over the centuries, five other natural springs have been converted into pools.

The spa flourished especially in the 17th century. It was then visited by bishops and princes, as well as numerous Polish magnates. In 1674 it was graced by the presence of George William, the Duke of Legnica, Brzeg, and Wrocław, and last monarch of the Piast dynasty. Lądek was also the place in which the Prussian queen Louise, the wife of Friedrich Wilhelm III, underwent treatment. On August 2, 1813, the spa witnessed the meeting of the then “politicians of the year”, conquerors of Napoleon Bonaparte, that is the Prussian king Friedrich Wilhelm III with his court and the Russian tsar Alexander I with his retinue. Only because of the time of the year the meeting was not attended by Napoleon’s biggest foe, “General Frost”.

Healthcare in Lądek is not based on historical customs anymore. Some treatment methods used in former days should not be attempted by persons of poor health. Nowadays the treatments are based on water and peloid (mud) baths. By default, a physician will propose 10 basic and 20 additional methods of treatment. Fife natural medicine facilities and many sanatoria are active in Lądek. The most representative natural medicine facility called Wojciech (formerly Marienbad) is the property of the state owned Długopole Zdrój spa. It is distinguished by a round pool containing hot spring water. The baroque interior houses 19th century marble tubs used for pearl baths. The new, private treatment centers are also continually developing their offer.

Radon water baths are especially recommended in the treatment of atherosclerosis and ischemia. The bath causes better blood flow and reduces the level of cholesterol in the serum. Treatments based on local waters help patients with discopathic spine pains and sciatic neuritis. An increase of sexual potency in men who used radon baths has been observed. This happens because the bath helps double the level of testosterone in the serum, the average number of sperm cells and their mobility. Radon has an anti-inflammatory, anti-rash and desensitizing effect, improves epidermis regeneration, and the bath gives a nice terse touch to the skin. Radon waters also have a positive influence in treating certain metabolism disorders, as well as diabetes.

And what to do after the treatments are over? One can take a walk around the beautiful renaissance and baroque town square, attend a concert organized as part of the Lądek Music Summer, visit a ballet performance or... have a couple of unforgettable dances. Just watch out not to end up in an original centuries old pillory!

For patients who are encouraged to take walks the towns neighborhood offers a specially designed network of paths and trails leading to the Karpień castle or the Radochowska cave.

Links

• town's website