The Colonnade & Singing Fountain
The iconic colonnade and Singing Fountain in Mariánské Lázně (Marienbad): architecture, history and show times.
An architectural masterpiece
The Main Colonnade of Mariánské Lázně (Marienbad) is far more than a building — it is the beating heart of the spa town and one of the most impressive examples of Neo-Baroque spa architecture in Europe. The elegant cast-iron structure extends over a length of 135 metres and, with its delicate ceiling construction and ornamental columns, forms a covered promenade that has sheltered spa guests from sun and rain for over a century while they drink the healing waters of the mineral springs.
The present colonnade was built in 1888–1889 to designs by the Viennese architects Miksch and Niedzielski, replacing an older wooden structure. The cast-iron construction was revolutionary for its time and reflected the technical optimism of the late 19th century. The colonnade has been restored several times, most recently and most extensively in the 1970s and 2000s, and today shines in its original splendour.
The springs of the colonnade
Beneath the roof of the colonnade and in the neighbouring pavilion you can taste three of the town's best-known springs; which of them to drink, and how much, is decided by the spa physician — see mineral springs and the drinking cure:
- Cross Spring (Křížový pramen): Marienbad's most famous spring, an acidulous water with Glauber's salt. The cross that gave it its name has stood here since 1749, and the name of the spa has been linked to it since 1808.
- Caroline Spring (Karolinin pramen): an acidulous water with a high magnesium content, originally the New Spring; it received the name of Empress Caroline Augusta in 1817.
- Rudolph Spring (Rudolfův pramen): an acidulous water rich in calcium and magnesium, named after Crown Prince Rudolph; it rises in Úšovice and is piped to the Cross Spring pavilion.
Each spring has a different composition and taste. The spa physicians draw up an individual drinking plan for every patient, specifying the spring, quantity, temperature and drinking times; where to find all the springs is shown in the springs overview.
The Singing Fountain
Directly in front of the colonnade stands one of Marienbad's best-loved landmarks: the Singing Fountain. This unique interplay of water, music and light was inaugurated in 1986 to a design by the engineer Pavel Mikšík and has been a highlight of every visit to Marienbad ever since.
How does the Singing Fountain work?
The fountain consists of a circular basin approximately 18 metres in diameter, fitted with hundreds of nozzles that produce precisely choreographed water figures through a computer-controlled system. These are exactly synchronised with a selection of music — from classical compositions (Dvořák, Smetana, Chopin) to film scores and modern pieces. The jets of water literally "dance" to the rhythm of the music, creating a mesmerising audiovisual experience.
Show times
The Singing Fountain plays from May to October at every odd hour (7:00, 9:00, 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, 17:00, 19:00, 21:00). The evening performances after dark are particularly atmospheric, as the fountain is additionally lit in coloured lights. Each performance lasts approximately 10–15 minutes and is free.
The Ferdinand Spring colonnade
Alongside the Main Colonnade, the Ferdinand Spring colonnade in Úšovice also deserves a mention — a neoclassical structure of 1826–1827, reached by a pleasant walk through Úšovice park. It shelters the Ferdinand Spring, a strong Glauber-salt acidulous water with the highest mineral content of all the Marienbad springs, and offers a quieter setting than the busy Main Colonnade. It is named after Emperor Ferdinand I, in whose reign salt extraction was attempted here in the 16th century.
History and cultural significance
The colonnade has always been far more than a functional promenade. In the 19th and early 20th centuries it was the social centrepiece of spa life — a meeting place where crowned heads, poets, musicians and the European aristocracy promenaded. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Frédéric Chopin, Richard Wagner and King Edward VII were among the most prominent visitors who took their drinking cure beneath the colonnade's roof.
Even today the colonnade remains the centre of spa life. Every morning and evening, spa guests stream to the springs with their characteristic spa cups to drink their medically prescribed mineral water — a tradition that has scarcely changed in over 200 years.
Around the colonnade
The colonnade lies at the heart of the beautifully landscaped spa park (Skalníkovy sady), designed by the renowned landscape architect Václav Skalník in the 19th century. The park offers expansive green spaces, historic pavilions, a cast-iron bandstand and carefully tended flower beds. It is the ideal starting point for the terrain cure walks that lead into the surrounding forests.
Practical information
The colonnade is freely accessible all year round. The mineral springs flow continuously and can be drunk from free of charge at any time — bring your own cup or buy a traditional spa cup in one of the many souvenir shops. The Singing Fountain operates seasonally from May to October. Admission is free.
The colonnade is easily reached on foot from the town centre — it lies at the southern end of Hlavní třída (the main street), just a few minutes' walk from all the major spa hotels.
