Poděbrady Spa: Alkaline Springs, Heart Rehabilitation and CO₂ Baths 2026

Key Facts

Poděbrady at a Glance

Feature	Details
Founded	1908 — purpose-built cardiology spa
Springs	13 alkaline springs, 12–14 °C, hydrogen-carbonate, CO₂
Main Spring	Poděbradka — sold in pharmacies Europe-wide
Specialisation	Cardiovascular ★★★, Hypertension ★★★, Post-Heart Attack ★★★
Terrain	Completely flat — Elbe River banks, 190 m altitude
Location	50 km east of Prague
Kurdauer	14–21 days recommended

What Does Poděbrady Treat?

poděbrady is exclusively specialised on cardiovascular diseases — a focus that is unique among European spa resorts. The infrastructure, medical staff and treatment protocols are all designed for cardiac patients.

– Post-heart attack rehabilitation — controlled recovery, dosed walking training, CO₂ baths (★★★) – Post-bypass surgery — rebuilding physical capacity under cardiological supervision – Hypertension — CO₂ baths measurably and persistently lower blood pressure (★★★) – Coronary heart disease — CO₂ dilates coronary vessels, improves cardiac perfusion – Cardiac arrhythmias — gentle balneotherapy under cardiological monitoring – Peripheral arterial disease — walking training and CO₂ promote collateral vessel formation – diabetes with cardiovascular complications — combined metabolic-cardiac therapy

The Springs of Poděbrady

Spring	Location	Temperature	Note
Poděbradka	Spa Park Drinking Hall	12 °C	Alkaline, CO₂-rich, sold in pharmacies as medicinal water
Hohenlohe	Hohenlohe Pavilion	13 °C	High CO₂, strong blood-pressure-lowering effect
Bülow	Spa Park	14 °C	Mild — for drinking cure
Rieger	Colonnade	12 °C	Iron-rich, for red blood cell formation
Trnka	New Spa House	13 °C	Modern tapping, for CO₂ baths

Treatments in Poděbrady

CO₂ bath: The central treatment. The natural CO₂ from Poděbrady’s springs is used in a full bath at 33–35 °C — cool enough not to burden the cardiovascular system, warm enough for the CO₂ to bubble on the skin. The gas forms tiny pearls that expand capillaries by up to 300 percent. Blood pressure drops measurably within five minutes — a natural vasodilation without pharmaceutical side effects. The bath lasts 15–20 minutes and is prescribed daily or every second day. Poděbrady’s CO₂ baths are among the most intensive in Central Europe, second only to mariánské lázně in CO₂ concentration. CO₂ bath treatment — learn more.

Dosed walking training: The completely flat spa park along the Elbe River is a purpose-built cardiac training ground. Paths are precisely measured and signposted: 500 metres, 1 kilometre, 2 kilometres, 5 kilometres. The patient begins with the 500-metre circuit and increases the distance daily under pulse and blood pressure monitoring. This is the core rehabilitation measure after a heart attack — and Poděbrady’s flat terrain is the best in Europe for it.

Drinking cure with Poděbradka: The alkaline hydrogen-carbonate water is drunk cold — on an empty stomach in the morning and before meals. The hydrogen-carbonate ions buffer excess stomach acid, the CO₂ stimulates gastric secretion, and the dissolved minerals improve electrolyte balance. The drinking cure is particularly important for maintaining mineral homeostasis in cardiac patients.

Cardiac physiotherapy: Specialised heart-circullation gymnastics in small groups under physiotherapist supervision. The focus is on dosed exertion, breathing technique, and stress reduction — all under continuous pulse and blood pressure monitoring.

History and Atmosphere

Poděbrady is a spa resort of the 20th century — no medieval colonnades, no imperial patronage, but a purpose-built modern medical facility. The first mineral spring was discovered in 1905 by the German landowner von Bülow, and the first spa house opened in 1908. From the outset, the resort was oriented toward cardiology — a medical discipline that was emerging as an independent speciality at exactly that moment.

The town of Poděbrady itself has a much older history. Poděbrady Castle — an imposing 13th-century water fortress on the Elbe — was the birthplace of King George of Poděbrady (1420–1471), the only Hussite king of Bohemia and the first European monarch to propose a pan-European peace plan. Today, the castle serves as a hotel and museum.

Poděbrady is a well-maintained, quiet spa town with a spacious flat spa park along the Elbe. Patients in rehabilitation clothing and bathrobes define the street scene. The Flower Clock — a botanical landmark replanted daily — and the modern glass Drinking Hall with all the springs are the central meeting points. For guests who want a focused cardiac rehabilitation in a quiet, flat, green environment, Poděbrady is the first choice.

Attractions Near Poděbrady

– 🏰 Poděbrady Castle — 13th-century water fortress, birthplace of King George of Poděbrady, now a hotel and museum – 🌿 Spa Park — flat, manicured park along the Elbe, measured walking circuits – 🎵 Drinking Hall — modern glass pavilion with all springs – ⛲ Flower Clock — botanical landmark, planted fresh daily – ⛪ Church of the Holy Trinity — Gothic church from the 14th century

Getting to Poděbrady from Germany

Poděbrady lies 50 kilometres east of Prague directly on the D11 motorway. From Dresden it is 210 kilometres (2 hours 30 minutes), from Nuremberg 380 kilometres (4 hours). The door-to-door transfer with German-speaking driver collects you from your home. The resort has its own railway station with regular connections from Prague (40 minutes) and connections to the German ICE network via Prague. Prague Airport is 70 kilometres away — transfer time 50 minutes.

A Typical Spa Day in Poděbrady

Time	Activity
07:00	Rise — self-measure blood pressure
07:30	Drinking cure — Poděbradka at the Drinking Hall
08:00	Breakfast
09:00	CO₂ bath — 20 minutes
09:30	Rest period — 30 minutes
10:00	Dosed walking training — 1–2 km, pulse-monitored
11:00	Cardiac physiotherapy — group exercise
12:30	Lunch
14:00	Massage or relaxation therapy
15:30	Second walking session — Elbe River path
17:30	Dinner
19:00	Evening walk — Flower Clock circuit

Frequently Asked Questions