BARDEJOV SPA AS A (GEO)TOURIST ATTRACTION Dana Tometzová1 Abstract: The paper depicts the history of Bardejov Spa itself, the history of spa buildings and objects which went through different changes over the years. The article also describes periods of the spa when famous people like empress of Austria and queen of Hungary Elizabeth of Bavoria, Austo-Hungarian emperor Josef II., second wife of emperor Napoleon – Maria Louisa or russiam tsar Alexander visited Bardejov Spa. Since the locality possesses by 8 mineral springs which are used for drinking treatments, it is still very attractive area not only for patients, but thanks to valuable cultural and natural heritage,it also appeals to tourists and geotourists.The growth of the visitor rate during last few years is also analyzed in the paper as well as spa conditions nowadays, chemical composition of the springs, indications and procedures provided in the spa. Key words: Bardejov spa, spa tourism,health tourism, mineral springs Introduction Bardejov Spa are located in the north - eastern part of Slovakia, in Prešov district, in the Low Beskids, between Čergov and Ondava highlands. Spa are located 5 km north of Bardejov city, to which they are administratively affiliated. Besides the Bardejov spa joint stock company is with almost identical indications in service the Spa-Health Institute of the Ministry of Internal affairs of Slovak Republic Družba. In the spa area, visitors canenjoy (except the effects of healing springs and wellness) educational trail „Čierna mláka“, outdoor rehabilitation and fitness trail called „Kyslíková dráha – Oxygen track“ with 14 stops with wooden obstacles, information boards and benches,3 singletracks for cyclists, tennis courts, minigolf, outdoor swimming pool with water temperature of 27ºC or Museum of folk architecture which is an open air museum with various residential timbered houses, technical, religious and farm buildings typical for regions of upper Šariš and northern Zemplín. 1 Technical university of Košice, Faculty of Mining, Ecology, Process Control and, Geotechnologies , Institute of Earth Resources e-mail: [email protected] 66 In the immediate vicinity of the spa is outlook-tower „Kamenná hora“, from the top of which you can have a beautiful view over the whole Bardejov town. The town is another favourite spot of tourists. Bardejov is known as the most gothic city of Slovakia with the best preserved defensive system. In addition to the walls, the gate and ten bastions have been preserved. There are many others valuable cultural monuments thanks to which Bardejov is from the year of 2000 part of UNESCO World heritage list. Since June 2018, the project called „Bardejov - Gorlice "Geotourism - Chance for the Development of the Polish-Slovak Border" is also being implemented. Both towns Gorlice and Bardejov have their picturesque location in the heart of the Polish Carpathians - on the edge of the Low Beskids, unique geotourist attractions based on geological resources. Gorlice is the cradle of the oil industry, where the world's first oil-fired furnace and mines were built, and Bardejov is a spa town with many mineral springs. Within this project is planned to create a publication with a map of geotourist attractions in the area and specialtour guide training, which will be mainly focused on geotourism, geology and biology of the locality. Geology of Bardejov Spa After the World War I, in the early 1930s, geologists A.Matějka and L. Zelenka (1932) as frist described the geological structure of Bardejov's surroundings. Their concept was accepted by the already known hydrogeologist O. Hynie. As the most important tectonic- building element, they considered the sloping surface of the fault character running directly through the valley of the spa area. This main seepage area intersects the transversefault fissures of the younger age and dislocates the main springfault. The later drilling hydrogeological survey changed these views. In 1963 O. Hynie adopted new views of Z. Stránik, J. Nemčok and T. Koráb which dedicated their attention to geological structure of the spa area. From the geological point of view, the area of Bardejov Spa belongs to the Neo- Alpine units of the Western Carpathians.The territory is formed by Flysch Belt. Magura Flysch is divided into Čerhov unit, Bystrica and Rača unit. The outflow of mineral carbon dioxide waters mediates Bardejov fault, according to which is Bystrica unit overthrust to Rača unit. This fault has a steep gradient to the northeast, and in the valley of the Kvašný creek, flowing through the spa area, it is covered by alluvial sedimentsof quaternary age, reaching a thickness of 4.8 - 17.2 m. The predominant areclayish and sandy gravels with weak to medium wrought pebblestones. In the eastern part of the spring zone there is a 1.5 m thick peat position with clay admixtures in fluvial deposits. Quaternary alluvial sediments pass directly into the rock bed. The most prominent representative of the Bystrica unit is Lackov member (Middle Eocene) made up of light-grey colored polymictic conglomerates of a pseftic to psamitic structure with fragments of slates, quartzites and melaphyres. The matrix isclastic, silicious, or calcareous. For the occurrence of mineral waters, is important the presence of light fine grain sandstones, which are collectors of local importance. So-called Beloveža layers (Paleocene - the lower Eocene) of Bystrica unit are in contact on a fault surface. These clay layers are poorly permeable, and they alternate with sandstones of Rača unit. Characteristic lithotype are greenish, greenish-blue, brownish-grey to-red-purple calcareousclaystones. In extremely predominant pelites stand out of the 30-70 cm thick arkosic sandstones. Further exploratory work (B. Leško, V. Struňák - 1966, K. Malatínsky – 1968-70) clarify the course of the transverse tectonics. Temporary protective zones were set in 1960 by O. Franko and P. Tkáčik and these zones were later modified by M. Haluška. In 2000 were protective zones of resources in Bardejov legislatively established by Decree No. 16 of Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic. 67 History of Bardejov Spa The first written mention of Bardejov Spa dates back as far as 1247 when the Hungarian king Béla IV. donated the territory of the present spa jointly with the springs to the city Bardejov. We know for certain that the local people knew the curative effects of the mineral springs very soon that they could experience themselves. Up to the 15th century there is no precise data about the spa. The good reputation, however, spread over very quickly therefore the first booths for bathing sick people, coming here from the distant surroundings, have been built in 1505. In 1777 the first brick building was built near to the springs. The building had 12 rooms serving for the patients comfort. The curative effects attracted the Hungarian and Polish nobility which contributed essentially to the development of Bardejov Spa. The first written scientific report on the results of the analyses of the two most frequently used Bardejov springs - the Main and the Spa spring /Hlavný, Kúpeľný spring/ was given by professor Pavol Kitaibel from Pest in 1795. That time 7 mineral springs were utilised. He considered the Bardejov acidulous water one of the most curative water in Europe, suitable for filling in containers and being exported. Kitaibel proposed after some further analyses the indications of the spa therapy. Pursuant to his opinion the waters from Bardejov were suitable for curing headache, contracture, epilepsy, hypochondria, gynaecological disorders, podagra, urine stones, gastrointestinal disorders. Kitaibel´s report contributed to the fact that Bardejov Spa has integrated among the most often visited spa of Hungary by the end of the 18th century. The city started to fill in containers and export the Bardejov acidulous water not only to Budapest, but also to Warsaw, Berlin, Frankfurt. Kitaibel also proposed spa park adjustment and he contributed to the creation of the oldest spa park on the Slovak territory. In the first half of the 19th century the Bardejov Spa experienced a flourishing time. Within a short time a new spacious spa-house was built up and several dwelling houses. That time already 13 mineral springs were utilised. The inter-war period marked the stagnation of the spa. After the establishment of the Czechoslovak Republic there was a significant decline in visit rate. Change of the boarders, bad transport connection, competition of well-established and maintained czech spa contributed to this decline. Individual spa objects have been leased. In 1930 was built natural swimming pool. An interest in the reconstruction and modernization of the spa was demonstrated by company from Monte Carlo. The bad political situation in 1938 and the subsequent outbreak of the World War II hampered further efforts to develop the spa. After the World War II increased attention was paid to the Bardejov Spa and spa was included in the category of spas of international importance. In 1959 was built pavilion „Ľudový prameň“ ( „Folk spring“) according to the project of A. Vrábeľ and with a decorations of M. Jakabčic. In 1972 was built modern colonnade (Fig.1) according to the project of V. Uhliarik and J. Schuster. Later these two architects built also new Spa house (1974), and according to the project of J. Schuster were built also hotels Ozón (1976) a Družba (1978). 68 Fig. 1. Main spring‘s timber colonnade, around year 1900 Famous people who visited Bardejov Spa The reputation of spa disseminated all over Europe so besides the visitors coming from the near vicinity who spent here just a short time, most of the guests spent in the spa from three to six weeks. Among those visitors there were several famous people such as the Austo-Hungarian emperor Josef II. (1783), Maria Louisa , the second wife of emperor Napoleon (1809), the Russian tsar Alexander I.