THIS SPA with an interesting name, Grey Beard in English, was only three kilometres from Spišské Podhradie. Its twelve springs of mineral water, which were mentioned often in documents from as early as the 16th century, welled forth from a local travertine hill.
THIS SPA with an interesting name, Grey Beard in English, was only three kilometres from Spišské Podhradie. Its twelve springs of mineral water, which were mentioned often in documents from as early as the 16th century, welled forth from a local travertine hill. The town of Spišská Kapitula, the seat of the Bishop of Spiš, ordered the spa house in the picture built for its priests. Firstly wooden, and later stone, troughs piped the healing water into the spa. The troughs had to be replaced regularly as sediment built up and choked off the flow. Its sixteen baths were used to treat skin diseases, walking disorders and digestion.
Sivá Brada did not survive the global depression of the 1930s, and disappeared. The same happened to most of the country's other spas after a steep decrease in the number of visitors, in particular from among the middle class.
This postcard shows the spa during the First World War.
By Branislav Chovan
9. Apr 2007 at 0:00
