Famous People Connected to Luhačovice — from Janáček to Masaryk
Luhačovice, the most beautiful Moravian spa town nestled in the hilly landscape of the Vizovické vrchy mountains, is not merely a place of healing springs and Art Nouveau architecture. For centuries, personalities who shaped Czech culture, politics and science have travelled here. Composers found inspiration, architects created their masterpieces, statesmen rested from the burden of their duties and doctors discovered the healing power of mineral waters. The story of Luhačovice is inseparably linked to the stories of famous people who visited here — and who in turn gave this place its unique character.
Let us embark together on the trail of the most significant personalities connected to Luhačovice. From the first scientific description of the local springs in the 17th century through the golden age of spa culture at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries to modern times, when the town became the backdrop for television stories. The history of Luhačovice is primarily the history of people who left an indelible mark here.
Leoš Janáček (1854–1928) — composer who found love and inspiration in Luhačovice
No other personality is connected to Luhačovice as deeply and passionately as the musical composer Leoš Janáček. This genius of Moravian and world music first visited Luhačovice in 1886, but the pivotal year was 1903, when he began coming regularly. In total, Janáček visited Luhačovice twenty-five times and spent sixty weeks of his life here altogether.
When he arrived in Luhačovice in August 1903, he was going through one of the most difficult periods of his life. Just a few months earlier, in February 1903, his daughter Olga had died, and the National Theatre in Prague had rejected his opera Její pastorkyňa (Her Foster-Daughter). Luhačovice provided him with the refuge and peace he desperately needed. It was here that he met Kamila Urválková, the wife of a forester from Dolní Kralovice, who placed three red roses on his table. This meeting inspired Janáček to write the opera Osud (Destiny), on which he worked from 1903 to 1907.
Even more significant was the year 1917, when Janáček met Kamila Stösslová in the Luhačovice park, a young woman from Písek. The meeting took place in July, when Janáček was celebrating his birthday. Kamila had come to the spa feeling sad because she had to leave her small children at home. Janáček approached her and began a conversation that developed into a lifelong relationship — friendship, obsession and an inexhaustible source of creative inspiration.
Kamila Stösslová became Janáček’s muse for the rest of his life. He wrote her over 700 letters — in the last year of his life, he wrote to her almost daily. Under the influence of this relationship, some of his greatest works were created: the operatic characters of Katya in Káťa Kabanová and Emilia Marty in The Makropulos Case were inspired by Kamila. His chamber composition The Diary of One Who Disappeared and the second string quartet also bear traces of this profound emotional bond.
Today, Janáček’s legacy in Luhačovice lives on through the Janáček and Luhačovice festival, which has been held annually since 1995. Visitors can walk through the places where the composer sat, contemplated and composed — from the spa colonnade through the park to the cafés where he wrote his letters to Kamila.
Dušan Samuel Jurkovič (1868–1947) — architect who gave Luhačovice its face
If Janáček gave Luhačovice their musical soul, then Dušan Samuel Jurkovič gave them their unmistakable visual appearance. This Slovak-Moravian architect, a native of Brezová pod Bradlom, created a completely unique ensemble of buildings in Luhačovice in the spirit of folk Art Nouveau, which to this day define the character of the town and rank among the most valuable architectural monuments in all of Moravia.
Jurkovič came to Luhačovice in 1902 at the invitation of the spa director Dr František Veselý, who recognised in him an architect capable of fulfilling his vision of a modern spa town with a Moravian soul. During a relatively short period, between 1902 and 1903, Jurkovič created most of his fundamental works here. He continued working on renovations and new projects until 1914.
His most significant buildings in Luhačovice include:
- Jurkovič House — originally called Jan House, which Jurkovič rebuilt and extended in 1902 with a half-timbered storey. The house with characteristic wooden elements and coloured ornaments became the symbol of all Luhačovice.
- Villa Jestřábí (1903) — a detached villa, now serving as a spa hotel, which combines folk elements with Art Nouveau elegance.
- Chaloupka (Little Cottage) — a residential villa on a wooded slope above Jurkovič House, created by converting the original kitchen building.
- Music Pavilion — originally located on the spa square, where the spa orchestra played. Today it stands near Villa Jestřábí.
- Hydrotherapy Institute — converted from Jestřábí Mill in 1909, where Jurkovič added a storey with half-timbered construction.
- Sun Baths (1903) — consisting of an entrance building and open cabins with white canvas curtains on both sides of the pool.
- Villa Valaška — one of Jurkovič’s most beautiful buildings, now a luxury spa hotel.
- Slovácká búda (Slovak Hut) — a characteristic building referring to the folk architecture of Moravian Slovácko.
Jurkovič’s style was completely original. He combined motifs of regional Carpathian folk creativity with decorative principles of Art Nouveau and influences of the English Arts and Crafts movement. The result was something that had no equivalent in Czech architecture at the time — buildings that appeared to have grown organically from the Moravian landscape, yet were modern and functional.
After 1907, Jurkovič continued to submit designs for additional buildings in Luhačovice — a treatment house, reading room, colonnade and reconstruction of the Slovak Chalet — but he could no longer find implementers for his bold projects. Nevertheless, his surviving buildings, protected as state cultural monuments, remain the town’s most valuable architectural heritage.
Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk (1850–1937) — president who drank Vincentka
The founder and first president of the Czechoslovak Republic T. G. Masaryk was among the significant visitors to Luhačovice. Masaryk, who had a deep relationship with Moravia — he was born in Hodonín — visited the Luhačovice spa and is documented to have favoured the local mineral waters, especially the renowned Vincentka.
Masaryk’s connection to Luhačovice transcended mere spa recreation. As a politician actively involved in the Moravian political scene, he perceived the spa as an important place of social and intellectual gathering. Luhačovice at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries functioned as an informal salon of the Czech and Moravian elite, where politics, culture and the nation’s future were discussed at the springs.
According to historical sources, Masaryk secretly met with Russian writer Maxim Gorky at Villa Radun in Luhačovice, who was returning from his exile on Capri. This meeting testifies to the fact that Luhačovice was not just a place of rest, but also a space for important political negotiations.
The main street in Luhačovice today bears the name Masarykova, which is a permanent reminder of the first president’s relationship to this spa town. Masaryk’s presence in Luhačovice lent the town prestige and contributed to its reputation as a place where the most distinguished people came.
Count Vincenc Serényi — nobleman whose name is borne by the famous Vincentka
The history of Luhačovice as a spa town is inseparably linked to the Serényi family, a Hungarian noble family who owned the Luhačovice estate. The most significant figure of this family was Count Vincenc Serényi (1752–1810), who gave Luhačovice the decisive impetus for the development of modern spa culture.
In 1789, Count Vincenc was inspired by the power of the local mineral spring and established the first treatment and accommodation facilities. This step laid the foundations of systematic spa operations, which until then had functioned rather spontaneously. Local inhabitants had known the healing power of the local waters since time immemorial, but it was only Serényi who created the conditions for actual spa operations.
In 1792, the main mineral spring was named Vincentka — in honour of Count Vincenc. This name has survived to this day and Vincentka has become the most famous symbol of Luhačovice. The natural healing mineral water springs in the centre of the town, in the middle of the colonnade on the bank of the Šťávnice stream, and originates from residual seawater deposited deep beneath the earth’s surface.
The Serényi family cared for the Luhačovice springs for generations. Among the family members who particularly distinguished themselves in their therapeutic and commercial use were Ondřej (died 1689), Vincenc, Jan Nepomuk (1776–1854) and Otto Jan (1855–1927). It was Otto Jan Serényi who finally sold the spa business to a joint-stock company led by Dr František Veselý in 1902, thus beginning a new chapter of Luhačovice spa culture.
Dr František Veselý (1862–1923) — visionary who transformed Luhačovice
If Count Serényi laid the foundations of Luhačovice spa culture, then Dr František Veselý is the man who transformed them into a modern spa centre of European calibre. This Moravian doctor, born 18 March 1862 in Bystřice pod Pernštejnem, is rightly considered the founder of modern Lázně Luhačovice.
Veselý’s life story was remarkably varied. Originally it seemed he would become a priest, but his energetic mother managed to ensure he studied medicine. He received his education at grammar schools in Brno and Německý Brod and then studied medicine.
He first came to Luhačovice in 1898. Despite the neglected state of the spa and the inaccessibility of spa care, the place captivated him so much that he decided to dedicate his life to it. In 1900, he sent a circular to two thousand Czech doctors in Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia with a call to establish a joint-stock company. At the same time, he travelled through towns and organised agitation meetings with doctors.
When the joint-stock company was founded in 1902, which bought the spa from Count Serényi, Veselý took over its management. And it was he who made the step that forever changed the face of Luhačovice — he brought architect Dušan Jurkovič to the town. Veselý recognised in Jurkovič a creator who could translate his vision of modern, yet distinctly Moravian spa into matter.
Under Veselý’s leadership, building reconstruction took place, new facilities were built, water sources were captured, a mineral water bottling plant and inhalatorium were established. He introduced new spa procedures and tirelessly promoted Luhačovice at home and abroad through lectures, articles and promotional materials.
Unfortunately, Veselý’s work in Luhačovice ended prematurely. In 1909, he was forced to abandon his unfinished work and left Luhačovice with feelings of injustice and ingratitude. He died on 6 January 1923 in Prague. Nevertheless, his legacy lives on — without František Veselý, Luhačovice would never have achieved the fame and beauty we admire today.
Jan Ferdinand Hertod z Todenfeldu (1645–1714) — doctor who first described the Luhačovice springs
Long before Luhačovice became a famous spa, there was a man who first scientifically documented the healing power of the local waters. This was Jan Ferdinand Hertod z Todenfeldu, an Austrian-Moravian doctor, scholar and alchemist who served as a personal physician in Brno.
In 1669, Hertod published a book written in Latin entitled Tartaro-Mastix Moraviae, which loosely translated means “Moravian Scourge of Deposits”. This work, which dealt with the natural peculiarities of Moravia, contained the first written analysis of the chemical composition of Luhačovice water. Hertod also described the drinking cure method and successful treatment results.
The year 1669 is therefore considered the beginning of the official therapeutic use of the Luhačovice springs. Hertod’s work laid the scientific foundation for everything that followed — from aristocratic investments through the emergence of spa operations to today’s modern balneology. Without his pioneering work, Luhačovice’s path to fame would have taken much longer.
The book Tartaro-Mastix Moraviae was not focused exclusively on Luhačovice — it also described other Moravian natural curiosities, including caves and geological phenomena. Nevertheless, the passages about Luhačovice waters belong to its most valuable parts and place Hertod among the founders of Czech balneology.
Tomáš Baťa and the influence of the Zlín region
Luhačovice lies just twenty minutes’ drive from Zlín, a town that is inseparably connected to the legacy of visionary entrepreneur Tomáš Baťa (1876–1932). Although Baťa was not directly connected to the development of Luhačovice spa culture, his influence on the entire region was so fundamental that he cannot be omitted when telling the story of famous personalities of this area.
Tomáš Baťa transformed Zlín from a small Moravian town into a modern industrial centre of world significance. His shoe company employed thousands of people and the functionalist architecture he had built in Zlín continues to fascinate experts and laypeople alike. Baťa’s philosophy of modern enterprise, social responsibility and urban planning influenced the entire Zlín region, including Luhačovice.
It is documented that Tomáš Baťa and his family visited the Luhačovice spa. The proximity of Zlín and Luhačovice created a natural connection between the industrial dynamism of Baťa’s empire and the peaceful atmosphere of the spa town. Employees of Baťa’s factories used the Luhačovice spa for regeneration and treatment, thus making the spa town an important base for the developing industrial area.
Today, the connection between Zlín and Luhačovice is one of the pillars of the tourist offering of the entire region. Visitors can combine a tour of Baťa’s functionalist architecture in Zlín with a stay in Art Nouveau Luhačovice and experience a unique contrast of two architectural worlds in a small space.
Other personalities connected to Luhačovice
Besides the giants mentioned above, a whole range of other significant personalities of Czech culture and art have left their mark in Luhačovice.
Karel Čapek (1890–1938)
Writer, dramatist and journalist Karel Čapek, author of War with the Newts, R.U.R. and The White Disease, visited Luhačovice with his wife, who underwent treatment here. Čapek, known for his curiosity and sensitivity to environment, sought inspiration and creative energy in the spa. His name is commemorated on the spa promenade among other famous visitors.
Jiří Wolker (1900–1924)
Jiří Wolker, a talented poet of proletarian poetry, author of the collections Host do domu (Guest in the House) and Těžká hodina (Difficult Hour), is also connected to Luhačovice. Wolker, who struggled with health problems throughout his short life and eventually succumbed to tuberculosis at twenty-four, belonged to the generation of Czech artists who sought relief from their ailments in Moravian spas. Luhačovice, specialising among other things in treating respiratory conditions, was a natural choice for patients with lung problems.
Četníci z Luhačovic (The Constables of Luhačovice) — the town as a film backdrop
In 2017, Luhačovice became the setting for filming the television series Četníci z Luhačovic, a historical detective story set in 1919, the first years of Czechoslovakia’s existence. The Czech Television series tells the story of two young constables who, after completing school, take up their first posting — an abandoned constabulary station in a Moravian spa town.
Filming lasted two hundred days and took place at forty locations with one hundred and sixty actors and almost one thousand six hundred costumes. The main cast included Pavel Zedníček, Karel Dobrý, Jiří Langmajer, Robert Jašków and other stars of the Czech television scene. The six-episode series introduced viewers to the atmosphere of First Republic Luhačovice and contributed to the town’s popularity as a tourist destination.
The filming locations have become a popular destination for fans of the series, and guides are available online that take visitors through the footsteps of the television constables.
A walk in the footsteps of the famous — places connected to Luhačovice personalities
Luhačovice offers a unique opportunity to walk through places where famous people created, rested and healed. The following route will take you through the most interesting of them:
- Spa colonnade and Vincentka spring — the heart of Luhačovice, the place where Masaryk and Čapek drank healing water and where Count Vincenc Serényi laid the foundations of modern spa culture in the 18th century.
- Jurkovič House — the iconic building that is the calling card of the entire town. Jurkovič’s 1902 reconstruction with a half-timbered storey and rich wooden ornamental decoration.
- Villa Jestřábí and Music Pavilion — further jewels of Jurkovič’s architecture, which demonstrate his masterful connection of folk tradition with modern principles.
- Sun Baths — Jurkovič’s 1903 project, recently sensitively reconstructed.
- Spa park — the place where Leoš Janáček met Kamila Stösslová in July 1917, a meeting that forever changed his work.
- Villa Valaška — one of Jurkovič’s most beautiful buildings, now a luxury spa hotel.
- Masarykova Street — the main street of the town named after the first Czechoslovak president.
This walk will take you approximately two hours and will guide you through the entire historic centre of the town. At every step you will feel the presence of history and understand why famous personalities loved Luhačovice.
Hotel Vincent — the legacy of Count Vincenc Serényi
In the very heart of Luhačovice stands Hotel Vincent, whose name is no coincidence. It is named after Count Vincenc Serényi, the nobleman who established the first spa facilities in the 18th century and after whom the most famous Luhačovice spring, Vincentka, is also named.
Hotel Vincent thus connects the historical legacy of the Serényi family with the contemporary spa experience. Guests here can experience a stay in the spirit of Luhačovice spa tradition, surrounded by the atmosphere of a place that has attracted the most distinguished personalities for centuries.
Thanks to its location near the spa colonnade and mineral springs, Hotel Vincent is the ideal starting point for walks in the footsteps of famous personalities as well as for utilising the healing effects of Luhačovice waters.
For stay reservations visit vincentluhacovice.cz/rezervace-ubytovani or contact reception at email ahoj@vincentluhacovice.cz and telephone +420 720 072 780.
Why famous personalities travelled to Luhačovice
In conclusion, let us ask the question that suggests itself: what did Luhačovice have that brought the most distinguished Czechs and Moravians here for centuries? The answer is surprisingly simple and at the same time multilayered.
Healing water always came first. The Luhačovice mineral springs, especially Vincentka, are among the most effective natural healing waters in Europe. Their beneficial effects on the respiratory system, digestive system and overall body regeneration attracted patients from all social classes. Composer Janáček sought relief here after personal tragedies, poets came with lung problems and statesmen needed regeneration after exhausting political work.
Peace and beauty of the environment were another magnet. Luhačovice, set in a valley surrounded by wooded hills, offered ideal conditions for creative work. Janáček composed here, Čapek sought inspiration and Jurkovič found motifs for his architecture in the surrounding landscape. Distance from large cities provided a sense of seclusion, yet thanks to their social atmosphere, the spa was a place of vibrant intellectual activity.
Moravian hospitality and the specific atmosphere of Moravian Slovácko completed the experience of staying here. Luhačovice lies on the border between Valašsko and Slovácko, two regions with rich folk traditions. This cultural distinctiveness attracted artists and intellectuals who found in it the authenticity and inspiration that the big-city environment could not provide.
And finally there was the social dimension. Luhačovice became an informal salon of Czech intelligentsia at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Artists met with politicians at the springs, doctors with entrepreneurs and journalists with aristocrats. This unique mixture created an environment that supported the exchange of ideas, the forging of friendships and the creation of projects that transcended the boundaries of individual fields.
Famous people did not just visit Luhačovice — they helped create it. And Luhačovice gave them in return what they needed most: space to live, create and heal. This mutual relationship continues today and every visitor who walks along the spa colonnade absorbs a little of that special magic that drew Janáček, Masaryk, Jurkovič and dozens of other exceptional personalities here.
Come to Luhačovice and see for yourself why this place enchanted the greatest. Reserve your stay at Hotel Vincent, named after the count who started it all, and experience Luhačovice as it was experienced by the personalities who shaped Czech history.