Ciechocinek is one of the most important Polish health resorts. Healing brine springs are used here in the treatment of a very wide range of diseases, from rheumatism to diseases of the nervous system. The symbol of the city are saline graduation towers, which have even found their way to its coat of arms.
The city is basically devoid of industry and appears to be a green island with sanatoriums, natural medicine facilities, hotels and boarding houses among the trees. An interesting fact is the Ciechocinek Nature Reserve, in which the elephants are protected.
The beginnings of saline water extraction in Ciechocinek are related to the times of the first partition. It was then that Poland lost its salt mines in Bochnia and Wieliczka, occupied by Austria. This forced the authorities to look for other sources of this valuable raw material and drew attention to the Ciechocinek brines.
The local brines were used for medicinal purposes for the first time at the beginning of the 19th century, and prince Drucki-Lubecki himself took a bath here. The year 1836 is considered to be the commencement of commercial exploitation of mineral waters.
The main attractions of Ciechocinek include the huge brine graduation towers. They were built at the end of the 19th century and are now listed as Historic Monuments. They use brines mined in the Spa Park, which also flow in the famous Jaś and Małgosia and Grzybek fountains.
The Spa Park is the center of the Ciechocinek health resort. There is a hundred stylish Mineral Water Pump Room, the Summer Theater, the Concert Shell, the President's Manor House, where you can see an exhibition devoted to Ignacy Mościcki, and the historic Salt Works. The area is decorated with flower carpets, which Ciechocinek is famous for.
