Jáchymov III: Where does the radon water come from?
Let us return once more – and for the last time – to Jáchymov, a small town nestled in a deep, forested valley of the Ore Mountains. However, Jáchymov boasts many other remarkable firsts and renowned “bests”. It was here that the world’s first radon spa was founded, centred around the construction of the grand Radium Kurhaus (author’s note: today’s Radium Palace) – once one of the most luxurious hotels in Europe (Fig. 3). The origins of the spa are closely tied to the discoveries of Marie Curie, the first woman to earn a doctorate from the Sorbonne and to receive two Nobel Prizes. In 1520, Jáchymov also became home to the first pharmacy in Bohemia. To this day, the town remains unique worldwide for its use of brachytherapy (“Jáchymov boxes”, BRT), a specialized treatment method found nowhere else. All these remarkable Jáchymov milestones have already been discussed in detail in the April and especially August issues of VTEI this year. So now, let us turn our attention to another local marvel that literally shaped Jáchymov’s history – Svornost Mine. And let us start from the very beginning.