Piestany takes the first place among such spa resorts of Slovakia as New Smokovets, Luchky, Trencinske, Teplitse and others. It is because of the local thermal water of high quality and of picturesque environment. The town is situated in the most beautiful valley of the river Vag 160 m high above the sea level. The part of the resort is situated on the island.
Healing properties of mineral water in Piestany have been known since the 12th century. But the spa resort has been there since the end of the 18th century when the first sanatorium appeared. 100 years later, when the company “Alexander Vinter and Sons” started working there, the place became one of the central spa regions in Slovakia.
The population of Piestany is 30000 people but every year the number of tourists coming to Piestany is five times as many. Desease- prevention service, rheumatism cure and rehabilitation programmes on recovery after injury are the most popular and successful there.
The best hotels of Piestany are “Balnea” and “Termia Palace”. “Termina Palace” was built in 1912 and was one of the favourite resort places among the monarchs of the whole Europe. The King of Bulgaria Ferdinand visited it, and in 1917 the meeting of German kaiser Vilgelm, the Austrian emperor, the Hungarian and Bulgarian Kings took place in Piestany.
Piestany is situated in Bratislava region, 80 km east from the capital of Slovakia. It has nice communication with Bratislava and the capitals of Austria and Hungary. Besides the railway and bus routes there is a small airport for charter flights.
