Statue of Dr. Adler

The Statue of Dr. Adler is a modest yet meaningful monument in the center of Františkovy Lázně, honoring the physician credited with the town's very existence as a spa. The bust stands right in front of the colonnade of the Salt and Meadow springs, a spot thousands of visitors pass every year on their way to the mineral water fountains.

Who was Dr. Adler?

Bernhard Adler (1753–1810) worked as a municipal physician in nearby Cheb (Eger). He was the one who first recognized the therapeutic value of the local mineral springs and pushed for their systematic use, a step that eventually led to the founding of the spa town. Františkovy Lázně, known in German as Franzensbad, owes to him not just a street name or a monument, but its entire identity as a spa resort.

What does the monument look like?

The bust rests on a prismatic pedestal of red syenite, carved with the inscription "Dr. BERNHARD ADLER." The bust itself is carved from Carrara marble, a white stone prized for its fine texture and long favored in commemorative sculpture. The pedestal also bears the Rod of Asclepius, the widely recognized symbol of medicine, a direct reference to Adler's profession.

The work was created by sculptor Karl Wilfert, whose signature "K. WILFERT. EGER" appears on the pedestal. Wilfert was active in the Karlovy Vary–Cheb region around the turn of the 20th century and left behind several similar monuments in the spa towns of western Bohemia.

When was the monument built?

The initiative to erect the monument came from the town's mayor at the time, architect Gustav Wiedermann. The bust was unveiled on September 20, 1902, at noon — a documented date tied to a formal municipal ceremony, in keeping with the tradition of Habsburg-era spa towns, where unveiling monuments to notable figures was treated as a significant civic event.

Why stop at this monument?

The statue stands directly in front of the colonnade of the Salt and Meadow springs, one of the most visited spots in the resort. It works as a natural landmark for anyone strolling through town, close to both the spa park and the main promenades. It's worth pausing to look at the craftsmanship of the marble bust and the Asclepius staff detail — a small but telling reminder that a physician, not a businessman or aristocrat, stood at the origin of Františkovy Lázně.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Dr. Bernhard Adler? A municipal physician from Cheb (1753–1810) who recognized the healing properties of the local springs and helped establish the spa town of Františkovy Lázně.

What is the monument made of? The bust is carved from Carrara marble, set on a pedestal of red syenite.

Who designed the monument? Sculptor Karl Wilfert, commissioned by then-mayor Gustav Wiedermann.

When was the monument unveiled? On September 20, 1902.

Where exactly does the statue stand? In front of the colonnade of the Salt and Meadow springs, in the center of Františkovy Lázně.