Atomic thermal baths

Bathing area under a rock in 1957, photo: archive of Aleksander Renier

Categories: tourismhealthother

Organizers: Local community, Tourist association Visit Podčetrtek, TTG Slovenske železnice Ljubljana

Lokacation: Harina Zlaka/Zdraviliška cesta, 3254 Podčetrtek (46.163900528600685, 15.606876611655027)

Where good practice takes place: external-internal space

About good practice

A description of the location

After the Second World War, Obsotelje was quite poor and underdeveloped. Many of the inhabitants moved to the cities to find work in industry. But some stayed, believing that they would build their future at home, because of their attachment to their home environment. In 1935, while exploring in Harina Zlaka, Friderik Sternad discovered a hot spring. The locals told him that they used it for washing clothes and watering their cattle, especially in winter. Word of its healing properties spread, following cures of the sick who used the water. In the 1950s, its healing mineral properties were analysed and confirmed, and more and more people began to come to the small bathing area under the rock.

The reason for the emergence of good practice

There was a shortage of accommodation, the roads were poorly maintained, and the increasing number of visitors demanded a swimming pool. When foreign visitors began to arrive at the unregulated spas, which had no sanitary facilities and no catering facilities, a meeting of the Celje Tourist Board began to ask whether it made sense to develop new spas alongside the existing spas in the Celje region. Some suggested that the water should be piped to Rogaška Slatina. However, Franc Renier did not support this, as he saw the development of the spa as an opportunity for the progress of Podčetrtek. The Tourist Board then actively started to prepare for the construction of the swimming pool and the establishment of the spa. In 1966, the first wooden swimming pool was officially opened. As the spa did not generate much income at first, the members of the Tourist Board volunteered to do a number of jobs. However, due to the increasing number of visitors, the pool became too small and the association did not have the funds to build a larger facility. Spa activities began to develop more intensively after 1971, when the Ljubljana Tourism, Transport and Catering Company of Slovenian Railways took over the management of the spa. At that time, construction of a new indoor swimming pool was started immediately, which enabled the spa to operate all year round. The facilities included baths, a water bar, toilets, a restaurant, a shop and a caravan park. A clinic was also set up. Soon a holiday village with wooden houses and a restaurant was built, and a spa bus transported guests to the baths. In 1978, a modern hotel with an indoor swimming pool and therapy rooms was built on a new site, Marof.

The operation of best practice

In 1954, the inhabitants of Podčetrtek founded the Podčetrtek Tourist Board with the aim of improving the town and raising the cultural and economic level of Obsotelje by promoting tourism. The president, Franc Renier, was the driving force behind all activities, while the vice-presidents, Jože Brilej and Rudi Lešnik, took on the task of promotion. A handful of local people revived the ancient thermal springs and used their beneficial effects for the development and progress of Podčetrtek. Over the years, growing demand has led to the creation of a modern thermal complex, including hotel facilities, wellness centres, water parks, therapeutic services and sports areas.

More about good practice: https://kspj.si/franc-renier-atomske-toplice/