Chodová Planá, Czech Republic

Travel Blog  •  Ben Keene  •  04.14.06 | 9:45 AM ET

Coordinates: 49 50N 12 44E
Annual beer production: 2,378,000 gallons (90,000 hectoliters)
imageClever advertisers may have come up with the slogan “Heineken refreshes the parts other beers cannot reach” for the Dutch brewer, but it took Czech ingenuity to turn a tagline into reality. Perhaps in an effort to cater to a local population that leads the world in per capita beer consumption, the Chodovar Family Brewery in Western Bohemia recently began offering a unique type of therapy in the form of real beer baths. Bizarre as the notion of soaking in a hot tub of yeast and herbs may sound to some, the owners certainly chose their location well—the geothermal activity beneath this forested region of the country has drawn people to its salubrious spas and mineral springs for centuries.

—.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) is the editor of the Oxford Atlas of the World.

Tags: Europe, Czech Republic

Ben Keene has appeared on National Public Radio, Peter Greenberg Worldwide Radio as well as other nationally syndicated programs to discuss geographic literacy and his work updating a bestselling world atlas. Formerly a touring musician, he has written for Transitions Abroad and inTravel.


1 Comment for Chodová Planá, Czech Republic

Chris Juhas 09.22.08 | 4:51 PM ET

The beer bath at Chodovar is lovely; while it’s not recommended that one drink the “bath water” they do serve two beers during your soak.  The annual beer barrel rolling contest is a good time if you happen to be there in june . . . well worth a days trip.

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