Next year in Marienbad

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From the late nineteenth century to the late 1930s, the West Bohemian spa towns of Carlsbad, Franzensbad, and Marienbad became fashionable destinations for those seeking health treatments and relaxation. Visitors indulged in drinking mineral waters, mud baths, and the latest therapies, all while enjoying elegant parks and comfortable accommodations. These sociable towns, once favored by aristocrats, evolved into popular summer resorts for the burgeoning bourgeoisie, with a significant number of Jewish visitors. In this work, Mirjam Zadoff explores the social and cultural history of these spa towns as Jewish spaces. Secular and religious Jews from various backgrounds mingled in these idyllic, seemingly apolitical environments. During the season, the towns featured shops selling Yiddish and Hebrew newspapers, kosher kitchens, and cultural events tailored to the Jewish clientele. However, this vibrant atmosphere coexisted with a backdrop of rising nationalistic tensions, as the towns could become hostile and anti-Semitic during the off-season. Drawing from memoirs, letters, newspapers, maps, novels, and postcards, the narrative presents a compelling portrait of Jewish life and cultural production between the fin de siècle and the onset of World War II.