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Mariánské Lázně (German: Marienbad) is situated at an altitude of 630 m in the foothills of the Salvkovský les (Kaiserwald) mountains. The mineral springs have been known for centuries and originally were known as 'Auschowitzer Salzquellen' (mineral springs of Úšovice, now part of the city). During the 18th century the area was in possession of the Premonstratensian monastery of Teplá (Tepl). The first bath houses were then built in 1807 and 1808. At this time the new name 'Marienbad' was introduced. In 1813 the location became a municipality and five years later it was officially recognized as a spa place. In 1865 Mariánské Lázně was granted the status of a town. The number of visitors increased steadily, especially after the opening in 1872 of the railroads from Vienna and Prague. Most of the splendid spa buildings date from this period. Mariánské Lázně was often refered to as the most splendid spa of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. Today, 40 out of the 140 springs at this place are used for therapeutic purposes, especially for the treatment of respiratory and metabolic diseases, kidney diseases and diseases of the musculoskeletal system.

Throughout its history many world-famous people have visited the spa and it is certainly impossible to list them all. Among them probably the most famous were the composer Richard Wagner, the author Stefan Zweig, the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, King Edward VII (1904), and the author and poet Wolfgang von Goethe who wrote his famous Marienbader Elegie at his place.

The Nové Lázně (Neubad) (New Bath) [left, no.139] was built in 1893–1896 in monumental Renaissance Revival style, replacing the older, Classicist bath building of 1827–1828. Both the original bath as well as the new building were financed by the monastery of Teplá. A special cabin was used by King Edward VII at the occasion of his visit in 1904.

The Ferdinandův pramen (Ferdinandsbrunn) (Ferdinand spring) [right, no.499] had been known for centuries. It is documented that under Emperor Ferdinand I it was tried to produce salt out of the waters in 1528. Together with the lesser concentrated Křížový pramen (Kreuzquelle) it is among the most concentrated mineral waters containing sodium, iron, sulfate and bicarbonate. The spring actually comprises seven separate springs: spring I is used for drinking cures, the waters of spring IV are sold in bottles, the waters of the other Ferdinand springs are used for bathing cures. The colonnade above the spring was built in 1826.

Glass no.1545 [left] shows a view of the Café Egerländer. The site on a hill on the northern side of the town always had been a popular lookout place. In 1885, a hotel owner purchased the site and built an inn which he called Café Egerländer. In 1901 the café was rebuilt and converted into a large hotel with a castle-like courtyard. During World War II it was used as a military hospital. After the war it was renamed Hotel Monty for the British Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount of Alamein.