Correspondence from Franzensbad by Klementyna Arvay: Women’s Journeys to Improve Health at the Turn of the 19th and 20th Centuries

Abstract

The article presents the travels of Klementyna Arvay, a representative of the bourgeois milieu of Rzeszów, to the spa town of Franzensbad, located in present-day Czech Republic. In the second half of the 19^th century, journeys “for the improvement of health” were an important element of health and social practices, particularly in the context of the limited development of contemporary medicine. However, such travels held significance beyond health concerns – they also reflected the growing social mobility, the emancipation of women, and their participation in public life. Women’s involvement in spa culture allowed them not only to recuperate but also to establish social connections, participate in cultural events, and develop social awareness. The text includes a biographical sketch of Klementyna Arvay, portraying her as an interesting example of an active woman who, despite the constraints of her time, made independent decisions regarding travel. Her stay in Franzensbad is described through both the functioning of the spa itself and the characteristic entertainments and curative practices available to spa-goers.