The Medija Thermal Spa (Slovene: Medijske toplice) is a spa located in the town of Izlake in central Slovenia.

A postcard showing the spa and other sights of the local area

Establishment and early history

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Monument to Johann Weikhard von Valvasor

The spa was established in 1877 by the local businessman Alois Praschniker [sl],[1][2] although thermal baths at the location were already mentioned by Johann Weikhard von Valvasor in his The Glory of the Duchy of Carniola in the 17th century. Praschniker installed a monument at the spa commemorating Valavsor in 1877.[3][4]

Later history

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The outdoor pool in April 2013

In the second half of the 20th century, the complex was gradually expanded: by 2009 the spa consisted of a hotel, an indoor swimming pool, and an outdoor swimming pool. Since 2009, both the hotel and the outdoor swimming pool have been closed and have been subject to rapid deterioration,[5][6][7] caused by a lack of maintenance and vandalism, as well as weather-caused damage, mainly flooding in 2010. In 2013, a civil initiative started a clean-up and restoration of the outdoor pool with the purpose of opening it for the local community. A series of clean-ups was organized mainly on Saturdays as well as a photographic exhibition showing the history of the spa.

References

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  1. ^ Busset, Thomas; Lorenzetti, Luigi (2004). Tourisme et changements culturels. Zurich: Chronos. p. 143.
  2. ^ "Na današnji dan: Alojz Prašnikar". Savus. May 13, 2024. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  3. ^ "Medijske Toplice - Spomenik Valvasorju". Register kulturne dediščine. Ministrstvo za kulturo. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  4. ^ Laurencic, Julius (1898). Österreich in Wort und Bild. Vienna: Georg Szelinski, k. k. Universitäts-Buchhandlung. p. 490. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  5. ^ "Občina Zagorje kupuje Medijske toplice". Delo. April 17, 2012. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  6. ^ "Propadajoče Medijske toplice vendarle dobile novega lastnika". 24ur.com. August 1, 2019. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  7. ^ Turnšek, Roman (November 25, 2019). "Iz toplic so pobegnile tudi podgane in narkomani". Dnevnik. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
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46°9′27.32″N 14°55′30.72″E / 46.1575889°N 14.9252000°E / 46.1575889; 14.9252000