NOVOVESKÁ KYSELKA, formerly a spring of famous name
The first written records of Novoveská kyselka date back to 1820 and 1822, when its spring was first captured in a wooden basin for the use of a gamekeeper from a nearby lodge; later, it was exported all over the world.
However, its popularity grew, and it was eventually analyzed by the prominent Prague chemist Johann Steinmann. Thanks to the high quality of the spring, the catchment was modernized in 1873 and deepened to a depth of 4 meters. Already at this time, the mineral water was bottled into stoneware bottles and presented at the famous World’s Fair in Vienna under the name „Petschauer Sauerbrunn“ (Bečov Sour Cherry/Acidulous Spring).
The stone curbing of the well, which has been preserved to this day, dates back to 1893. Beneath it, a shaft over 17 meters deep was excavated and carefully lined with granite blocks. The well was covered with a 2 cm thick glass plate, and a large octagonal pavilion was built over the catchment. The spring rose only to a height of 3 meters below ground level, so it was directed via an overflow into a small cellar next to the shaft for bottling. However, dangerous carbon dioxide accumulates here, which is why it is inaccessible today.
During its peak era, the spring was sold under the name „Neudorfer Sauerbrunn“ (Nová Ves Sour Cherry/Acidulous Spring). In addition to a bottle warehouse, there was a one-story manager’s building, an office, and horse stables. Only ruins remain of these buildings today.
After 1901, the Moser family from Karlovy Vary took over the operations. During this period, annual sales reached up to one million bottles, and their 0.33-liter volume became the standard for other bottling plants as well. In 1938, the bottling plant was taken over by the company Sudetenquelle GmbH from Berlin. Along with other mineral waters, they distributed it under the name Sudetenquelle, including to the African front. Bottling continued for a short time after 1945, but it was shut down with the establishment of the Prameny military training area, and the entire complex fell into disrepair.
Since 1995, the spring has been tapped by deep boreholes and, along with others in the area, is piped to the bottling plant in Mnichov and sold under the collective brand name Magnesia.
