Marienbad is an old spa town, developed at the beginning of the 19^th century in a valley where several excellent healing streams spring from the ground, though its inhabitants were aware of the springs as early as the 1200s. In 1528, King Ferdinand ordered these springs to be examined for salt content. In 1805–1807, Dr. Johann Josef Nehr founded the first brick house for spa guests near the Cross Spring (Křížový) called 'The Golden Globe', built on the site of a former wooden cabin. In 1812 it arises municipality of Marienbad from the decision of Karel Kašpar Reitenberger (abbot of Teplá Premonstrate Monastery). Numerous cultural, scientific and political personalities came from all over the world to visit Marienbad, notably Johann Wolfgang Goethe, Prince Friedrich of Saxony, Fryrderyk Chopin, Earl Kašpar Šternberk, Joens Jakob Berzelius, Václav Jan Tomášek, and Marie Szymanowsky. In 1865, Marienbad was declared a city by Franz Joseph I. The spa life remained active through the first half of the 20^th century. Famous people were still drawn to Mariánské Lázně, such as Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk and Edvard Beneš.