1522
The very first mention of the so-called Buková mineral water appears in the historical sources. People most probably knew the mineral spring and used
it centuries earlier.
The very first mention of the so-called Buková mineral water appears in the historical sources. People most probably knew the mineral spring and used
it centuries earlier.
Certain Ottavio Mattoni, a lemons merchant, comes to Karlovy Vary from Italy. He settles in the town and later he marries here and establishes his own business.
The Buková mineral water is approved by experts as suitable for export and the first stoneware bottles are exported abroad.
A humble spa operation starts in the
adjacent village of Kyselka.
The first three sales shops of the Buková mineral water are established in the
Austro-Hungarian Empire. The honourable citizens of Vienna, Prague and Karlovy Vary could enjoy the mineral water close
to their homes.
Around 240,000 jars of the mineral water are exported annually to Vienna and Budapest, the two major centres of the monarchy of that time, by the end of the 18th century.
Wilhelm von Neuberg, the new ruler over Kyselka, takes the first steps to establish
a local spa. He has a restaurant, a gazebo over the spring and
several promenades built.
Kyselka hosts a very special visitor - Otto I, the King of Greece. The first 450 jars of the mineral water were sent to Athens on his explicit request, and the main spring has carried his royal name since - Otto's Spring.
A total of 38 spa guests undertaking treatment and 7,324 other visitors are registered in the Kyselka spa as of this date.
A successor of the originally Italian family residing in Karlovy Vary, Mr. Heinrich Kaspar Mattoni, rents the profitable mineral
water export operation from
the lords of Neuberg.
Heinrich Mattoni becomes the court supplier of mineral water for the Imperial and Royal throne in Vienna for the renowned quality of his water, launching the most famous period in the mineral water's history.
The Mattoni company is established. The "Mattoni Mineral Water" ("Mattoniho kysibelka") becomes one of the best known mineral waters of the world. Its success inspired Mattoni to buy the whole area of the spring from the Count of Černín and to
build a spa and local infrastructure.
Mattoni introduces glass bottles with a paper label as the first innovation. The red eagle
on the label comes from the Mattoni family coat-of-arms. Bottles intended for export overseas were reinforced by wiring.
Otto's Spring becomes one of the most famous curative springs in the world after less than fifteen years of care for the spring area due to the business spirit
of Heinrich Mattoni.
Heinrich Mattoni was ennobled for his merits regarding Imperial health and fame of the Monarchy in the world, and the hereditary noble title of "free lord von Mattoni" was granted to him.
The first railway comes to the municipality of Kyselka. It joins Kyselka with the nearest village of Vojkovice and lays the foundations for the greatest flourishing of the local spa care.
In AD 1895 the Kyselka spa registers a total
of 682 patients undergoing treatment and over 36,000 other visitors admiring
the quality of the spring.
A new century comes along. Kyselka is joined with the European railway network bringing many national and international guests to the spa. The mineral water is awarded the Grand Prix at the World Exhibition in Paris.
An influx of foreign visitors comes
along with the flourishing of the spa.
11 Russians, 1 Englishman, 1 Swede, 1 Serb
and 15 Americans are being
treated in Kyselka in 1902.
The development of business activities in Kyselka requires a transformation of the enterprise by a modern pattern of the early 20th century. The Heinrich Mattoni AG (joint-stock) company is established.
Heinrich Mattoni dies on the 14th of May of this year. During his life he was able to increase the mineral water export from 240,000 to 10 million bottles per year,
making it one of the best brands of the contemporary world.
Shortly after Mattoni's death the golden era of spa care ends as well. The Great War, economic crisis and World War II caused that the spa colonnade idyll never returned in full strength again.
The end of World War II had not brought about the end of the trouble for the Kyselka spa either. The mineral water distribution company was nationalized immediately after the war and it was transferred under the company of West-Bohemian Springs.
A metal container with documents from 1884 was discovered in the local Chapel of St. Anna. It contained a message for the next generations - lists of spa guests, contemporary coins or printed materials about Kyselka.
At least a small improvement - the former spa becomes a treatment institution for children from North-West Bohemia with health problems caused by the local environment.
A new hope dawns after the Velvet Revolution - the company of West-Bohemian Springs
with its newly-built bottling facility turns into the Karlovarské minerální vody
(Carlsbad Mineral Water) company.
Spa care in Kyselka ceases
to exist for good, though.
The company is privatized. The Italian business family of Pasquale becomes the new owner of the company and the company returns to its Czech-Italian tradition. The family modernizes the bottling plant significantly.
Mattoni becomes the official water of the Prague International Marathon. It is one of the first partnerships by which Mattoni tries to contribute to a healthier life
in the Czech Republic.
The Český slavík (Czech Nightingale) competition is reestablished. Since 1999 the names of the best Czech singers are inseparably connected with the brand of its new general partner of Mattoni.
The first year of the non-alcoholic cocktails mixing competition, the Mattoni Grand Drink, takes place. Gradually it turns into the official world championship
in this discipline.
A new series of flavoured sparkling mineral water was introduced to the markets by Mattoni. The first flavours were Mattoni lemon and orange. The brand offers products in a wide scale
of flavours today.
The Italian roots and emphasis on the overall experience form the background of the new Mattoni glass bottle designed by the Italian Pinninfarina studio (designers of the Ferrari cars besides others).
Mattoni launched its support of the "Return of the Golden Eagle to the Czech Republic" project. The eagle has been the traditional brand symbol since the times of Heinrich Mattoni and the symbol of the environment protection effort at the same time.
The Mattoni brand celebrates 140 years since Heinrich Mattoni purchased the Kyselka area along with the popular Otto's Spring - and it celebrates 140 years since its
establishment as well.
Mattoni 1/2 Marathon
Mattoni Cocktails
