In 1895, after the tragic death of her son, the wife of Franz Joseph I - Empress Elisabeth of Bavaria, also nicknamed Sissi - was treated in Bardejov Spa. In 1903, the citizens of Bardejov had a life-size bronze statue erected in her memory.
Hungarian artist Július Donáth stvárnil cisárovnú ako krásnu a mladú, teda takú, akou sa cítila po liečivých procedúrach v Bardejovských Kúpeľoch. Svoju spokojnosť s výsledkami jej pobytu a liečby vyjadrila pri rozlúčke aj týmito slovami „... cítim sa zdravá a svieža..."
After two decades since its installation, the statue was dismantled and transported to the Šariš Museum in Bardejov.where she stayed for 39 years until she returned to its original marble base in 1965 pred liečebný dom Alžbeta v Bardejovských kúpeľoch.
The monument commemorating the healing stay of the Empress and Queen Elizabeth nowadays multiplies the popularity of the spa even more.
"It is easy to imagine that Her Majesty's visit to Bardejov left a deep, indelible mark on the souls of the local population. Since 1895, whenever spring arrived and the spa season opened, her memory has filled the hearts of the people, and throngs of visitors have made their way to the Hotel Deák, where they have looked up with reverence to the terrace from which the noble lady has so often enjoyed the unparalleled beauty of the spa panorama."
On August 11, 1901, Chief Mayor Bárdossy convened a confidential meeting of the leading members of the city council, the joint-stock company, the tenants of the spa and prominent guests, whom he informed of his decision to initiate proceedings to erect a memorial to Queen Elizabeth at the spa. And the collection began. In the matter of Elizabeth's monument, the then Vice-Mayor Jozef Tahy presented a spirited proposal to the representative body of the Šarišská stool to vote for a larger financial contribution. He devoted much energy and all his influence to the growth of the monument's foundation and in 1903 he personally attended a large meeting devoted to the preparation of its unveiling ceremony. The committee for the preparation of the monument decided that the monument would be made by Július Donáth in bronze, the figure would be rendered in a seated form, and the base would be made of domestic Hátszegsz marble. The artist undertook to make the work for 12 000 crowns. On 25 July, the base of the monument was delivered and immediately placed. The monument itself - a bronze statue was erected in the first third of August with the personal assistance of the artist.
Photo: Statue of Empress Elizabeth_OOCR Šariš-Bardejov, Title photo: www.kupele-bj.sk
