The village of Herľany lies in a picturesque landscape at the foot of the western slopes of the Slanské Hills, in the valley of the Herliansky Stream, about 28 km northeast of the metropolis of the eastern Slovak region, Košice.
The first mentions of Herľany date back to 1487. During the reign of Joseph II, German settlers arrived here and were gradually Slovakized by the 19th century. Herľany owes its growth to its mineral springs, which had been well-known since the 17th century. The village saw its greatest prosperity in the latter half of the 19th century, a period that was halted by the First World War. Thanks to its spa facilities, Herľany became home to a world-unique feature in 1872 a rare cold-water geyser activated by human hands. Unlike traditional geysers, this one has a low water temperature due to the now dormant volcanic activity in the region. The village’s spa character faded after World War II, as spa treatments were never resumed.
Since 1985, the entire former spa complex has been part of the Technical University of Košice, serving as a venue for educational, scientific, sports, social, and cultural events.
In contrast to the spa facilities, the geyser still functions to this day, drawing visitors to enjoy a spectacular show roughly every 34-36 hours.
