The Origin of the Avenue
The Imperial Avenue was planted between 1898 and 1903 to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the reign of Franz Joseph I.. It is approximately 900 metres long, and the circumference of some trunks now reaches two metres.
In the past, it was claimed that the avenue had been planted in connection with a visit by Joseph II., who allegedly observed the town and its mines during a walk. On that occasion, the Helena Huber mine was renamed the Josef mine. This particular mine is clearly visible from the avenue.
Planting trees along roads was also a response to a decree issued by Maria Theresa, which ordered the planting of trees along public roads. Thanks to this measure, some long-vanished routes can still be traced in the landscape.
The Marie Curie-Skłodowska Avenue
In 1925, during a visit by Marie Curie-Skłodowska to Jáchymov, the avenue was renamed the Marie Curie-Skłodowska Avenue. However, local residents continued to use the traditional name Imperial Avenue, and the renaming gradually fell into oblivion.
Another attempt to change the name took place on 6 November 1967. Once again, the name Marie Curie-Skłodowska Avenue was adopted, and a small monument commemorating the scientist was unveiled. The celebration was attended by the secretary of the Polish embassy in Czechoslovakia.
As part of the festivities, a newly bred hybrid tea rose sent by the French grower Jean Gaujezd was presented. The rose, named after Marie Curie-Skłodowska, was ceremonially planted in the spa park.
Return to the Original Name
The fate of the monument and the original rose is unknown. No trace of the monument remains, and the orange rose currently known as “Marie Curie” was bred by the French breeder Meilland in 1996.
Eventually, the second renaming was also forgotten, and today the avenue once again bears its original name – the Imperial Avenue. It stands as a quiet reminder of monarchy, scientific achievement and the shifting tides of political history.
