Built in 1895 for the Austro-Hungarian aristocracy who came to Karlovy Vary to take the waters, the Kaiserbad is one of the most ornate buildings in a town that takes ornament seriously. The facade is a confection of turrets, balconies, and sculptural detail in the Wilhelmine neo-Baroque style, designed by the Vienna firm Fellner and Helmer — who were responsible for a remarkable number of the grand buildings across the former Habsburg territories.
The building operated as a spa for a century before being converted to residential apartments. The exterior is preserved and immaculate; visits inside are not possible, but the building makes its impact from the street. It appears in Casino Royale as the Casino Royale itself, a choice that required almost no suspension of disbelief.