Beginnings and Owners
The First Owners of the Healing Water and the Beginnings of the Spa
The Kotuljci family certainly knew about the healing properties of the “acidic water” before the 19th century. century, when the first written record of the healing water appears in the sources. Gradually, it became commercially attractive, as its healing properties stimulated economic development and brought profitability and recognition to the area.
Description of the mineral water spring in Kotlje in Klagenfurter Zeitung, 27 April 1866, p. 378.
The spring was located on the Pirkhof estate, which was managed by Johann and subsequently by Karl Plasch. The latter had the spring enclosed in the mid-19th century. century and arranged a covered area with tables and benches for visitors, who drew the water themselves. As early as the beginning of the 1860s, century, newspaper records mention the refreshing spring and resting point. One year after Plasch’s death, in June 1867, the Pirkhof estate, on which the mineral water spring was located, changed ownership through a public auction sale.
1877
Following another sale in 1877, the spring passed into the possession of Josef Steinhäubl, Imperial-Royal Court Supplier of Mineral Water. Steinhäubl recognized the economic potential of the spring, thoroughly cleaned it, improved the surroundings, and incorporated it into his broader mineral water marketing network. Despite later financial difficulties, he succeeded in having the Roman Spring officially protected as an area of special public interest in 1879.
After Steinhäubl’s death in October 1879, the Roman Spring, which he had left to his wife and daughter, was put up for auction at a court-assessed value of 10,405 guilders.
Last Will and Testament of Josef Steinhäubl, 15 November 1878; Provincial Archives Klagenfurt.