Donat Mg water

Donat Mg is a natural mineral water from the springs of Rogaška Slatina, a spa town in Styria, near the Croatian border, and it is known as one of the richest sources of magnesium among the natural waters of the world. It is a sparkling, slightly salty and bitter drink, with a taste that most people find strong at first, and for generations it has been used as a remedy for digestive complaints and for general health. In the town it is traditionally taken as part of a cure, in small glasses drunk over the day, under the guidance of the spa doctors, and it is also sold in bottles across Slovenia and abroad.

The springs have been known since ancient times, and a legend associates their discovery with Pegasus, the winged horse of Greek mythology, whose hoof struck the ground and released the water, which is why a statue of Pegasus stands in the town's central park. The reputation of the waters grew from the seventeenth century, when they were drunk at the court of the Habsburgs and carried to the nobles of Central Europe, and the town became a fashionable spa in the nineteenth century, with archdukes, musicians and writers among its guests. The composer Franz Liszt gave a concert here in the 1840s, and the architecture of that era, in the grand style of the Secession and earlier historicism, still defines the centre.

Visitors can taste the water at the spring in the spa park, where the neoclassical pavilions and the arcades have been restored, and as part of wellness programmes at the medical centre and the spa hotels. It is wise to take it in small amounts at first, because of its strong effect, and people with medical conditions should seek advice before drinking it regularly. The town also offers walks in the surrounding parks and hills, a collection of cacti in the Cacti Pavilion, and a casino in the Casino Fontana.

Other sights include the old glass factory, which makes crystal glassware that is famous across Slovenia, exhibitions on local history, the Afrodita wellness centre and events such as the Anin festival, while the hills nearby, including Berg Boč, offer hiking. Rogaška Slatina is an easy day trip from Maribor, Celje or Zagreb, and it suits visitors who enjoy the atmosphere of a traditional spa town. The best time to visit is spring through autumn, when the park is open and green.