Ethnic residential differentiation of Karlovy Vary: foreigners and the spa center

Karlovy Vary is currently a city with one of the highest share of foreigners in population in Czechia. Thus, one could expect that residents from foreign countries will have a significant influence on the forming of socio-spatial structures of this city. The present work identifies and characterizes most significant groups of foreigners in Karlovy Vary and evaluates spatial patterns of these groups in the basic settlement units. Emphasis is placed on the concentration of foreigners into the spa center and their other residential preferences, used as a key to interpretation of identified spatial patterns and deepen the knowledge about the state of residential differentiation at the lower scale level. To reach the goals of present work is used a combination of both quantitative and qualitative research methods. A case study is framed within the theoretical framework of concepts of residential differentiation and segregation in the former Eastern block countries context. There is also a brief characterization of the presence of foreigners and ethnic minorities in Czechia or a summary of urban and residential development of surveyed city.