Baden-Baden Spa Town

Baden-Baden, Germany

Baden-Baden is a spa town in the state of Baden-Württemberg. In 2021, the town became part of the transnational UNESCO World Heritage Site under the name 'Great Spa Towns of Europe'.

The springs at Baden-Baden were known to the Romans as Aquae ('The Waters') and Aurelia Aquensis ('Aurelia-of-the-Waters'). The known ruins of the Roman bath were rediscovered just below the New Castle in 1847 and date to the reign of Caracalla (AD 210s).

The town began its recovery in the late 18th century, serving as a refuge for émigrés from the French Revolution. The town was frequented during the Second Congress of Rastatt in 1797–99 and became popular after the visit of the Prussian queen in the early 19th century. She came for medicinal reasons, as the waters were recommended for gout, rheumatism, paralysis, neuralgia, skin disorders, and stones. The Ducal government subsequently subsidized the resort's development. The town became a meeting place for celebrities, who visited the hot springs and the town's other amenities: luxury hotels, the Spielbank Casino, horse races, and the gardens of the Lichtentaler Allee. The pumproom (Trinkhalle) was completed in 1842. Reaching its zenith under Napoleon III in the 1850-1860s, Baden became 'Europe's summer capital'. With a population of around 10 000, the town's size could quadruple during the tourist season, with the French, British, Russians, and Americans all well represented.

Today he city offers many options for sports enthusiasts.

References:

Comments

Your name



More Information

whc.unesco.org

Rating

4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Stine W (2 years ago)
We had a wonderful time at this bath. It's 32 Euros per person which includes your entrance, a locker, a towel, a warm towel, soaps, lotion, tea, and a reading room. It feels quite reasonable considering the beauty and aesthetic feel of these baths. They are historical and have lovely tile work and beautiful pools, warm and hot air rooms, geothermally heated steam rooms, and several gorgeous thermal pools. If you have any interest in what a roman bath would be like this is relatively close (in layout, purpose, and nudity at least). You can read about thermes to see how similar it is. It is even almost on top of the Roman bath ruin. The decor itself is antique and features themes that would appeal to the bather seeking healing, moral instruction, and rejuvenation (spring flowers, ancient Rome, arabesque, geometrically shaped pools, halls for reclining and exercise). I was particularly impressed with the two naturally heated steam rooms which look like you're in the inside of the earth and feature primordial geologically themed fountains. There were not many people when I went, which made the experience even nicer. The assistant in the baths is helpful and he helped us figuring out where to go. It's a silent nudist bath which is awesome. I thought my hair was going to be straw from my visit to the baths, but the minerals in the water there made my skin and my hair happy.
Matheson Harris (2 years ago)
Awesome experience. Went on a Monday afternoon and had very few other people around us. Very relaxing. Really enjoyed the cold plunge at the end along with the relaxation room (you could nap for an hour in there) and the last room with loungers and hot tea. Left feeling like jello and knowing my dad bod was solidly average. Don’t miss it.
Tomas Urlich (2 years ago)
My girlfriend and I had a great time at Friedrichsbad. We visited on a Wednesday afternoon in late May and only saw about a dozen other patrons during our stay, so the peace and quiet was particularly relaxing. If the mandatory nudity policy is what's stopping you from visiting, don't let it, it actually enhances the relaxation - you'll understand when you go.
Kate Brydone (2 years ago)
Hubby couldn't come along, so took my girlfriend instead. Totally relaxing day. Staff are fantastic, one of them looked out for us very well - Christian I think? So glad you are open again.
Milos Mandic (2 years ago)
Unique experience, different from modern wellness/spa. Being you back to the Roman times! There's a designated route inside you're recommend to follow for the best experience. You can spend a lot of time inside - we stayed for almost 4 hours.
Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Historic Site of the week

Rosenborg Castle

Rosenborg Palace was built in the period 1606-34 as Christian IV’s summerhouse just outside the ramparts of Copenhagen. Christian IV was very fond of the palace and often stayed at the castle when he resided in Copenhagen, and it was here that he died in 1648. After his death, the palace passed to his son King Frederik III, who together with his queen, Sophie Amalie, carried out several types of modernisation.

The last king who used the place as a residence was Frederik IV, and around 1720, Rosenborg was abandoned in favor of Frederiksborg Palace.Through the 1700s, considerable art treasures were collected at Rosenborg Castle, among other things items from the estates of deceased royalty and from Christiansborg after the fire there in 1794.

Soon the idea of a museum arose, and that was realised in 1833, which is The Royal Danish Collection’s official year of establishment.