Forget Buchinger or Merano! Spa, wellness and outdoor aficionados are flocking back to Baden-Baden in Germany’s Black Forest region for an unmatchable combination of top spa and medical services, the abundance of outdoor activities in lush nature and the charm and luxury lifestyle the small picture-book perfect town has to offer.
One of only 11 Unesco World Heritage spa towns in Europe, Baden-Baden is known for its curative waters and sublime air of old-world luxury that has attracted royals, the rich and celebrities over the years, from Bismark to Barack Obama or Queen Victoria to Victoria Beckham!
Here a glimpse of what the often dubbed “Monte-Carlo of Germany” has to offer.
THE THERMAL BATHS
Baden-Baden has a rich history. 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), who visited the area to relieve his arthritic aches. Until the Thirty Years’ War (1618-48), Baden-Baden flourished as a bathing town. Around the mid-17th century, the richly stuccoed princely bath was built at the orders of Margrave Ferdinand Maximilian (1652-69) on the ground floor of the New Palace on Florentine Hill.
The famous Friedrichsbad offers a variety of services such as massages, facials, and body treatments and a classic Roman bath culture combined with Irish hot-air baths in a special healing circuit encompassing 17 different stations as well as private spa suites. The varying temperatures and the valuable thermal water used in the different types of baths have a beneficial effect on both body and mind. The building, built in Renaissance style, was considered the most modern bathhouse in Europe when it opened in 1877 and has lost none of its charm and atmosphere ever since.
Caracalla Therme is another very popular spa in Baden-Baden and offers a variety of services such as massages, facials, and body treatments. Relax between marble columns and immerse yourself in tempting turquoise blue pools. 12 natural springs rise from depths of around 6,500 feet and provide an unforgettable bathing experience in this 4000 square foot glass temple. A romantic hot and cold rock grotto, bubbling whirlpools, waterfalls, counter-current pools and massaging water jets will guarantee a unique feeling of well-being for young and old.
The jewel among the spas in Baden-Baden is the Villa Stéphanie, part of the Five-Star Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa. The luxury private spa is a mansion solely devoted to the individual’s spa experience. It is also known as “House of Wellbeing” and all is about beauty, detox & nutrition, emotional balance and medical care.
MEDICAL CARE
Baden-Baden has a long and internationally recognized tradition in medical care. Today, Baden-Baden is a health centre with leading specialists and the highest level of medical expertise, from high-tech diagnostics to natural healing methods. Whether it is preventative or rehabilitation medicine or a medical check-up, the well-being of the whole person is at the forefront of every treatment. From conventional medical methods or recognized natural therapies, the clinics and medical spas are equipped with all the latest technology and handled by the most extensively trained, people-oriented professionals in the entire health sector.
Among the leading clinics, the 5-star hotel like Max Grundig Clinic stands majestically above the town, offering a fabulous and relaxing scenery of the Black Forest. The clinic is built on three pillars: the internal medicine with a broad spectrum of specialized departments as well as excellent physicians, the check-up centre, and the psychosomatic department. And as per the founders vision that the health of the body and mind of the person are looked upon as a unity, the doctors and staff are dedicating more time on the individual patient. The combination of efficient medicine and the ambience of a top hotel creates ideal prerequisites for a quick recovery.
Another leading name in the medical care facilities of Baden-Baden is the Dr.Koenig und Kollegen private practice part of Brenners Medical Care that offers general medicine, naturopathy, and sports medicine. Consultation, diagnostics and therapy are oriented and fully focused on the patient’s individual needs. Preventive support as advisors for sports, nutrition and balanced lifestyle are also part of Dr.Koenig’s excellent concept of holistic medicine that is based on a broad spectrum of diagnosis and therapy from modern conventional medicine and proven naturopathy.
LUSH NATURE & OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
“Walks in the park” are almost synonymous with Baden-Baden. From a stroll down the Lichtentaler Allee, a mature garden along several kilometers of the Oos river maintained by 57 full-time gardeners or a lovely ride up the to the top of the mountain on the MerkurBergbahn. Baden-Baden is also a popular destination for sports enthusiasts, with many golf and tennis clubs and many hiking trails through the forests that offer stunning sceneries.
LIFE OF LEISURE
Besides enjoying superior spa and wellness faciliites and medical care and loving the outdoors, Baden-Baden offers plenty of entertainment . The Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, which is Germany’s largest opera and concert house boasts an impressive calendar of performances and the famous horse race is where the local and international high society meet three times a year. The racing calendar starts with the Spring Meeting in May, followed by the Grand Festival Week end of August/start of September and is rounded off by the Sales & Racing Festival in October.
You dont need to be a gambling enthusiast to enjoy a visit to the splendid Casino famous for its luxurious atmosphere and rich history. The ornately decorated rooms are modeled after royal French palaces and are located in one of the most beautiful buildings in Baden-Baden, the Kurhaus, built in 1824 making it one of the oldest casinos in Europe. The Casino also boasts the trendy fine dining restaurant, The Grill and the Bernstein Club for clubbing.
The town is not only know for excellent local cuisine you might want to discover but also many gourmet restaurants run by master chefs that offer international cuisine. A variety of cafes, among them the famous Cafe Koenig and the Confiserie Rumpelmayer, offer delicious pastries and confectioneries.
Another yearly attraction is the Baden-Baden Christmas Market. The “Christkindelsmarkt” is set up in one of the most beautiful areas of town. The enchantment begins right at the start of the world-famous Lichtentaler Allee. Small candles and lights already sparkle atmospherically in front of the Kurhaus and festively decorated huts await you next to the exclusive colonnade shops.
SHOPPING & ART
You will be enticed by the large number of international high street and luxury brands that have opened up store in this small town. From Longchamp to Hermes, to local hand-made leather manufacturers such as Vickermann and Stoya who produce bespoke shoes and the Wagener department store that showcases a large variety of international brands also boast its own Market Hall that offers regional products and fresh produce from all over Europe. Another must visit is the concept store at the Frieder Burda museum that itself is worth a tour. Designed by renowned New York celebrity architect Richard Meier, the museum architecture allows for plenty of natural light and is truly unique, much like the collection itself, which contains its fair share of masterpieces. Jewelry lovers will enjoy a visit to the Faberge Musuem, the first of its kind to devote itself to the life’s work of Carl Fabergé.
WHERE TO STAY
Whether you are seeking exuberant elegance, sleek mid-century design, rural charm, or family friendly accomodations, Baden-Baden offers a wide variety of hotels that promise an unforgettable stay.
The most famous adress in town is without doubt the Brenners Park Hotel. The five-star luxury hotel is renowned for its luxurious amenities and services, including its spa, restaurants, and bars. The hotel has been welcoming guests since 1872 and has hosted many famous guests over the years, including Paul Getty, Frank Sinatra, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.
Fans of design hotels will love the Roomers hotel. It is known for its unique design by renowed architect Piero Lissoni and its luxurious amenities, including its spa, restaurants, and bars. It is also home to the Moriki restaurant, a favorite among locals for its delicious pan-Asian cuisine in a casual dining atmosphere.
To find out so much more about the perfect stay in Baden-Baden, and it’s “good-good life”, visit the Baden-Baden Tourism site.
For more fashion news CLICK HERE.
