The most beautiful thermal baths
Immerse yourself in cozy warmth for a few hours - this immediately helps against everyday stress and gray clouds that want to put your mind to it. And our body gets warm again in warm water immediately. The effect can be particularly pleasant in the so-called Thermal Baths experience. Therme (from the Greek / Lat. For heat) is called only hot spring. Just? How well that is, you already notice during a hot bath, when the forehead slowly smooths, the tense cheeks and mouth are relaxed and this relaxed smile on the face. Hot springs or baths have much more to offer: warm water with healing powers.
Bathing in minerals and trace elements
Thermal water springs gush from kilometer depths of the earth and accumulate on their centuries-long path through the rock layers with valuable minerals and trace elements. Depending on the area in various compositions and amounts, eg. With bromine, iodine, calcium, potassium, iron, magnesium, sodium (salt), fluorine and / or sulfur. This is the ideal cocktail to strengthen the self-healing powers of our organism. When bathing in the warm thermal water, there is an exchange of minerals and trace elements between body and water through the skin.
Regular applications with thermal water, for example, increase the threshold of the skin against the daily stresses on the environment, calm it, have anti-inflammatory and even anti-aging effects (for example, when a high proportion of selenium is present in the water, which is effective against free radicals).
Relax in cathedrals of well-being
Thanks to the daughter of Count zu Lippe, since the 16th century medicine has been taking care of the beneficial effects of the thermal springs. 1502 she dabbed her sore toes into the water of the Pyrmont source. The foot healed, and from then on, the bath was in hot springs as a miracle cure for skin and joint diseases, stomach problems and strokes.
Today, balneology is the branch of medicine that provides the scientific evidence for the healing powers. A distinction is made between three different types of thermal water: brine baths come as cold or hot springs, contain up to six percent of common salt and relieve especially rheumatism, acne and dermatitis. sulfur baths With a mixture of different sulfur compounds stimulate blood circulation and have healing effects on psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, acne, eczema and joint disease. carbon dioxide baths Through their content of carbon dioxide, they promote blood circulation in the skin, help with high blood pressure and strengthen the veins. Cardiovascular complaints are also an indication.
What happens today behind the walls of thermal baths has nothing to do with a strict cure. State-of-the-art wellness palaces, true cathedrals of well-being, were built around the springs. With impressive water landscapes, sumptuous baths with a seemingly inexhaustible repertoire of Western and Far Eastern body treatments, massages, cosmetics, fitness, esoteric relaxation rituals, music and light games ... All in all there are over 100 thermal landscapes in Germany alone. The ten most beautiful we present you on the following pages.
The classics with history
Carolus Baths
Carolus-Thermen, Bad Aachen Low sulfur content (up to 38 degrees) Aachen's "Bath of the Kings" - already the Romans enjoyed it 2000 years ago - was re-created in early 2001. A thermal dream. Ten differently tempered terraced pools, hot and cold water grottos, cascades and bubble loungers await you in the imposing pillared bathing hall. The Baltic and Oriental baths with Finnish sauna, Turkish and Ottoman baths, Roman steam bath, stone and tunnel sauna with garden are located on a private lake. Specialty: the caravanserai - where you lie on heated sand and are enveloped by sound and light effects. Tel. 02 41/18 27 40, www.carolus-thermen.de. Prices: from 9 euros for 2.5 hours without sauna world / 17 euros with. Open: daily 9-23 clock.
Palais Thermal
Palais Thermal, Bad Wildbad Fluoride-containing thermal bath (35 to 41 degrees) The nostalgic bathing temple in the classical style was opened in 1847, renovated in 1995 and rebuilt in its fullest splendor. It offers a thermal landscape with traditional and princely bathrooms and a variety of hot tubs. Upstairs, the sauna area with steam bath, biosauna (Tepidarium), Finnish sauna ... If light falls through the richly decorated glass roof of the Moorish hall, you imagine yourself in the heaven of relaxation. Tel. 070 81/30 30 or 30 33 01, www.palais-thermal.de. Prices: from 12,50 Euro for 2 hours. Open: Mon. 12 - 22 o'clock, Sat. + Sun. 10 - 22 o'clock.
Hufeland-Therme
Hufeland-Therme, Bad Pyrmont A low-brine thermal bath (2 percent) The Hufeland-Therme is an impressive, harmoniously designed glass palace with indoor and outdoor pools and a hot whirlpool. Especially romantics get their money's worth at the regular midnight saunas and moonlight swimming. Saunas to total relaxation can be found in Finnish saunas, flower steam bath, sanarium, Rasul, hammam, stone and princely bath - with stunning views of the countryside. In addition: medical massages of all kinds as well as color and light therapy. Tel. 052 81/15 17 50, www.hufeland-therme.de. Prices: Day ticket incl. Sauna 12,50 Euro. Open: Mo. to Fri 9.30am - 10pm, Sat. + Sun. 9.30am - 9pm.
Caracalla-Therme & Friedrichsbad
Caracalla-Therme, Friedrichsbad, Baden-Baden Thermal water with high content of sodium chloride (brine) 16 steps are needed in the Roman-Irish steam bath of the mosaic-decorated Friedrichsbad, and stress and tension dissolve in well-being. One after the other, guests wander through the hot-air bath, soap-brush massage, walk through the first thermal steam bath to the next steam bath, which is still a few degrees hotter - and then slide into a thermal pool (36 degrees). Then follows a bubble bath (34 degrees): comfortably warm drums fresh thermal water against the back, for a few minutes it goes into the movement pool (28 degrees), and so on ... Without traditional rituals can relax in the Caracalla-Therme - im large indoor pool (32 degrees), a cold and hot water grotto (18 and 38 degrees) and two outdoor pools (30 and 34 degrees) with massage jets, aerators, neck showers, whirlpools, two waterfalls and a flow channel. Tel. 072 21/27 59 40, www.carasana.de. Prices: Caracalla from 12 euros for 2 hours; open daily 8 am - 10 pm Friedrichsbad from 21 euros; open Mon - Sat 9am - 10pm, Sun 12am - 8pm.
The family thermal baths
Nature-Therme
Nature Therme Templin near Berlin Thermalsoleheilbad An adventure bathing area for families with plenty of light in up to 35 degrees warm pools: wave pool, waterfall, flow channels, geyser, light-water organ, bubble bath inside, waterfall grotto, adventure slides, toddlers paradise with water, sand and music outside. The sauna area includes a steam bath as well as Finnish, Erd, Bauern and Stein "Schwitzstuben". Oriental is in Rasulbad and Hamam. And at "Aqua Musicale" you float in solitude, surrounded by whale songs, Bach or Beatles. Tel. 039 87/20 12 00, www.NaturThermeTemplin.de. Prices: from 8,50 Euro for 2 hours plus 5 Euro for sauna area. Open: Sun. until Thu 9am - 9.30pm, Fri. Sat 9.30am - 11pm.
Crystal spa and graduation spa
Crystal Spa and Gradiertherme, Bad Wilsnack in Brandenburg Soletherme with high content of iodine and iron, 39 degrees An Andalusian-style spa landscape with translucent roof. In the "Gemstone Meditation Grotto" five tons of gemstones are in different light and changing colors - kitsch at its best, accompanied by gentle music of the spheres. The entire bathroom was designed according to the teachings of Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179): pools (indoor and outdoor) in different salt concentrations and temperatures with 58 different massage jets, fairytale world of marble for children (and mothers). Three saunas with different temperatures and scents, two steam baths and the Ottoman hammam. Attached is a village of 300-year-old Kärrner farmhouses where gemstone, hay, salt, eucalyptus and lemon saunas have been created. Tel. 03 87 91/808 80, www.kristalltherme-bad-wilsnack.de. Prices: from 7.50 euros for 2 hours, sauna world plus 2 euros. Open: daily 9am - 10pm, Fri. Sat 9am - 11pm.
Seehotel Binz
Seehotel Binz Therme, Ruegen "Hertha-Quelle", the only brine spring on the Baltic coast, especially containing fluoride and iodine The spa landscape in the first-class hotel with two thermal pools was opened five years ago. In the small basin (68 m2), fed by the healing waters at a depth of 1222 meters, diluted with glacier water and 34 degrees warm, the spring gushes out of countless massage jets on the walls and in the floor. The large pool (98 m2 and 32 degrees warm) is the ideal place to be carried by the water - it has a lift similar to that of the Dead Sea. Sweat is in the Finnish or bio-sauna and in various steam baths. Specialty: massages, baths and packs with Rügen healing chalk. Guests of the Seehotel use the spa free of charge (rooms from 85 Euro). Tel. 03 83 93/60, www.binz-therme.de. Prices: 13 Euro without, 23 Euro with use of the sauna area. Open: daily 8 am - 9 pm (sauna from 1 pm).
The city oases
Neptunbad
Neptunbad, Cologne Drinking water is enriched with brine for infusions Art Nouveau meets Japan - in the middle of Cologne, the art of Asian sauna rituals is celebrated behind historic walls (built in 1912). Before entering the "Bath Cathedral", the body is cleaned with brush and soap, doused with hot water, and then slipped into the bubble bath (40 degrees).Iris leaf, citrus and green tea saunas provide the best circulation, strengthen the immune system with their infusions and are considered in Japan as an optimal prophylaxis against all sorts of diseases. With a beautiful view from the winter garden in the Japanese Zen garden, the relaxation for body, mind and soul does not want to end. Tel. 02 21/71 00 71, www.neptunbad.de. Prices: from 11,50 Euro for 2 hours. Open: daily 9 am - 11 pm.
Holthusenbad
Holthusenbad, Hamburg Drinking water that is heated for the thermal pools The Art Deco temple in the middle of Hamburg-Eppendorf was divided into three zones: wave pool (waves of power and surf roll every half hour) plus an outdoor pool; Therme without added minerals with two warm pools (34 degrees), Kneipp facility and bubble bank. In the wellness area there is a Finnish (95 degrees) and a hay sauna (75 degrees), two aromatic baths (35 - 50 degrees) and a steam room. Rasul, Thalasso and massages are possible with registration. Highlights: On fridays from 19.30, the spa is lit only by candlelight, and every second Saturday of the month there is the long sauna night - until one o'clock at night. Tel. 040/47 47 54, www.baederland.de. Prices: Day ticket for the spa 9 Euro, with sauna and wave pool 12,50 Euro. Open: Mon., Tues. u. Sat. 9am - 10pm, Wed. until Sat. 9am - 11pm, Mon. Wed.
Liquidrom
Liquidrom Spa, Berlin Drinking water enriched with brine and heated to approx. 37 degrees The Liquidrom is a kind of amphitheater under the roof of the cultural center Tempodrom at the Anhalter Bahnhof near the Potsdamer Platz. An oasis of relaxation in the midst of city stress: Above the 120 m2 water basin (with body-warm water, brine-enriched) spans a huge dome, surrounded by a total artwork of twelve underwater speakers, sound columns on water and light installations. The Liquid Sound Technique, developed in the Toskana Therme Bad Sulza, makes the sound experience possible. Aqua Wellness - therapist-led, playful exercise therapy - is also available as a "synchronizing session" for couples. In addition: sauna, steam room and an onsen, a Japanese hot water pool, which is heated to 40 degrees. The Liquidrom's Special Events: Every Friday there's classic underwater, Saturday DJs at the Liquidrom Club and full moon live concerts. Tel. 030/74 73 71 71, www.liquidrom.com. Prices: from 15 euros for 2 hours. Open: Sun. until Thurs. 10am - 10pm, Fri. Sat 10 am - midnight (full moon until 2 am).
addresses There are over 100 thermal baths and almost 300 baths in Germany at the Federal Association of Public Baths e. V., PO Box 34 02 01, 45074 Essen, Telephone 02 01/87 96 90, Fax 02 01/879 69 20, www.boeb.de Book tip: "Germany, Your Thermen", Zeitgeist Media Verlag, 2003
The relax-plus If you would like to relax in a thermal bath, you have the chance to indulge yourself with a facial treatment, massages and relaxation exercises ("dream trips" or "muscle relaxation") for free: A professional wellness team from Nivea will be offering a feel-good Tour through 25 thermal landscapes of Germany - from the Baltic Sea to Lake Constance. Information at: www.NIVEA.de/wellness
