Baden-Baden – spa town of spas. The imposing Friedrichsbad and for centuries the Trinkhalle Kurpark are attractions for the rich. But Baden-Baden went with the times. While many traditional spa places only the past cherish, we find here in the German Schwarzwald a lively mix of old and new. Thermal baths in classic style and ancient Roman sources go here along with the most modern wellness treatments. Traditional Western Spa- and cures we find besides an authentic Ayurvedic clinic. And in addition to a spa cave with dead sea salt we see Arab massages at the Purezense Day Spa and soothing colours in Beauty Temple Eberle in the Queens hotel. Contemporary enjoy in Baden-Baden. In style, and with tradition.
‘Rich’ past
The Romans discovered the hot springs in the Black Forest. The ruins of the baths are still visible. But real appeal got Baden-Baden when around 1800 in the Kurpark a real Paris Casino verrees (to bypass the gambling ban in France) including original inventory. See and be seen in Baden-Baden became important for composers, the European nobility and Russian poets.
If we walk around it feels or we in the stately Vienna are. Older and young people strolling with flair, stately buildings, many green, bustling shops, lively terraces and drawn carriage in the city park. The Brenner's Park hotel & Spa is there as one of the Leading Hotel of the World pride at. And vROM the forests on the surrounding hills for centuries source water seeps down. But in recent years increasingly come paragliders down, What good the mix of young and old audience in modern Baden-Baden illustrates.
The stylish Friedrichsbad and Caracalla baths the modern
Middle in Baden-Baden, we see the dome of the magnificent Friedrichsbad from 1877. The Friedrichsbad nobody should miss! Exactly on the site of an ancient Roman bath fills the numerous hot spring water pools of this bath-Temple and warms the floors. You feel the history if you look up from the water here in the large dome above you. Total relaxation is achieved here by alternating cold and warm thermal baths, warm and hot air chambers, SOAP- and brush massages, steam baths and thermal showers.
The visit ends in a stately rest area, where we fondly and in a whisper are covered by one of the employees. The access to the bathhouse is mixed, and only naturist, so nude. That fits perfectly in the German tradition. And although guests from e.g.. the prudish America there so not enter, one remains faithful in Germany prefer not to happy this nude-culture. The SOAP massage in the Friedrichsbad (also expose, and friendly with eight people at once) makes clear once again how big the worldwide cultural differences are: four Japanese businessmen are delicious scrub while their American colleagues prefer the park address. Or they go to the new Caracalla baths, Since two year round and swimwear is compulsory.
The Caracalla Baths (named after a Roman Emperor) really is in all respects a polar opposite of the Friedrichsbad. And yet they both are less than 100 meters from each other harmoniously in the middle of the town. The Caracalla baths are an asset when it comes to drawing a younger audience, keep the city alive, and providing modern sauna and wellness facilities, such as the Friedrichsbad that cannot. In a pseudo-Roman style with mosaics and images are here all forms of entertainment and treatments possible. But personally I would choose the Friedrichsbad, and would I for treatments at one of the many hotels or at Purezense.
Pampering in Purezense
The spa- and bath culture in Baden-Baden not only attracts spa guests, but also enterprising Dutchmen. Since november 2010, Hanneke Cramer and Hubert van Delft there their Purezense with. authentic Arabian massage. Hanneke: "I already gave massages In Netherlands. Later I also followed training as beauty specialist ". In the beautiful building in the pedestrian area makes you feel instantly welcome. "We keep to this HT right after entry with every customer a personal consultation. I wanted an open, modern and distinctive design, that does justice to the history of the building, én to my love of Asia ". Purezense belongs to the select group of spas that the authentic Arabian Bedouin massages Kassaath Hawa (shot glasses and fire) and Khiaahh Milhh (gaskets with salt) can offer. Hanneke: "I have trained at Emile van Zyl during my stay in Jordan. Now I'm one of the few who give these courses themselves in Europe. Germany may seem very sober, but there is also a great breeding ground for alternative treatments. And even for ' faith’ in certain diet or spiritual matters ".
Now Hanneke and Hubert along with many hotels that often send guests to them by:
"Especially the Arab honey massge (Masaasj al Easal) is in trek. Which is very good against cellulite ". All treatments, the focus is on the individual touch. Hanneke: "The massage training courses in Germany focus mostly on sports massage. But that's not good for our practice. I've liked staff with a beauty background, that understands how important personal attention is in everything to do with touch ". At the tour of the many treatment rooms we see an authentic Shirodhara table. But we also see a Hammam, with real SOAP-treatment, rooms for cosmetic treatments, and a spa-shop with. authentic dead sea products of La Cure. In addition to all of this gives Hanneke relaxation massages during the many workshops and seminars in Baden-Baden and gives them massage trainings: "Germany is a country where you must prove yourself as a newcomer. But we managed!”
Modern wellness in every hotel
Baden-Baden lives. In addition to all the tradition. Very new in the offer is the establishment of a spa cave with dead sea and Himalayan rock salt. At a minimum of 30 min., good for the respiratory system. But we see the renewal also reflected in the wellness program of the various hotels. After a traditional spa would like to enjoy a more contemporary spa guest offer. Best Western Queens Hotel we talk about that with marketing manager Andrea Schultz and Frau Uschi Eberle. "I have my own for 30 years in this hotel Beauty Temple Eberle. And I know that I must with the times ".
The customers of Frau Eberle want something personal experienced. Therefore, she is happy that she can expand her own line in the Queens hotel. "I find myself a warm and colourful setting very important. Therefore each space here has its own atmosphere, by coloured light. The guests determine their treatment area ". It is very nicely done: hot, personal, and not kitsch. The Queens hotel is a friendly hotel, in a quiet green neighbourhood close to the Kurpark spa gardens and the Centre. The cure-range runs from massages, facials and gaskets to treatment with Caviar extract, aromatherapy and stamp massage. A 2-day Harmony-weekends (2 x overnight stay all-in, luxury treatments) costs in ' Queens’ around €400.
Authentic Ayurveda in Devaya
After a relaxing walk through the Kurpark spa gardens and along the Kurhaus we move to an authentic Ayurvedic clinic…. im Schwarzwald. The Devaya Authentic Ayurveda clinic is located in the beautiful Vicotia building. We'll talk there with Geschäftsführerin Daniela Peisger, who own primal German is but said it no longer had lived without Ayurveda. "I was sick to my 15th. I had seen all the doctors in Germany now when my mom me as last possibility half a year to an Ayurvedic doctor on Sri Lanka sent. I came back healthy ". Her civil-technical training is now only useful if there is something in the clinic needs repair. "All employees I have personally extracted from Sri Lanka. The clinic is my heart and soul. I believe in it. It comes from within. I can not explain all knowledge from our Western, but it works”.
Ayurveda is a holistic approach. The doctor and therapists think from the three doshas Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Here are 7 hours a day to work on restoring their balance via massages, yoga, meditation and knowledge about food. Each treatment starts with a comprehensive analysis by the Ayurvedic doctor. All oils and herbs used in the treatment and the meals needed to be imported from Sri Lanka. Daniela to Shri Lanka itself still goes every six months. The Ayurvedic has her entirely convinced: "But it must be authentic. So a Shirodhara treatment to try out (like many spas do nowadays) can the complaints or the unbalanced increase correctly. That makes no sense, and we will never do here ".
Baden-baden: enjoy contemporary in style and tradition!
Text: Arjan Mulder
- More info and pictures: Purezense Day Spa, Queens Hotel Baden-baden, Devaya Authentic Ayurveda, Friedrichsbad, Caracalla Baths, Brenner's Park hotel & Spa, Salina salt Grotto, Tourism Baden-Baden, Duits Verkeersbureau
- View the locations on the map
