A visit to the Spa town of Baden-Baden

Our road trips through Europe takes us to Baden-Baden, Germany. We first learned about this town through Rick Steve’s Europe episodes.

On the blog, I will share our visit to the Spa Town of Baden-Baden. Since we were already in the Black Forest region, we decided to spend the day and explore what the town has to offer.

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Top things to do in Baden Baden

Baden Baden Thermal Baths

Baden-Baden is a spa town in southwestern Germany’s Black Forest. It’s thermal baths led to fame as a fashionable 19th-century resort.

One of Baden-Baden’s main tourist attraction are it’s thermal baths. The healing qualities of the water has been attracting tourists since Roman times.

The water is rich in salt and flows from artesian wells, and is conveyed through pipes to the towns baths.

There are two main Bath houses here, the Friedrichsbad and Caracalla Spa. Kids aren’t allowed in the thermal baths, but there is a daycare for them while you enjoy a day of relaxation.

We decided to skip the baths, when we found out you had to be completely naked in a coed bath! Its not a big deal for Europeans as it is part of their culture, but for me, that would’ve been so awkward! We skipped the baths and decided to explore more of the town instead.

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Visit the Kurhaus Complex

Not only is the town known for its thermal baths, one of the highlights is the Kurhaus complex. The complex houses the elegant, Versailles-inspired casino, and is also a spa resort, and conference complex. 

Its Trinkhalle, which is known as the pump room, has an amazing arcade lined with frescos and benches. We didn’t enter the building, but simply walking through the halls and admiring the wonderful frescos was amazing enough.

Stroll through Baden-Baden’s Alstadt (Old Town)

Take a stroll through Baden Baden’s picturesque old town (Altstadt) with its winding alleyways and charming streets.

Here you can sit on a bench and admire the beautiful surroundings in the Market square, or go on a luxury shopping spree.

There are many famous high end shops located in the city, as well as boutique stores, antique shops and galleries. There are also quite a few cafes and restaurants to choose from here.

Have a bite of the Black Forest cake, an iconic dessert in the region. It has become one of our favorite dessert and we basically ate it daily while we were in the region.

Visit the Stiftskirche (Collegiate Church)

Located in the center of the cobbled Marktplatz is the Stiftskirche. The Stiftskirche is one of the oldest buildings in the historic center of Baden-Baden, and is an important part of its cityscape.

Its late gothic appearance is the result of numerous building phases during the centuries and is quite beautiful. The church is also the final resting place of the Margarves of Baden, the ruling empire of Baden-Baden. 

Visit the Spitalkirche (Hospital Church)

Spitalkirche, a Catholic hospital church that was built in 1478 and is the town’s oldest. The Spitalkirche is a late Gothic church building in Baden-Baden, which serves the Old Catholic Church as a place of worship.

It is located  right next to the entrance to the Caracalla spas. The chapel was built between 1468 and 1478 and was connected to a hospital.

Stroll through the Lichtentaler Allee

Take a stroll through the Lichtentaler Allee. This historic park and arboretum is lined with native and exotic woody plants and flowers. The peaceful and serene 1.5 mile long promenade along the Oos River is the perfect place for a leisurely stroll to admire nature. 

We had an amazing time exploring this wonderful city. Although we didn’t get to experience it’s curative waters, we still had fun strolling through the Old Town. It’s Baroque influenced architecture gives the city an air of old-world luxury and elegance.

If your ever in The Black Forest region in Germany, swing by Baden-Baden and stroll through the beautiful town and experience it’s curative waters and old world charm.

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