Travelers on the hunt for the health and relaxation benefits of a spa or a spa hotel vacation will find the mother lode in Germany. There are 350 “spa towns” in the country, and in Germany, there are rules surrounding the use of the phrase. To be designated as an official spa town, each destination has to qualify by meeting strict standards tied to water quality, staffing, and infrastructure. Once qualified, the prefix “Bad,” which is German for bath, can be added to the town’s name.
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That’s just one thing that differentiates German spas from others. In virtually every region of Germany, there are spas with a multitude of services and treatments tied to what the location offers. On the North Sea coast, for instance, spas focus on saltwater baths and experiences using the high salinity ocean water, while in the Black Forest or in Bavaria, mineral-rich hot springs are the big draw.
Thermal spas are an ancient practice in Germany, dating back to Roman times when Roman Empire soldiers found rejuvenation from various forms of hydrotherapy.
Germany Has Ancient, Mineral-Rich Thermal Springs
Germany is awash in thermal springs that provide mineral-rich water. Many of the springs are thousands of years old and run more than 6,000 feet beneath the surface. The mineral springs, which in some locations bubble up at around 150 degrees Fahrenheit, collect minerals as they make their way to the surface, providing water loaded with sodium, calcium, magnesium, and other minerals said to be helpful to the human body.
But it isn’t only thermal springs that make Germany a winner when it comes to spa treatments. Mud baths, where mud is taken from the country’s abundance of ancient peat beds, also are prized for their benefits to health, generally, and to skin, specifically.
Along with thermal spring bathing, saltwater treatments, and mud baths, German spas feature steam and sauna rooms, hot and cold water plunge pools, sea salt grottos, aromatherapies, and a wide variety of massage techniques to make visitors feel renewed and to help ease medical conditions such as arthritis and heart, kidney, and digestive system issues.
Baden-Baden Is Germany’s Best Known Spa Town
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