Friedrichsbad

Baden Baden has been known as a spa town since its earliest days.  The Friedrichsbad thermal spa opened here in 1877,   Their literature describes it as "the temple of well being."  Europeans have been coming to Baden Baden and Friedrichsbad in droves ever since.  It's even part of the "prescription" you'll receive from the German health care system to improve your health.

Friedrichsbad is described as a "Roman-Irish" bath, with a precise 17 step regimen of warm air, hot air, scrub massage, steam, hot steam, cooler water, pool, cold dunking, cream massage, and being swaddled in blankets at the end, while you let the cares of the world drift away and perhaps even fall asleep. There's also lots of showering between steps.   Read about the complete process here.

Friedrichsbad is in a grand neoclassical  building with fabulous arches, a grand staircase, and a central pool under a soaring dome.  The building itself is a work of art.

However, I don't have any pictures to share with you.  Why?  Did I mention that this is a traditional European "garment free" spa experience.  That's right, you're waking around nude the entire time.  Mona and I did this together and it was fabulous.  It was incredibly relaxing and just what we needed after a long day of travel.  We Americans often get hung up on nudity, but quite frankly, you don't really pay attention to anyone else.  There are all ages, shapes, and sizes.  And yes, it's co-ed (at least most days).

When we travel, we like to try and experience life as the locals live it.  Freidrichsbad was a fabulous experience and one that we would do again.