The Palais Thermal is a
spa
A spa is a location where mineral-rich spring water (and sometimes seawater) is used to give medicinal baths. Spa towns or spa resorts (including hot springs resorts) typically offer various health treatments, which are also known as balneoth ...
in
Bad Wildbad
Bad Wildbad is a town in Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg. It is located in the government district (''Regierungsbezirk'') of Karlsruhe and in the district (''Landkreis'') of Calw. Its coordinates are 48° 45' N, 8° 33' E. About 10,1 ...
in
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
. The construction for the spa building was finished in 1847 and opened under the name of Graf-Eberhard-Bad.
Architecture
The "Wildbad" established not only the centuries-old bathing tradition in the Oberes Enztal which have been documented in Bad Wildbad since 1521, but also determined the location of the Graf-Eberhard-Bad in the last century. The well-known thermal springs have been used for bathing and curing since the
Middle Ages
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire a ...
. The original buildings were redesigned over many centuries to meet the social and cultural changes of the respective centuries.
From the beginning of the 19th century, the desire for spa and bathing resorts arose in all of
Central Europe
Central Europe is an area of Europe between Western Europe and Eastern Europe, based on a common historical, social and cultural identity. The Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) between Catholicism and Protestantism significantly shaped the area' ...
due to the increasing economic potential, increasing mobility and the use of advertising.
Nikolaus Friedrich von Thouret
Nikolaus Friedrich von Thouret (born Ludwigsburg, 2 June 1767; died Stuttgart, 17 January 1845) was a German architect and designer.
Life and work
From 1778 to 1788 he was educated at the Hohe Karlsschule in Stuttgart where he trained as a pa ...
is the architect of the building as it is known today. The Graf-Eberhard-Bad und Badhotel was created as a ensemble between 1840 and 1847. The two-storey, compact building on the outside, despite the manifold connections, impresses with its clear symmetry and strict order on the inside.
Since 1847, it was rebuilt several times and adapted to the prevailing taste. At the end of the 19th century, the Prince Baths, the central hall and the corridor zones were "orientalised". In the course of a further major renovation in 1896, the window panes on the ground floor with older decorations were replaced or supplemented by
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau (; ) is an international style of art, architecture, and applied art, especially the decorative arts. The style is known by different names in different languages: in German, in Italian, in Catalan, and also known as the Modern ...
ornamental glazing.
After five years of extensive renovations and conversions, the Graf-Eberhard-Bad was reopened in December 1995 as "Palais Thermal".
Photo gallery
File:Palais thermal aussenansicht.jpg, Fountain in front of the Palais Thermal
File:Palais thermal bad.jpg, Oriental ornaments inside the Palais Thermal
File:Bad Wildbad Palais Thermal detail.jpg, Arabesque
The arabesque is a form of artistic decoration consisting of "surface decorations based on rhythmic linear patterns of scrolling and interlacing foliage, tendrils" or plain lines, often combined with other elements. Another definition is "Foli ...
as window detail
File:Bad Wildbad - Kurplatz + Palais Thermal 01 ies.jpg
File:Bad Wildbad + Palais Thermal (Panoramastraße) 01 ies.jpg, Moderner Anbau
File:Bad Wildbad - Kernerstraße - Palais Thermal - Katherinenstift 03 ies.jpg, "Built under rule of Charles I of Württemberg
Charles (german: Karl Friedrich Alexander; 6 March 18236 October 1891) was King of Württemberg, from 25 June 1864 until his death in 1891.
Early life
Charles was born on 6 March 1823 in Stuttgart as the son of King William I and his third wif ...
in 1870"
See also
*
List of spa towns in Germany
The following is a list of spa towns in Germany.
The word ''Bad'' (English: bath) is normally used as a prefix (''Bad Vilbel'') or a suffix (''Marienbad'', ''Wiesbaden'') to denote the town in question is a spa town. In any case, Bad as a prefix ...
*
Spa architecture
Spa architecture (german: Kurarchitektur) is the name given to buildings that provide facilities for relaxation, recuperation and health treatment in spas. The architecture of these buildings is called "spa architecture" even though it is not a un ...
*
Friedrichsbad
References
{{Reflist
External links
Official website of Palais Thermal
Black Forest
Spas
Heritage sites in Baden-Württemberg
Tourist attractions in Baden-Württemberg