Europe

Baden-Baden Top Attractions: What to See and Do

The city seems specially designed to surprise and challenge the stereotypes of a quiet, boring German provincial town with a population of 60,000. Its name is associated with hot springs, spa treatments, museums, festivals, historical mysteries, outstanding artists, musicians, and royalty. The attractions of Baden-Baden are a mix of heritage from various cultures. The monuments of this German town, located on the banks of the Oos River, show the influence of neighboring France. The old part of Baden—this was the official name until 1931—can be compared to a fantasy dimension where Ancient Rome, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, pre-revolutionary Russia, and Renaissance Italy meet. Realities change, but the city remains a center of attraction for the elite, connoisseurs of respectable rest, and adventure seekers. Its houses, monuments, and ruins hold secrets about the lives of the rich and famous. The elite resort is like a Fabergé jewel box full of surprises.

Casino

The gambling establishment resembles a museum rather than a “nest of vice” as portrayed in books and movies. Germans consider the “Kurhaus” casino the oldest in Europe. The establishment was opened in 1827. The great film actress and gambling enthusiast Marlene Dietrich called it the most beautiful in the world. Initially, the building was intended for the resort rest of aristocrats, which is reminded by its name (translated from German, the word means “Resort House”).

Before World War II, the casino served as a cultural center where the European intellectual, creative, political, and financial elite gathered. Today, “Kurhaus” is open to commoners, tourists, and gambling enthusiasts provided they are decently dressed and of legal age (21 years old). The casino has retained its functions as a cultural center. Historical balls, meetings of prestigious creative and sports clubs, and concerts of opera stars are regularly held there.

The interior of the building is divided into two parts. One is allocated for card game rooms, roulette, “one-armed bandits,” and VIP visitor offices. The other part houses restaurants, concert and ballroom halls, and rooms with unique historical exhibits. The casino operates year-round except on major Catholic holidays. The establishment participates in German state programs for gambling addiction prevention.

Fabergé Museum

It is called the first and only museum of the famous Russian jeweler’s firm in the world. The second claim is debatable, as there is a similar institution in St. Petersburg that houses another collection of Carl Fabergé. The Baden museum showcases over 700 exhibits made of silver, gold, platinum, precious and semi-precious stones.

Men’s and women’s jewelry, Easter eggs, cigarette cases, dishes, lamps, statuettes, miniatures—over 3,000 works of art are in its collection. A significant part of the items belonged to the Romanov dynasty. After the revolution, Carl Fabergé, whose firm was the official supplier of the imperial court, managed to save his life by illegally leaving Russia. The jeweler lost most of his property. His enterprises, custom-made jewelry, stocks of precious metals, and cameos were nationalized by the new state.

The history of the museum’s founding in Baden-Baden by Moscow collector Alexander Ivanov seems symbolic. He donated the collected antiques to the German city to protect the masterpieces from Russian bandits. The unofficial value of the jewelry was 2 billion dollars. The museum opened in 2009, and its collection continues to be replenished with masterpieces by ancient jewelers, pre-Columbian American Indians, and contemporary masters.

Collegiate Church

Theologians and historians date the construction of the church to the 13th century. Records show that part of the church became the family tomb of the margraves—the rulers of the Baden district. The tomb was built three centuries earlier than the church, which is dedicated to the Christian apostles Peter and Paul. Today, the church belongs to the Protestant community. It is open for visits, and services, as well as traditional Christmas and Easter organ concerts, are held there.

The architecture and interior design of the building uniquely blend dominant Gothic elements with Baroque and Romanesque styles. Pilgrims and tourists from around the world come to the church to see the stained glass windows, a stone sculpture of the crucified Christ over six meters high, a figure of the Virgin Mary, and the bell tower topped with a three-tiered roof.

The preserved family tombs in the church’s choir remind of the legend where one of the margraves dreamed of the apostles promising him a final resting place in their house. The ancient church bells have not survived. The oldest of the existing “voices of God” was cast in the 13th century, while the others are 200 years younger. The building’s foundation is constantly damaged by underground waters, but the townspeople do everything possible to preserve the church.

Drinking Pavilion

An amazing structure 90 meters long is located next to the “Kurhaus” casino. Externally, the pavilion resembles the facade of a royal palace with 16 columns. The pavilion was built in the first half of the 19th century and has hardly changed, thanks to outstanding German restorers. The building is decorated with unique frescoes depicting legends of Baden-Baden.

A bust of Kaiser Wilhelm I, Emperor of Germany, installed near the pavilion, pays tribute to a prominent figure in European history. His reign is often called the “Golden Age of Baden.” An alley named after the Kaiser leads to the pavilion. The main purpose of visiting this popular spot is the unique healing water from two Baden springs.

Its properties are still not fully understood. The water has a slightly salty taste. It has been scientifically proven to strengthen the immune system and treat diseases of the nervous, gastrointestinal, and musculoskeletal systems. Baden citizens joke that mineral water replaces food, as it contains all the important microelements necessary for the body’s proper functioning.

Caracalla Spa

Even the most indifferent tourists to baths, saunas, and pools strive to visit the recreational and therapeutic complex with a resounding name. “Caracalla Spa” occupies more than 4,000 square meters. The name of the center evokes associations with Ancient Rome. The architecture of the German structures, buildings, and pools visually resembles ancient ones, with adjustments for modern technology.

The complex began operating in the 1980s in the very center of the German city. Its layout still impresses specialists as it maximally considers the demands of the thermal spa visitors. Open and closed pools of various depths and shapes, spacious rooms for water hygiene, inhalation, hydromassage procedures, solariums, and saunas are just a small part of the list of facilities located on the territory with several hot springs.

The center operates year-round. Restrictions for its visit include medical contraindications and an age of under 3 years. A special area, divided into open and closed parts, is equipped for older children. Young guests of the complex are supervised while their parents relax and rejuvenate.

Transfiguration Church

The church was built in the traditional northern Russian style at the end of the 19th century. For many tourists and pilgrims, the single-domed Transfiguration Church is associated with pre-revolutionary Russia. Donations for the church were made by representatives of the Romanov, Trubetskoy, Stolypin, and Gagarin dynasties. Its construction lasted a year.

The building was designed in the shape of a cross, with marble as the main finishing material. The architectural solution, where six columns support the vault, allowed the load on the foundation to be distributed, reducing its destruction by underground water movement. The church became the spiritual heart of the Russian community in Baden. The building’s walls remember Nicholas II and his wife, who visited the resort town together 20 years before their tragic death.

During the world wars, valuable church utensils and some icons were lost forever. Today, the onion dome is adorned with new gilding—the previous one was removed and melted down. The stained glass windows miraculously survived. The mosaic icon of the Transfiguration of the Lord and the stone iconostasis remain unchanged. For 20 years, the building and property of the Orthodox community were subjects of legal disputes. As a result, the church was transferred to the ownership of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad.

Frieder Burda Museum

The opening of the art museum was a real sensation. The huge white building impresses with its simple form, functionality, and practical layout. Nearby is another Baden-Baden museum, the “Kunsthalle,” connected by a glass bridge. The two main and two additional exhibition halls, with an area exceeding 1,000 square meters, are always filled with visitors.

The collection of Frieder Burda—a philanthropist and founder of the famous publishing house—was and remains one of the best collections of works by German expressionist artists. It became the foundation of the museum’s funds. Fans of avant-garde art often compare the white building to a Picasso painting. There is some truth to this: the Spanish artist’s work inspired Frieder Burda to experiment. He spared no expense in acquiring Picasso’s paintings, whose philosophy is close to Richard Meier, the building’s architect.

The exhibition halls display unique paintings, installations, and sculptures. Experts call Picasso’s paintings the true gems of the collection. The museum’s funds are continuously replenished with new masterpieces, and there is often not enough space for exhibitions. In such cases, some exhibits are temporarily housed in the “Kunsthalle.”

Merkur Funicular Railway

It’s wonderful when there is an opportunity to see the famous resort city from a bird’s eye view. Mount Merkur is beautiful at any time of year. It holds the title of the highest point in Baden-Baden. The age of the mountain is measured in hundreds of millions of years. The cable car to its summit has been in operation for over a century. What awaits travelers who reach the highest point of the area in five minutes? A restaurant and stunning views.

The funicular car accommodates 30 passengers. It has standing and sitting places. The interval between “flights” is no more than 15 minutes. You can also hike to the summit along special routes. Practical Baden citizens have provided a high-speed elevator for those who are not satisfied with either mode of travel.

Gönneranlage Park

The beauty of roses surprises, delights, and inspires the creation of landscape design masterpieces. A bright example is Gönneranlage Park, whose history began in 1909. It took three years to open it, and the work didn’t stop there. Since the 1950s, roses have become the main feature of the park, occupying 1.6 hectares. The park is named after its founder, the mayor of Baden, who did everything possible to create a new attraction in his beloved city.

Today, Gönneranlage Park is home to over 10,000 rose bushes. From May to October, the air is filled with the scent of flowers. The number of cultivated rose varieties is about 400, but this is not the limit. Every year, breeders hold professional competitions in the park, and samples of the best plants remain in Gönneranlage. The park was designed as a place for respectable rest. Sculptures, benches, wide alleys, and a sea of flowers are how this amazing place looks from spring to autumn. The park has a tennis court and a mini-golf course.

Old Castle Hohenbaden

The Battert rocks are covered with forests, making them even more solid and majestic. At the top is the Hohenbaden Castle, which looks like it came straight out of historical romance illustrations about noble knights and beautiful ladies. It was built about 900 years ago at an altitude of 410 meters and served as the residence of Baden margraves for 400 years. Part of the castle is in ruins, but the towers and walls are well preserved. The structure caught fire several times, the last one destroying all valuable property.

The castle seemed like a true architectural sensation in the Middle Ages. It wasn’t just the unique layout, 100 rooms, and enhanced defensibility. Traditional close-combat areas, traps, secret passages, and halls for grand balls were all included. However, the presence of sewage made it an exception among similar structures, which lacked even minimal conveniences.

Today, the castle is open to tourists. It attracts fans of historical reconstructions and wind music enthusiasts. The Aeolian harp in the knight’s hall of Hohenbaden is not an ancient monument. It was installed by the famous musician Rüdiger Oppermann. The wind and air vibrations create a stunning sound effect that enhances the mystical atmosphere of the castle, where, according to locals, knightly ghosts reside.

New Castle

Florentine Hill was chosen as the site for the defensive structure. The castle’s construction dates back to the 14th century. It served as the residence of Baden rulers, housed a unique local archive, and served as a museum. The ceremonial halls in Neo-Renaissance style, restored 200 years ago, the basement rooms, and some guest rooms are well preserved. The fate of the structure, whose splendor amazes residents and visitors, has been peculiar. It can be described in two words: endless renovation.

The owners rebuilt the castle, changed the interior, and improved defensibility. The structure avoided destruction and fires. Unfortunately, architectural innovations destroyed much of the unique medieval heritage. Huge sums were required for restoration and repair work. The local authorities lacked sufficient funds to maintain the unique architectural monument. The attempts of its successive owners to retain ownership of the elite property ended in failure.

Mystically inclined Germans sometimes tell tourists about the new castle’s curse. This may sound like a fairy tale, but facts are stubborn things. A Kuwaiti company bought the structure and nearly went bankrupt after 13 years. The investors’ plans seemed quite feasible: to set up a five-star luxury hotel. The official opening was postponed several times.

Roman-Irish Baths Friedrichsbad

The thermal complex resembles the luxurious palaces of French aristocrats and Roman nobility. “Caracalla Spa” is within walking distance from the Friedrichsbad baths. Such proximity does not diminish the latter’s popularity, whose main clients are German residents. The building is 150 years old. It is recognized as a unique historical monument and was not damaged during the wars. Tourists cannot visit the baths. How to see the luxurious mosaics, marble wall decorations, and charming High Renaissance interiors?

Visit the unique place and undergo procedures. It has its own pool system, massage and cosmetic rooms, and special drinking fountains with therapeutic thermal water. The Roman-Irish baths are open daily until 8 PM. Children under 14 are not allowed. Germans joke that testing all the spa services offered here would take a lifetime.

Festival Hall

The building can simultaneously accommodate 2,500 people to enjoy musical masterpieces. It has a cozy children’s theater and a chic restaurant. Since its opening in 1998, the hall has been recognized as the largest in Germany and is second only in one aspect: the Festspielhaus cannot maintain a theater troupe or orchestra. This does not prevent the festival hall from being a center of attraction for the German and European creative elite, intellectuals, and fans of jazz and classical music.

The building’s unique acoustics amaze professionals. It’s hard to believe that the unique object was based on Baden’s railway station building. The Festspielhaus successfully operates without government subsidies, holds four major music festivals annually, and is a favorite venue for world-class stars. Private donations and ticket sales are the two main sources of the unique object’s existence. The townspeople have proven that art can thrive without state support.

Ruins of Roman Baths

In various parts of the city, you can find remnants of ancient structures. Historical monuments attract tourists and treasure hunters. The latter caused multimillion-dollar damage to Baden in the past century, as antique statues and decorative elements found by “black diggers” disappeared forever. The ruins of the Roman baths were discovered accidentally in the 19th century. The find confirmed the widely known fact that Roman legions once occupied German territory.

Citizens of the ancient great empire could not imagine life without water and hygiene procedures. The same can be said of soldiers, whose rights were limited but simultaneously granted free access to the baths. Notably, this privilege was also extended to legionnaires’ horses, for which special pools were arranged near the barracks.

The baths served as cultural and leisure centers. Libraries, music rooms, and sports grounds occupied a special place in the buildings. The baths were the first structures erected in Roman-conquered territories. Scientists date the buildings, now in ruins, to the 3rd century BC. After millennia, only ruins remain. However, fragments of walls, communications, and pools were sufficient to organize a popular museum dedicated to ancient baths.

Ruins of Ebersteinburg Castle

The longing for knightly romance turned the remains of a defensive structure at an altitude of 515 meters above sea level into the most romantic place in Germany. The exact time of the castle’s construction is highly debated. The towers and walls were built before 1245 and were already serving their purpose by that time. The castle belonged to the Baden margraves. The valiant Count Eberstein went down in history as the first appointed “head” of the castle.

The structure saved local residents from invaders for centuries. The latter partially destroyed the walls and towers. The year 1689 was fatal for the castle. After the military actions, only fragments of walls remained. Miraculously, the towers survived. 150 years later, lightning struck one of them. The owners saw this as a sign from above and abandoned plans to restore the castle and the tower, which split into two. Today, the castle houses a restaurant serving traditional German cuisine.

Railway Station

In old European cities, such objects are usually located in the center, but in Baden-Baden, it is the opposite. The distance between the town and the station is 5-6 kilometers (depending on the chosen route). Initially, the building was wooden, then brick. At the end of the 19th century, the railway station acquired its modern appearance.

The station complex resembles a miniature palace. The building was designed according to Neo-Renaissance canons. The second floor houses not only waiting rooms but also restaurants, shops, and a mini-hotel. The complex is 100 meters long. It is one of the historical monuments protected by the state.

Water Cascade “Paradies”

A special attitude towards water is part of the Baden mentality. The city’s residents understand well that unique natural resources bring income. Baden citizens joke that 12 springs were not enough for the city, so the paradisiacal hydraulic structure appeared in 1925. The name “Paradies” translates to “Paradise” in English. The water cascade corresponds to the aesthetic canons of the Renaissance era. It consists of fountains and pools and is surrounded by a park area. The main part of the landscape complex is an artificial 40-meter waterfall.

“Paradies” was created in the past century and operated until World War II. The city lacked the means to restore the mini-park and cascade, whose construction defects arose due to the peculiarities of stamped concrete. The problem was solved at the beginning of the 21st century, giving “Paradies” a second life.

Lichtentaler Allee

Its age exceeds 360 years. A favorite place for walks and romantic dates, the alley gradually became the center of the Baden park. It runs near the main attractions of the city, connecting Goethe Square and the old monastery. Along the alley, which is over two kilometers long, are busts of great German musicians.

The oaks—the first trees planted nexto the pedestrian zone—are majestically beautiful in any season. They symbolize longevity and are the talisman of the magnificent park. In warm weather, the landscape complex is filled with flowers. The park has no noisy attractions. The Oos River flows nearby, crossed by graceful bridges.

Kunsthalle

In German, the word means “exhibition hall.” It refers to museums without their own collections, whose financial capabilities do not allow for maintaining a permanent collection. “Kunsthalle” is located next to the Frieder Burda Museum. The buildings are connected by a glass bridge. The first opened in 1909, and the second a century later. The construction of the “Kunsthalle” was considered a challenge to public taste. The absence of decorative elements on the facade, clear and concise forms, asymmetry, and strict style still cause bewilderment.

The two main halls of the “Kunsthalle” occupy most of the first floor. However, the layout surprises begin in the adjacent rooms: octagonal small halls interestingly influence the visual perception of space. Visitors may at some point begin to feel as if they are in another reality. The museum organizes exhibitions of art without restrictions on eras, styles, or directions. The activities of the “Kunsthalle” include organizing lectures, creative meetings, concerts, and film screenings.

Drinking Pavilion

Not far from the already famous Lichtentaler Allee is the Drinking Pavilion. It is 90 meters long and has 16 columns. Each column features a fresco depicting one of the city’s legends. But the highlight of this pavilion is, of course, the tasty and healthy drinking water.

The pavilion houses a gallery with mineral water from two valuable sources in Baden-Baden. Hot water flows from them, with a temperature of about 70 degrees. It has a slightly salty taste, but its numerous healing properties are well-known worldwide. Missing such an opportunity would be unforgivable.

Stourdza Chapel

The Orthodox chapel in the late classical style reminds us of the fate of the Moldavian royal dynasty of the Stourdzas (Sturds). Events took place 55 years before the execution of the Romanov imperial family, whose members also loved quiet Baden. The Stourdzas managed to escape from a state engulfed in revolution, but the young heir of the family suddenly died. Overcome with grief, the parents decided to immortalize their son’s memory in the hospitable German city by donating funds for the construction of a chapel and personally overseeing the work.

The building’s porch (its main colors are white, red, and brown) is supported by columns. The chapel’s height (excluding the single dome with a cross) reaches 24 meters. The interior decoration of the chapel adheres to Eastern aesthetic canons.

Brahms House Museum

The bright house magnetically attracts fans of the German composer’s work. The Baden residents managed to preserve the building and rooms where Johannes Brahms lived. The house was threatened with demolition, but the residents of Baden raised funds for its restoration, perpetuating the memory of the “last knight of romanticism in music.” The composer found peace and inspiration in the resort town. For nine consecutive years, he spent each summer in Baden, strolling along the Oos River embankment and interacting with the townspeople.

The First and Second Symphonies, the German Requiem—these great works are associated with house No. 8 on Lichtentaler Allee. The Baden residents preserved the composer’s personal belongings, sheet music, and the special old-world atmosphere. Upon entering the building, one gets the feeling that Brahms never left; soon, the sounds of freshly composed music will fill the house.

Spitalkirche

The hospital church is considered the most elegant city temple. The construction of “Spitalkirche” is dated to the 18th century, but the founding time of the parish is a matter of debate among historians. The church was built in two years. To complete the plastering, painting, and organ assembly, the craftsmen worked around the clock. Previously, there was another hospital church at the Baden hospital. When services began in the new temple, the old one was closed, and the new one was named “Spitalkirche.”

An important part of the church’s interior is the unique frescoes on biblical themes, whose pristine beauty parishioners managed to preserve during the most challenging times for Baden. During World War II, services in the hospital church did not cease. Today, the temple serves as an educational and cultural Christian center. Annual organ concerts in “Spitalkirche” attract fans of sacred music.

Ruins of Alt-Eberstein Castle

At the site of the ruins was the luxurious residence of a member of the noble Eberstein family. Some sources call the structure a “fortress,” while others call it a “castle,” which doesn’t diminish the ancient ruins’ appeal to fans of knightly romances. The Eberstein family dates back to the foundation of the Holy Roman Empire. Its male line ended in the 17th century. Passions ran high around the famous fortress in the 11th-13th centuries: the Ebersteins were accused of conspiracies, witchcraft, and attempts to seize their lands were frequent.

The fortress had been stormed earlier, as evidenced by frescoes that miraculously survived on the building’s walls. Fragments of the walls suggest that skilled masons, who knew the secrets of particularly strong mortars, constructed the buildings. The 18-meter tower is not an architectural extravagance: its height provides an excellent view of the surroundings, allowing the fortress’s defenders to spot approaching enemies in time. The complex includes a dungeon accessible via secret staircases and passages.

Mummelsee Lake

The most enchanting and beautiful place in the city is Mummelsee Lake, also known as the “white water lily.” It is located below the city near the Schwarzwald mountain road and is very popular. The lake is situated at an altitude of over a thousand meters, surrounded by the Black Forest and interesting local legends.

It is said that real mermaids and the Lord of the Lake live in the lake, emerging at night. The water is crystal clear, and the air is pure. Tourists can take a break or have a picnic here, imagining how the famous Brothers Grimm sought inspiration in this place many years ago.

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