It's Not Bad At All (German Spa Towns)

In years past, the American military were stationed in various locations that were German spa towns such as Bad Kreuznach, Bad Aibling, Bad Kissingen, and Bad Tölz.  Those towns weren't "bad" at all - they were a designated Bad (spa or resort) town.  When my dad was stationed at Wildflecken (affectionately known as "Wild Chicken") as a civilian employee, we lived in a town called Bad Brückenau.  It was a wonderful place to live (sadly, I was in college during those years and was only able to visit in the summer and at Christmas).

Anyway, these spa towns can be found all over Germany usually near some source of mineral spring water, with parks where one can take in the clean air and partake of relaxing treatments such as hydrotherapy, hot-cold baths, saunas, massage, Kneipp wading pools, and inhalatoriums (Grandierwerke), which produce saline-droplets that create an atmosphere much like sea air.

Being sent to the spa for Kur (a course of treatment, a cure) can be for preventative reasons, treatment, or recovery after an illness.  There are even Abmagerungskur for dieters.  (Abmagerung means weight loss; ironcially it is the same word used to define emaciation!)  Kur is often prescribed by a doctor and is covered by the German healthcare system.  Not a bad idea ....

Bad towns are very lovely.  Here are a few that I have visited (and as I come across more pictures, I will add more):

As I mentioned, my parents lived in Bad Brückenau for a few years, located in Northern Bavaria in the Bad Kissingen region.  Its curative waters are horribly sour tasting, but it was a favorite of Bavarian King Ludwig I, who funded some renovation of the town in the mid 1800's.

Bad Homburg is near Frankfurt, on the southern slope of the Taunus Mountains.  It is officially known as Bad Homburg von der Hoehe ("before the heights") to distinguish it from other towns called Bad Homburg.  This Bad Homburg is one of the wealthiest towns in Germany!  It boasts that it has Champagnerluft (Champagne air).  It also has a casino in the park.

Russian nobility particularly favored Bad Homburg, and there is a Russian chapel nearby, an Eastern Orthodox church, built in 1896.   (pictured above)

Bad Mergentheim is located in the Main-Tauber (Rivers) district of Baden-Würtenberg; it was recognized as a spa town in 1926.  Most interestingly (in my opinion!) is that this town was the headquarters of the Teutonic Order from 1526 until 1809.  Teutonic knights, as the members were called, were a voluntary military mercenary group who protected Christians on their pilgrimages to the Holy Land and in the Baltic regions, as well as often worked to establish hospitals.  

Bad Mergentheim as a Ordensmuseum (a museum of the Teutonic Order) located in the medieval castle that was once the home base of the German Teutonic knights.  The picture above was taken in Bad Mergentheim's market square.  

Have you visited a BAD town?  If so, I hope your experience was good!   :) 

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Ready for Frühling (Spring)!

We moved to Würzburg, Germany in January of 1996 (and lived there for 3 years).  After the wet-cold and sometimes snowy days of winter, by March, we were ready for SPRING!

The pink cherry blossoms lined the walkways around the Residenz, coloring the recently barren trees, a first sign of the spring season.

The flower beds bloomed with carefully planted tulips and other spring flowers.

Landscaping around all the castle gardens in Germany is so fascinating.  You can just imagine how many hours and how much planning the beautiful patterns and groupings of flowers and greenery takes!

We also ventured up to the Festung (Fortress) Marienberg, which overlooks and protected Würzburg and the Main River.

Its flower garden showed potential, which would soon bloom.

Another favorite place we visited near Würzburg was Werneck, a small town a little north of Würzburg.

The town also has a baroque-style palace, designed by Balthasar Neuman, who also designed the Residenz, both commissioned by the Prince-Bishop of Würzburg.

The palace was turned into a psychiatric hospital between 1853-55.  It is one of the oldest psychiatric institutions in Germany.  Perhaps the lovely gardens were part of the therapy for many a troubled patient?!

Germans sure do love their flowers, florists, and gardens!

And I do too!

My husband and I lived in a little town just north of Würzburg called Estenfeld.  This little village had charm and history of its own, which I hope to post about another time.

We spent many happy hours walking through and around our little town.  It was a farming community, and springtime was heralded by the smell of Jauche.  Jauche is liquid manure that is spread on the fields as fertilizer, of course. 

Our town was surrounded by fields of yellow rapeseed, a member of the mustard family, used mainly for making canola oil.  But also, sunflowers:

I'm ready for springtime.  How about you?

As a favorite children's song of mine ("Kuckuck, Kuckuck") states:

Frühling!  Frühling!  wird es nun bald.

Spring!  Spring!  will soon be here.