The Great Spa Towns of Europe

Overview

This transnational serial property comprises eleven spa towns, located in seven European countries: Baden bei Wien (Austria); Spa (Belgium); Františkovy Lázně; Karlovy Vary; Mariánské Lázně (Czechia); Vichy (France); Bad Ems; Baden-Baden; Bad Kissingen (Germany); Montecatini Terme (Italy); and City of Bath (United Kingdom). All of these towns developed around natural mineral water springs. They bear witness to the international European spa culture that developed from the early 18th century to the 1930s, leading to the emergence of grand international resorts that impacted urban typology around ensembles of spa buildings such as baths, kurhaus and kursaal (buildings and rooms dedicated to therapy), pump rooms, drinking halls, colonnades and galleries designed to harness the natural mineral water resources and to allow their practical use for bathing and drinking. Related facilities include gardens, assembly rooms, casinos, theatres, hotels and villas, as well as spa-specific support infrastructure. These ensembles are all integrated into an overall urban context that includes a carefully managed recreational and therapeutic environment in a picturesque landscape. Together, these sites embody the significant interchange of human values and developments in medicine, science and balneology.

Selection Criteria

(ii)(iii)

Components(11 locations)

• •Spa1613bis-002
• •Vichy1613bis-006
• •Bad Ems1613bis-007
• •Karlovy Vary1613bis-004
• •Baden-Baden1613bis-008
• •City of Bath1613bis-011
• •Bad Kissingen1613bis-009
• •Baden bei Wien1613bis-001
• •Montecatini Terme1613bis-010
• •Mariánské Lázne1613bis-005
• •Františkovy Lázne1613bis-003

Details

Countries

Italy, France, Austria, Belgium, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Germany, Czechia

ISO Codes

IT, FR, AT, BE, GB, DE, CZ

Area

7,018 ha

Transboundary

Yes

Coordinates

50.4922, 5.8669