The Rock Thermal in Bad Gastein - a series of articles on Austria's most beautiful places
Austria is a land of inspiring landscapes, castles and palaces. Sometimes it seems as if the lands of this country were made for travelling and praising their beauty.
Today, we are going to talk about a stunningly beautiful place about 100 kilometres from Salzburg.
This is Bad Gastein: the thermal radon springs.
Bad Gastein is an aristocratic town located right on the mountainside on three high levels. One of its symbols is the waterfall, which is located in the centre of the resort. Artists and composers were inspired by the rushing streams of water running between ancient buildings, Gothic cathedrals and secluded groves. Since 963 the resort is known under the name of Gastuna, at that time the region still contained some remnants of Slavic settlement. In the Middle Ages, Minnesinger Neidhart von Reuenthal praised the local healing waters, then Paracelsus made them famous.
In the 19th century, when travel to the healing springs became fashionable among Europe's aristocrats, it became one of the most popular resorts visited by monarchs, the rich and famous, including Empress Sissi, Kaiser Wilhelm and Chancellor Bismarck. It is also remarkable that Chancellor Bismarck signed the Gastein Convention here. Schubert composed several famous works in Bad Gastein. The town was nicknamed the "Alpine Monte Carlo" thanks to one of the oldest casinos in the Alps, and it attracts quite respectable people.
After the railway was built in 1905, it became much easier to reach the resort. Sigmund Freud visited it twice, in 1916 and 1923. In the middle of the last century, the kings of Iraq and Saudi Arabia, as well as the last Iranian shah, recovered their health in Gastein. It was once written: "...a luxury spa resort in the Austrian Alps, at an altitude of 1,600 m, with an aristocratic clientele. Its main feature is the ability to combine skiing with wellness in the thermal springs. The resort is picturesquely stretched in a horseshoe shape along the foothills of the mountains, spread over three levels."
The architectural ensembles of the late 19th century are combined here with the latest buildings and fitted perfectly into the mountainous landscape.
In 2014, all 18 of the town's springs were restored and the pools were filled with warm thermal water (42 °C). Bad Gastein's most famous thermal baths include an indoor and outdoor pool (with a water temperature of about 34 °C), a grotto with a waterfall, a wellness centre and a sauna. Everyone looking for relaxation will find the right spot in the thermal baths - whether it is a hot sauna with an air temperature of 90 °C or a warm salt chamber (40 °C), a sauna with a panoramic view or a banya. If you don't like saunas, you can simply relax on the sun terrace by the pool, visit an infrared cabin and steam baths, which heal almost all the vital organs of the human body.
When it comes to sports, a holiday in the thermal baths during the winter season can be wonderfully combined with skiing. The neighbouring communes of Bad Gastein and Bad Hofgastein form a skiing area with slopes up to 2,251 metres.
By the way, there is a thematic museum dedicated to the industrial past of the town in one of the mines of the former gold mining centre (Montanmuseum Böckstein). In the museum one can find unique tools used in the 14th century. A medieval village has been recreated around the mine.
Another interesting museum is the Gasteiner Museum, which was opened in 1936. Its collection of exhibits is very diverse, and particularly appealing is the collection of rare minerals that was discovered in this area and the surrounding area. Visitors can also take a look at the costumes of the local people, which were worn more than a hundred years ago, as well as the fascinating handicrafts of local artists and artisans.
The place is truly considered one of the most beautiful locations in the world, and there is nothing to be said about the benefits of the local springs and air. The rock thermal baths in Gastein are a must-see!
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