In 2021, eleven amazing spa towns in seven European countries were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as a ‘transnational serial’ World Heritage Site, called the “Great Spa Towns of Europe”. These towns, in Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom represent a unique cultural achievement and urban form which was at its height from the late 18th century to the 1930s.
The casino and conference complex, originally built as the Theresienbad, sits almost directly over the original spring, the Römerquelle. Along with the Summer Theatre, the complex marks one boundary of Baden’s Kurpark. The formal area, with its bandstand, cafe and the Undine fountain leads up to manicured gardens peppered with statues and temples to famous musicians who composed world-famous works here. Lanner and Strauß, Beethoven, and Mozart were just a few of Baden’s eminent visitors. Energetic guests who hike up the hill from the park will be rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views over the town, its vineyards, and rolling landscape.
Taking a carbonated water bath in one of Spa’s traditional copper baths from the 1860s at the Thermes de Spa is one of life’s great pleasures! As you luxuriate and deeply relax in the iron-rich water from the Marie-Henriette spring, thousands of tiny bubbles settle on your skin, softening, purifying, and taking away all the stresses of the day. After taking the funicular down the hill to the center of the town, more relaxation awaits at boutique shops and lively restaurants. Tasting the waters in the Pouhon Pierre le Grand and admiring the Livre d’Or, a huge painting of past spa guests, is also a must!
This “new” spa town was deliberately planned with a grid layout, and its quintessential yellow buildings achieve a harmonious look through baroque symmetry principles. The town is surrounded by a triple layer of parks, in which twenty-four springs and their pavilions are linked by long, level promenades. One such pavilion is the Glauber Springs Hall, built in 1930. As with many springs in Františkovy Lázně, the water bubbles up in glass cases – press your ear to the glass to hear the music of the springs from deep within the earth!
The landscape surrounding the Great Spa Towns of Europe is almost as important as the waters! It provides a beautiful setting to the towns and is a wonderful natural resource. Walking or hiking in the woods was fashionable here long before “forest bathing” was invented, and there are paths aplenty, some of them leading to little pavilions or “gloriettes” overlooking the town. The funicular in Karlovy Vary leads to the Diana lookout tower and restaurant, with a view that will take your breath away!
A visit to Mariánské Lázně is not complete without a stroll through the Main Colonnade, an ornate, cast iron, neo-baroque construction that was completed in 1889, replacing the original Kursal. Look up to admire the ceiling frescoes representing man’s desire to fly and listen for music from the “singing fountain” nearby. The Colonnade is the focal point of the annual opening of the spa season, a wonderful example of the continuance of living spa traditions in the Great Spa Towns of Europe. Weekend-long celebrations in early May include the consecration of springs; a ceremonial procession featuring the entrance of King Karel, the spa’s founder, on a horse; a concert by the West Bohemian Symphony Orchestra; masses; and a rich program of events centered around the springs.
The Vichy Thermal Spa Les Dômes is a magnificent bathing palace dedicated to traditional hydrotherapy and drinking cures for digestive, metabolic, and rheumatic diseases and allergies. Overlooked by two neo-Byzantine towers which once held reservoirs for the spring water, the main building, completed in 1903, displays both Romano-Byzantine and Art Nouveau styles and is lavishly decorated inside and out.
An enviable riverside location in the steep-sided valley of the River Lahn gives Bad Ems its unique look and feel. Parks and grand baroque thermal buildings stretch along the waterside, and visitors can follow in the footsteps of international visitors, including several world-renowned composers, who were drawn by the sophistication of the spa town in the 19th century. A modern funicular and hiking trails in the woodlands around the town lead to viewpoints with spectacular vistas of the river and surrounding landscape.
Will you be lucky here in the extravagant, gold-encrusted, neo-baroque surroundings of the casino in Baden-Baden? Roulette, blackjack and poker await those who enjoy a game of chance, while The Grill restaurant is a great venue for a late supper. Baden-Baden, once known as the “Summer Capital of Europe” is associated with many famous writers, composers and celebrities, both past and present.
Extensive riverside spa gardens and grand buildings characterize Bad Kissingen, including the Arkadenbau, a covered lounge area which was commissioned in 1834 by King Ludwig I to protect spa guests from wind and weather. This building contains the Rossini Hall, originally built as a conversation room and now a magnificent concert hall. With the Regent’s building and the Wandelhalle, it is one of the main focal points of cultural life in the spa today.
Taking the waters at the Tettuccio Terme is an experience you won’t forget! This palatial building, extended and rebuilt in the 1920s, was constructed with drinking therapies in mind and allows guests to walk through grand colonnades or relax in the reading room or the bustling cafe. Music and dancing are part of daily life at Tettuccio Terme, and there are shops here as well. A gallery with huge ceramic allegorical panels, showing the beneficial effects of water from birth to old age, serves waters from the Tettuccio, Regina, Leopoldine and Rinfresco springs. The thermal water that flows directly from the Tettuccio spring runs into a large pool from an ornate fountain decorated with sea creatures.
Europe’s culture is not limited to its numerous art museums and palaces. Some of Europe’s greatest stories can be heard over a glass of wine, beer or other drink within the walls of a pub or finest alcohol outlets off the beaten track.
Romance is everywhere in Europe. But along the coast and in the small harbor towns, romance is inevitable. From seaside villages in Italy to beaches in Latvia, browse some of the most romantic coastal spots in Europe. Then, treat your sweetheart to the ultimate getaway.
One of the best ways to witness the diversity of Europe is to participate in one of the many festivals – be it celebrating a saint, food , film or even the circus.
Romance comes naturally in Europe. With so many things to see and do, it’s no coincidence that Europe is one of the top destinations in the world for romantic getaways. From popular attractions like the Eiffel Tower to lesser-known spots like waterfalls in Iceland, browse this gallery to prep for the best romantic sightseeing in Europe.
Top quality bean is highly popular due to its rich properties and delicate flavour.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is said to have loved sweet dishes prepared with almonds, marzipan and sugar such as the famous Mozartkugel chocolates, or the majestic Mozart-Gugelhupf.
The San Miniato White Truffle Market in November is an acclaimed international fair with diverse gastronomic and cultural events.
Spend the most festive season in Europe!
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The floodwaters of Soomaa National Park.
Cinnamon Buns, or Korvapuustit in Finnish, are buns filled with cinnamon, sugar and butter. Cinnamon Buns are served oven warm with a glass of ice cold milk. Cinnamon Buns are sure to reward your taste buds! Finnish love their Cinnamon Buns and these buns even have their own annual National Day, which is celebrated every 4th of October.
If you love cooking as much as you love traveling, why not combine your passions and embark on the ultimate tasting tour? With gastronomic tourism on the rise, travellers from all over the world are able to get a unique perspective on a country’s native cuisine and how it’s prepared while sampling the local culture, sights and attractions. Try a cooking class in Europe and learn culinary secrets from world-renowned chefs in some of Europe’s most spectacular settings. Learn to make paella in Valencia, how they make cheese in the South of France, or about nose-to-tail butchering in the English countryside.
