Wellness in Germany, Bad Dürkheim

Traditional Spa and Romantic Wine Town in the Palatinate (Pfalz)

Oct 20, 2008

Bad Dürkheim in south west Germany near Mannheim added new attractions to its traditional wellness offerings. Enjoy its thermal baths and a Turkish Hamam steam bath.

Bad Dürkheim, a town of 20.000 in southwest Germany, is famous for its vineyards, but also for its natural thermal baths. Renowned for its mineral springs and salt water baths since the Middle Ages Dürkheim added "Bad" to its name in 1904. "Bad" in German literally means bath and denotes a spa town. Nestled in the hills to the west of the Rhine Valley, the town also provides access to the Palatinate forest with its 12 000 miles of hiking trails.

State Approved Spa Center "Kurzentrum"

In the center of town the "Kurzentrum" is located in a neoclassical building with pointed gables. It was built in the 1820s on foundations of Count von Leiningen's palace. In addition to prescribed medical spa treatments covered by German health care providers, the center offers wellness treatments. Bath and massage combinations are especially popular. Ayurvedic massage, hot-stone massage, slow-stroke massage and Thai foot massage are among the options. Private baths are available for individuals and couples with amazing aroma choices: soak in a strawberry-cream bath and follow up with a strawberry oil massage (43 €). It is best to make an appointment if a specific treatment is desired, but one can also choose from last-minute specials.

Turkish Steam Bath "Hamam" in Bad Dürkheim, Germany

While the classic Hamam became less important in Turkey after the advent of modern plumbing, the Hamam tradition experiences a boom in German spas. Owned by a Turkish family the Hamam in Bad Dürkheim employs traditionally trained therapists. Most visitors praise the Hamam as the ultimate experience in relaxation, a true "feast for body and soul", while a few dislike being massaged lying on a hard stone surface. The Turkish word Hamam refers to the original steam bath inspired by the ancient Roman Thermae.

Hamam Ritual

Guests are given a special cotton cloth (pestemal) to wrap around their bodies and enter the bath area. They wash at a marble basin by filling a copper bowl with water and pouring it over their bodies. Then they lie down on the heated marble podest (Göbektasi) to warm and relax the muscles.

The Hamam therapist then administers a full body scrub covering guests with a soothing foam. A massage follows. After the final rinse, guests enter a relaxation room and enjoy a tea ceremony.

The cleansing ritual purifies the skin, enhances circulation and calms the mind. It is best to allow between 2 and 3 hours for a visit to the hamam. Women may request female hamam therapists.

"Saline" Graduation Wall

Built in 1847, the graduation tower was originally used for salt production, and later became an open-air inhalatorium .The locals call it "saline". Brine springs to the surface here and is pumped up and across a 330 m long wall before trickling down bundles of brushwood. The whole surrounding area smells like salty ocean air and works wonders for respiratory systems. Unfortunately the wall burnt down in 2007 and is currently being rebuilt.

Getting there: Take a fast train (IC or ICE) to Mannheim. The Rhein Haardtbahn (RHB) light rail line links Bad Dürkheim with Mannheim (hourly service, 50 minutes). It is a short walk from the train station to the spa center.

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