Short break in Germany
We arrived at Baden-Baden Airport late in the evening to start enjoying our short break in Germany. A taxi took us to the Gasthaus Linde (address: Yburgstraße 79, 76534 Baden-Baden); it is located in one of the towns around Baden-Baden called Steinbach. We were greeted by the owner of the guest house; he knew about our late arrival and offered to postpone check-in until the next morning, so we went to relax immediately after arrival.
Baden – Baden
A short break in Germany would not be complete without special attractions. Baden-Baden is an international thermal spa town in the southwestern part of Germany, in the federal land of Baden-Württemberg, in the Karlsruhe region.
The city and its surroundings have historically been a very prosperous region of Germany; people have been going there since ancient times to relax and enjoy thermal waters, wine and nature.
We recognised it by paying for taxis and meals at local restaurants and observing the locals. Prices in thermal spas on the one hand seem to be quite high, however you get for that price excellent service and satisfaction. Now, in the summertime, writing these notes I can say that the effect of relaxation procedures was keeping my entire body well for at least another month and a half after our short break in Germany.
The word Baden means baths and the thermal sources of Baden-Baden were already known by the Romans. The city of Baden was named in the Middle Ages, however, the name Baden-Baden (Baths in Baden) was given to it in 1931.
Since the 12th century, the city has been conquered and destroyed many times, however in the 18th century it was reborn as a resort town. In the 19th century, celebrities such as Queen Victoria, King Wilhelm the First, Napoleon the Third, Turgenev and Dostoevsky visited it.
The city’s most important present and historical sites are the resort house (Kurhaus) and the gardens, the Fabergé Museum, the casino, the Caracalla thermal pools and the Roman baths Friedrichsbad, the ruins of the Roman bath and other interesting objects.
Thermal pools Caracalla
Caracalla Thermal Pools (address: Römerplatz 1, 76530 Baden-Baden) are a recreation complex built in a modern style. Caracalla (full name Marcus Aurelius Severus Antoninus Augustus) was, by the way, the Roman emperor, which probably testifies to the great role of the Romans in the history of the city.
Prices for visiting this complex are quite fair, from 14 euros for two hours to 20 euros for four hours. Perhaps, the optimal time to spend in the complex is about three hours, which costs 17 euros, although separately available procedures (such as foam massage) are for an additional charge. The good news is that time spent on procedures is not included in the total time spent in the complex.
Extras such as breakfast and VIP tickets, lunch in the thermal restaurant, etc. are available at an additional cost. Children under the age of 7 are not allowed to enter in the complex, however, they may be left under the supervision of staff in a specially designed children’s paradise; those should be at least one and a half years old.
Irish-Roman baths Friedrichsbad
The two buildings, Caracalla and Friedrichsbad, are a few hundred meters apart from each other. The Irish-Roman baths in Friedrichsbad are classic and they are free from the hustle and bustle of children and holidaymakers. Everything is aimed to allow visitors to enjoy the relaxation power of natural waters in complete peace. Another interesting feature – you should be naked to use these amenities.
On most days of the week, the women’s and men’s sides are separated, however, there are days when both women and men go naked in the baths. And it is impossible to cheat because the bath towel and slippers given entering the bath at the beginning are collected after the first procedures and new ones may be obtained only at the end – keep this in mind before you pay and go inside if you are shy.
In reality, it is even quite interesting, considering that the skin colour of the surrounding audience is diverse. The SPA process itself is so enjoyable that for a moment it was even forgotten that someone else is near.
This experience was enough to say with complete confidence that our short break in Germany was a complete success. Prices: an individual ticket for three hours costs 23 euros, three and a half hours and a soap massage costs 33 euros, but a full set of visits for four hours, which also includes a soap massage and a cream massage at the end of the visit, costs 43 euros.
And here it must be said that no euro cent seemed to be overpaid for the well-being we gained after spending four hours in this SPA complex. And we will go there again!
Mainau Island
As I said before, this holiday in Germany is another trip. Mainau Island is located in a completely different corner of Germany, which we visited on our way back from Switzerland. The region around Konstanz left the impression of a corner at first, but the beautiful island of Mainau later successfully dispelled this impression. The description here will not be long, because Mainau Island must be enjoyed with the eyes and the impressions gained are difficult to describe in words. For a look, here are some photos from the trip.
Flowers, flowers and more flowers
There is a botanical garden on the island, and the time to visit it was specially chosen in the spring because at that moment all the spring flowers bloomed. The island is not big, it is possible to go around it completely in a couple of hours, but in reality, seeing the island takes more time because the created lawns, greenery and flower beds are worth admiring and you cannot do without eating in one of the cafes.
At first, the price for visiting the island (adult ticket 17 euros, family ticket 34 euros) seemed very high, but after viewing the exhibition, we realized that the work invested in creating and maintaining the island's exposition is very large and requires a lot of money.
Tropical and butterfly houses
Among the gardens on the island, several buildings house both shops and various exhibitions. The main one is the tropical house with a huge collection of orchids in terms of size, but even more so in terms of beauty. The other is the butterfly house, where butterflies of all sizes and colours are housed in tropical jungle conditions.