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From Stadtwiki Baden-Baden

The Portal Tourism informs clearly, comprehensivly and independently about the destination Baden-Baden. We - the volunteer authors of this ad-free website - are declared Baden-Baden lovers and know the spa town at the Oos river in all its facets. We would like to share this knowledge with you and like to help turning your stay into an unforgettable experience. Benefit from the wiki power! Cheers, the wiki authors.


InformationCircle.png General Information

Baden-Baden is a spa town of international renown, which can be explained by the great popularity in the 19th century. The city has managed to preserve a diverse tangible and intangible heritage from this period. Currently the city of Baden-Baden seeks to be ranked as UNESCO world heritage. It is preparing a joint application together with other great 19th century spas of Europe of international importance. In order to assess the historical relevancy of Baden-Baden's cultural heritage properly, it may be worth reading about the city's history. A short representation of the city's history can be found at the page Baden-Baden. The Portal World Heritage informs about the city's cultural heritage, which may soon be classified as UNESCO World Heritage.

In the tourist information office in the Trinkhalle (Mon-Sat 10:00-17:00, Sun and holidays 14:00-17:00) it is possible to get a map, tickets and more ideas for visiting Baden-Baden.

SightCircle.png Attractions

The historically most important attraction of Baden-Baden is probably the casino. In the 19th century it originated the heyday. The revenues of the casino were reinvested into the development of the infrastructure and parks, marketing campaigns and a varied cultural entertainment program. In the same breath, of course, the Kurhaus has to be mentioned, which houses the casino. It is known for Friedrich Weinbrenner's neo-classical architecture and became the city's landmark.

To the north of the Kurhaus the Trinkhalle is situated in the Kaiserallee. Here the thermal water can be tasted. In the 90 m long arcade large murals illustrate legends of the region.

South of the Kurhaus, next to the Theater the gorgeous Lichtentaler Allee begins. The name Lichtentaler Allee is on the one hand the name of the 2.3 km long avenue that follows the course of the river Oos, on the other hand it denotes the whole surrounding English landscape park. Emperors, kings, nobles, wealthy people, artists and philosophers strolled here in the 19th century. Numerous monuments remind us of important personalities that were connected to city at that time. In the first section of the Lichtentaler Allee there is the Empress Augusta Monument and the Turgenev Monument. With the Gönneranlage and the Dahlia Garden there are two special gardens situated within the park. Along the Lichtentaler Allee there are lots of magnificent buildings, such as the mansion of the queen Frederike of Sweden (today Kulturhaus LA8), the grand hotel Brenners Park-Hotel and Spa, the Villa Schriever and the Palais Biron. At the southeastern end of the avenue it is worthwhile to pay attention to the houses in the Swiss chalet style.

There are also other gardens and parks worth mentioning. The Wasserkunstanlage Paradies contains a water cascade. It is located at the slope of the Annaberg and provides a nice view at the city. The garden Rosenneuheitengarten Beutig is an international rose trial. The price "Golden Rose of Baden-Baden" is one of the most important awards for roses in Germany.

Many people hear "sights" and automatically think of churches. The churches aren't one of the main attractions in Baden-Baden, but in their diversity they are proving a remarkable characteristic of Baden-Baden: Its internationality. After the conflicts of the Reformation and the Counter-Reformation the Catholics dominated in Baden-Baden and claimed the central Stiftskirche for themselves. In the 19th century more and more guests with different faiths were visiting Baden-Baden or even settled in the spa town. Therefore diverse churches were built. In the 1860s the Evangelische Stadtkirche, the Anglican Church and the Romanian orthodox Stourdza Chapel were built. In the years 1880 to 1882 the Russian Church was erected. A very old church is the Spitalkirche close to the Caracalla Therme.

Another ecclesiastical building of historical importance is the Monastery Lichtenthal, which served long time as the burial ground for the margraves of Baden.


TheaterCircle.png Culture

Baden-Baden is characterized by a great variety of cultural offerings. Perhaps the most famous establishment is the Festspielhaus. With 2,500 seats it is the largest opera house and concert hall in Germany and the second largest in Europe. Thanks to latest technology and opulent program, it belongs to the first class of European cultural institutions.

Baden-Baden's museum landscape is diverse. The most important museums are located at the beginning of the Lichtentaler Allee in the so called Museum Mile. In the Museum LA8 on arts and technology of the 19th century every 6 months a new themed exhibition on the long 19th century is shown. The neighboring Staatliche Kunsthalle shows contemporary art. It is connected by a glass bridge with the architecturally striking collector's Museum Frieder Burda. The Museum Mile ends at the Stadtmuseum, which houses the city's history collections. There are other interesting museums as well. The Fabergé Museum in the Sophienstraße is dedicated to the art of the Tsar jeweler Carl Fabergé. The Roman Bath Ruins beneath the Friedrichsbad are open to visitors and show the advanced Roman bathing culture. In the district Lichtental the Brahmshaus is located, which was for several summer seasons the home of the famous composer Johannes Brahms. Today his rooms accommodate a museum. In Baden-Baden's wine-growing area Rebland the Reblandmuseum gives insights into the history of the Rebland and its tradition of winegrowing.

The Kurhaus is the venue for numerous balls and concerts. The events take place in the large halls, namely the Bénazet hall and the Weinbrenner hall, or in the Kurgarten in front of the house. Here, the band shell Konzertmuschel serves as a stage. Often the Baden-Baden Philharmonic Orchestra plays concerts. Highlights include the Philharmonische Parknacht, when the orchestra plays in the Lichtentaler Allee, and the philharmonic concerts in the Castle Neuweier. Neighboring the Kurhaus, the Theater is situated at the Goetheplatz. Its neo-baroque building was erected in the mid-19th century. A permanent ensemble offers a diverse theater program.

An alternative to the classical entertainment program is provided by the cabaret Rantastic in the district Haueneberstein.


SwimmingCircle.png Baths

The hot springs of Baden-Baden, which come to light in the area of the Florentinerberg, were already used by the Romans. Today there are two thermal baths in Baden-Baden. The Caracalla Therme is a modern leisure pool for the whole family. The venerable Friedrichsbad combines Roman bathing culture with Irish hot air baths and thus offers a special spa experience.

In addition to the thermal baths there are also other pools. The Bertholdbad consists of an indoor and an outdoor pool and is opened all year. The Hardbergbad is a pure outdoor swimming pool with a large water slide and diving boards. The Strandbad Sandweier is a quarry pond in Sandweier, where swimming is allowed.

Hiking2Circle.png Excursion Destinations

The waterfall in Geroldsau is one of six protected natural monuments in the city of Baden-Baden and has long been a popular tourist destination.

A trip to the local mountain Merkur is rewarded with a magnificent panoramic view. The visit is effortlessly possible by using the Merkurbergbahn. The trip can be combined with a long walk or a hike. Opposite of the Merkur the Fremersberg is located, at the top of which the Fremersbergturm serves as a lookout.

On the summits around Baden-Baden there are several ruins that can be visited free of charge. The Castle Hohenbaden was the earliest ancestral seat of the margraves of Baden. Castle Alt-Eberstein also became their property. The Yburg is located at the southwest of the city center and is the landmark of Baden-Baden's Rebland. Schloss Favorite was a summer residence of Margravine Sibylla Augusta von Baden-Baden. It is situated between Haueneberstein and Kuppenheim.

More attractions can be found in the area of the route Schwarzwaldhochstraße. Tourists like to visit the legendary lake Mummelsee. A good destination for hiking is the Badener Höhe and the Luchspfad.


SupermarketCircle.png Shopping
The city center of Baden-Baden has little traffic and so it is perfectly possible to stroll and shop in peace in the Lange Straße and in the Gernsbacher Straße. A particularly fine selection of goods is offered in the traditional shops of the Kurhauskolonnaden. In the western city there is the shopping center Shopping Cité.

CyclingCircle.png Sports

It is not so apparent today, but Baden-Baden played a pioneering role in the history of German sports. Guests from different nations met in the international spa and spent their leisure time together. As a first sport the horse racing was introduced. The guests participated only passively. The traditional Racecourse Iffezheim still exists today not far away from the city and attracts visitors during the Frühjahrsmeeting in spring, the Große Woche in late summer and the Sales & Racing Festival in October.

In particular from the progressive Englishmen it was possible to learn a lot about sports in the 19th century. They introduced, among others, tennis and golf to the spa town. It is therefore no wonder that the Tennisclub Rot Weiß e.V. and the Golf Club Baden-Baden e.V. belong to the oldest German clubs of their kind.

The charming landscape around Baden-Baden is ideal for hiking and mountain biking. With the Panoramaweg Baden-Baden and Ebersteinburg Rundweg there are available two award-winning hiking trails. People preferring an even steeper ascent find numerous challenging climbing routes in the Climbing Area Battert. Similar spectacular views at the spa town are only granted to the paragliders, who start at the local mountain Merkur. If you want to experience this once yourself, you can book a tandem flight.

The winter sports are not neglected in Baden-Baden. The northern Black Forest offers optimal conditions for cross country skiing. However, there are also numerous slopes for skiers and snowboarders.

The mental sport chess can't be left out, when listing the Baden-Baden sports. Baden-Baden is a Bundesstützpunkt, which means it is a national training center of great importance. Furthermore the Ooser Schachgesellschaft Baden-Baden 1922 e.V. has been the dominating club of the Bundesliga for years. World class players like the reigning world champion Magnus Carlsen and the former world champion Viswanathan Anand are members of the club.


CheckCircle.png Recommendations

The Fettquelle is a publicly accessible thermal fountain next to the Friedrichsbad. Here you can try the thermal water free of charge, providing that you bring a suitable drinking vessel.


ShareCircle.png Share

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zentriert

"Come to Baden, here are the most magnificent trees, that I have ever seen. When I'm sitting at the foot of such a giant, I believe to feel some of its lifeblood inside me, and that is good and healthy."

-- Ivan Turgenev in a letter to Gustave Flaubert around 1863[1]


AirportCircle.png Arriving by Plane
Baden-Baden has an airport that is located 12 kilometers west of the city center (straight line) near Söllingen. There are flights to and from Berlin and Hamburg. In addition London, Moscow, Stockholm and many Mediterranean destinations are served. The bus line 205 connects the airport with the station Baden-Baden. From there several bus lines, e.g. line 201, take travelers to the city center. Alternatively it is possible to go by taxi. The drive from the airport to the city center costs around 35 Euro. As another alternative it is possible to rent a car. The companies Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Jakobi and Sixt have offices at the airport.

TrainCircle.png Arriving by Train

The station Baden-Baden is located in the district Oos and thus located some 5 km away from the historic city center. Several ICE and TGV connections have regular stops in Baden-Baden. Several bus lines, e.g. line 201, take travelers from the station to the city center.


CarCircle.png Arriving by Car

Baden-Baden is reached by the Autobahn A5. The exit "Baden-Baden" is located 33 km south of the motorway junction Karlsruhe. The route B500 leads from the exit to the city.

The city center of Baden-Baden is closed to car traffic and the location of the spa town in the narrow valley of the Oos didn't allow the construction of a larger ring road. Therefore, foreign visitors often lose their way. It is advisable to carefully plan the route to the hotel.

In Baden-Baden there are several parking garages: The Augusta underground parking, the Fina garage, the Kurhaus underground parking, the Vincentigarage, the Bäder underground parking, the Festspielhaus garage and Wagener garage.

To travel by car also has some advantages. In particular, it is easier to do excursions to the countryside nearby.


BusCircle.png Mobility During Your Stay

Many attractions are located close to the city center. If you chose a hotel in that area you may reach most of the attractions on foot.

In Baden-Baden there are several bus lines by the Baden-Baden Linie. The bus line 201 is the main line. It runs every 10 minutes from the train station in the district Oos to the city center and then to Lichtental and Oberbeuern.


HotelCircle.png Accommodation

The Brenners Park-Hotel and Spa is often referred to as the number one address in Baden-Baden. It is a luxury grand hotel with great tradition and its own park, right next to the Lichtentaler Allee. The Brenners Park-Restaurant has been awarded one Michelin star and underlines the high quality standards of the hotel.

The Dorint Hotel Maison Messmer is located directly next to the Kurhaus. In the 19th century it was the favorite hotel of the German Emperor Wilhelm I and his wife Augusta. It is also one of the top addresses in town.

The Hotel Belle Epoque is housed in a restored neo-renaissance villa. It is located close to the Stadtmuseum and the Lichtentaler Allee.

A good family run hotel is the Hotel Deutscher Kaiser. It is centrally located.

A cheap hotel is the Hotel am Markt. The name describes its location close to the market place in the historic town center.

An alternative to a hotel is the mobile home park in the western city and the hostel.

In Baden-Baden overnight guests are obligated to pay a tourist tax, which may be added to the hotel price. It amounts to 1.40 Euro or 3.50 Euro per person and night, depending on the location of the hotel (as of 2013). In return the guests receive a guest card, which enables them to use numerous discounted services.


RestaurantCircle.png Restaurants

Baden-Württemberg is the federal state of Germany with the most Michelin stars. "The proximity to France, many wine-growing areas - the people here have just always had a soft spot for good food", Michelin's chief editor Ralf Flinkenflügel said to the news agency dpa in December 2013.[2] This also applies in particular to Baden-Baden. In the spa there are three restaurants, which were awarded with one Michelin star: The Brenners Park-Restaurant in the Brenners Park-Hotel and Spa, the Restaurant Le Jardin de France and Röttele's Restaurant and Residence in the castle Neuweier.

In addition there are numerous other recommended restaurants in Baden-Baden. The restaurant Rive Gauche is also run by the Brenners Park-Hotel and located in the Lichtentaler Allee. The Theaterrestaurant is very close. The Weinstube Baldreit is a restaurant in the historic part of the town. A trip to the waterfall in Geroldsau may be easily combined with a visit to the Waldgaststätte Bütthof.


CocktailCircle.png Nightlife

Attraction for revelers is the Max's and The Bombay Rooms. The restaurant Amadeus at the Leopoldsplatz offers home-brewed beer. Good cocktails are served in the exclusive Medici or in the restaurant Besitos.


Wifi2Circle.png Communication

The vast majority of hotels in Baden-Baden offers free Wi-Fi. Alternatively, you can use the Wi-Fi in the city library Stadtbibliothek with your own device free of charge, or you use one of the computer stations for a little fee.


References[edit]

  1. Free translation of a citation in Baden-Baden zum Kennenlernen Ausgabe 2012/2013, Aquensis Verlage ISBN 978-3-937978-81-9 S. 66
  2. Michelin Stars 2013 (de)