Great Spa Towns of Europe

The Great Spa Towns of Europe – consists of eleven spa towns located in seven different European countries and is a serial and transnational UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In addition to Montecatini Terme, the following are the other cities in the group: Baden bei Wien in Austria; Spa in Belgium; Františkovy Lázně, Karlovy Vary and Mariánské Lázně in the Czech Republic; Vichy in France; Bad Ems, Baden-Baden and Bad Kissingen in Germany; and Bath in the UK.

The inscription on the World Heritage List took place on 24 July 2021, during the 44th extended session of the World Heritage Committee.

As pioneers of the modern tourism industry, all eleven cities best represent the phenomenon of European spa tourism between 1700 and 1930.

The spa treatment consisted primarily of a cadenced combination of daily intake of therapeutic mineral waters (balneotherapy, hydropinic therapy, inhalation therapy), light outdoor physical activity, as well as recreation and social activities.

These parameters influenced the town’s urban design. The thermal complex structure was designed according to the location of the thermal waters and the buildings associated with the treatments. This created a balance between them, the infrastructure and the surrounding green landscape – defined as “therapeutic”.

The spa towns represent a pioneering form of spa town that has retained its structure over time, allowing the spa tradition to continue while remaining popular even among those who do not have a primary interest in thermal therapy.

For more information, please visit: https://www.greatspatownsofeurope.eu/