The best thermal spas in the world. The best thermal spas

What's better than taking a hot bath? Take a natural hot bath, that is, immerse yourself in a hot spring or get into a SPA in which this spring is used. Here are 20 best places in Europe for this.

Blue Lagoon (Iceland)

It is located 30 minutes from Reykjavik and outwardly it is easy to confuse it with the familiar landscape of Iceland, but in fact it is man-made complex, the water from which is supplied to the geothermal power plant Svartsengi... Along the way, an unlimited amount of white geothermal mud is offered, in which you can get dirty.

Therme Vals (Switzerland)

Széchenyi Baths (Hungary)

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Budapest is often called the "capital of SPA" and for good reason - Turkish baths of the 16th and 17th centuries are still on the move there. A complex Széchenyi Baths offers a set of 18 different pools, 10 saunas and steam rooms - all in a neo-baroque style.

Karlovy Vary (Czech Republic)

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This town was founded by the Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV in the 14th century and since then its healing waters have treated a variety of diseases and injuries. Many local hotels, including the famous Carlsbad Plaza, have their own baths, and those who just want to drink the healing water can do so in one of the city's colonnades. Is free.

Terme di Saturnia (Italy)

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The famous Tuscan spring feeds the equally famous, perhaps the best in Italy spa resorts with hot water... Perhaps the best is Terme di Saturnia, which replenishes its supplies every four hours using water heated by the volcano, which keeps the water temperature at exactly 37.5 degrees Celsius. The resort also has an extensive medical program, including mud baths.

Kaiser-Friedrich-Therme (Germany)

In 2013 this complex celebrated its 100th anniversary, but in fact it was built on the site where the Roman baths once stood, so the history of this place is truly thousand years old. In addition to the usual hot baths, the resort also offers Russian and Finnish saunas.

Laugarvatn Fontana (Iceland)

This resort is located on Lake Leugarvatn 77 kilometers from Reykjavik, and it is actually built right on the source, which makes the supply of water and steam as direct as possible - a rarity in this business.

Heviz Lake (Hungary)

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Lake Heviz is the largest thermal lake in Europe, the water temperature in which does not drop below 24 degrees in winter. Of course, right on it stretched vast complex, which takes full advantage of the benefits of such a large thermal spring.

Bains de Dorres (France)

Another resort, which has been known since the days of the Roman Empire. It is located in the Pyrenees, that is, practically on the border with Spain, and differs from numerous French alternatives in its deliberately "non-medical focus". They say, come, swim, admire the mountain views - everything is calm and relaxed.

Pantelleria (Italy)

A tiny Italian island just outside Tunisia boasts a series of natural and non-commercialized pools. One of the most popular is in the port of Ghadir, where locals (including Giorgio Armani, who has a home on the island) enjoy the healing waters that relieve rheumatism and arthritis.

Aqua Dome (Austria)

Foto: Aqua Dome Thermal Spa Center

The source that feeds this SPA resort in the Austrian Tyrol, was opened in the 16th century and dried up by the 1960s, but at the end of the 20th century, engineers found a way to get to deeper springs and a fountain eternal youth scored again. Unique opportunity: three "floating" outdoor pools, and lovers of romance can enjoy a Friday night swim.

Rogner Bad Blumau (Austria)

Distinctive feature this resort is that its two sources are fed by salts, more characteristic of the Dead Sea than the center of Europe. Plus, the architecture of this resort itself is extremely extravagant, if not pretentious, so you will be able to delight not only the body, but also the eye.

Palia Kameni (Greece)

These non-commercial springs on a volcanic island near Santorini are known for their curative mud. You can get there by boat from Santorini, but you will have to swim to your destination.

Pamukkale (Turkey)

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The name of this natural complex is translated as "Cotton Castle" from Turkish and for its intended purpose it has been used for many centuries. The terraced "pools" are full of water with useful minerals, and the views you will not confuse with any other European resort.

Banos Arabes (Spain)

There were the first Turkish baths in Europe since the Moorish baths were closed by the Christian rulers of Spain in the 16th century. To better understand the spirit this resort, it is enough to know that its name is translated simply and eloquently: "Arab Baths".

The fact that thermal springs have healing power, has been known for a long time. Treatment with natural waters is one of the oldest methods of getting rid of a variety of diseases. Baths, showers, wraps and inhalations, in combination with the intake of water inside, help to improve the condition of patients suffering from disorders of the musculoskeletal system, organs gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular, nervous, respiratory and excretory systems, skin and endocrine pathologies. Water treatments are effective in treating complications of infectious diseases, the effects of physical and emotional stress.

The temperature range and composition of the waters of any geothermal source are unique, therefore each balneological hospital is designed for a specific set of ailments. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the features of the ten most famous thermal spas.

The concentration of mineral salts in the Dead Sea is extremely high. Healing action possesses not only water, but also sulfide bottom mud, abundant with compounds of iodine and bromine. The combination of water and mud treatments literally has a magical effect on the skin, and inhalation of air saturated with a suspension of bromine salts has a beneficial effect on the state of the nervous and respiratory systems.

A stay in the Dead Sea spa clinics is especially useful for patients suffering from bronchopulmonary ailments, skin and musculoskeletal disorders. Wellness rest is effective and simple - it allows you to relieve severe fatigue and get rid of the effects of stress.

You can get treatment at the Dead Sea at any time of the year. The resorts are very convenient for people with delicate skin, since the vapors saturated with salts absorb a solid part of the ultraviolet rays and prevent burning.

Source: depositphotos.com

It is a popular spa resort based around twelve mineral springs. The waters have temperatures ranging from 30 to 72 ° C and varying degrees of carbon dioxide saturation, but all springs contain high concentrations of compounds of sodium, iron, magnesium, bromine and lithium. The therapeutic complex consists of baths (oxygen, radon, etc.), massage, procedures with the use of healing mud and the intake of water inside.

The treatment is indicated for patients suffering from diseases of the digestive system (intestines, stomach, liver), obesity, diabetes mellitus and other metabolic disorders. Most treatments are available all year round, but some springs are closed for the winter.

Source: depositphotos.com

Vichy's sulfur springs have been known since antiquity and are extremely popular in Europe. The medical, health-improving and cosmetological infrastructure has been formed here for centuries. The resort is visited by patients with pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, skin and gastrointestinal tract, as well as people who seek to improve their appearance and undergo procedures that promote rejuvenation. In addition, a well-known company is located in Vichy for the production of cosmetics, which are based on healing mud.

The resort is open all year round, but the procedures here are not recommended for hypertensive patients. The disadvantages of the resort include the high cost of treatment and stay.

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The healing effect of the water of the thermal lake Heviz is due to the high content of gaseous substances in it, as well as the effect on the body of bottom calcium-sodium mud. Swimming in the open water is possible at any time of the year, as the water temperature does not drop below 23 ° C.

In Heviz, it makes sense to be treated for diseases of the musculoskeletal system (especially with problems with the spine), gynecological sphere, chronic inflammatory processes, pathologies of venous circulation.

Local procedures are contraindicated for children.

Source: depositphotos.com

One of the most famous European resorts using the therapeutic properties of sodium chloride thermal waters. The complex of procedures includes bathing in springs with a temperature of 14 to 67 ° C, compresses, wraps, inhalations, as well as taking water inside. Here they help to cope with diseases of the digestive system, respiration, joints, cardiovascular system, as well as with skin and gynecological problems.

The resort is considered one of the most prestigious, which explains the rather high cost of treatment.

Source: depositphotos.com

The thermal waters of Loutraki resort contain salts of bromine, magnesium, sodium and potassium. Here you can get a range of therapeutic procedures at any time of the year, including swimming in pools, massage, mud therapy, physiotherapy and aromatherapy.

Treatment is indicated for patients suffering from cholelithiasis or urolithiasis, pathologies of the nervous, digestive, cardiovascular systems, gynecological or skin problems. Many people come here just on vacation - in summer, when wellness procedures can be combined with swimming in the sea and relaxing on the beach.

Source: depositphotos.com

The hot (at least 40 ° C) waters of the volcanic springs of the Blue Lagoon are saturated with quartz, mineral salts, microscopic algae and contain a suspension of healing white clay. This mixture is extremely effective in softening and cleansing the skin and also improves the overall tone of the body.

The Blue Lagoon is one of the most best resorts for people with skin diseases. In addition, specific medicinal cosmetics based on local clays and muds are produced here.

If you want to relax and restore strength and health in winter, then it is not at all necessary to fly to hot countries. A sharp change in climate "from winter to summer" is not at all beneficial for the body. You can relax your body and soul at thermal springs in different European countries, many of which will delight you not only with service, but also with low prices for services. Difficulties.net has compiled a list of noteworthy thermal sites on the map of Europe.

The abbreviation SPA stands for Sanus per aquam (lat. "Health from water"). The beneficial effects of thermal water, a relaxing atmosphere of relaxation and beautiful views outside the window - what else do you need for the best vacation in the world? If earlier only rich noblemen could afford treatment on the waters (remember Lermontov's novel "A Hero of Our Time"), today almost everyone can afford this pleasure. In Europe, even in winter, the climate is mild, and prices drop significantly during the “off-season”. Let's take a look at five spa resorts where you can enjoy your vacation even in winter.

As a guideline, the article provides approximate prices for a week of rest in November-January-February (on holidays, in spring and summer, of course, they can increase).

Vrdnik Banya (Serbia)

Bath - this is how the thermal spas with mineral springs are called in Serbia. Vrdnik Banya is located just an hour's drive from the capital city of Belgrade. Driving along country roads through fields and countryside, suddenly, from behind red tiled roofs, apple orchards and sunflower fields, the ultra-modern Hotel Premier Aqua is shown (rated 8.9 out of 10 on booking sites). Here they treat diseases of the musculoskeletal system, neurological pathologies, the consequences of fractures and soft tissue injuries. The water temperature in the springs is almost 33 degrees. This water is unique in its composition, which includes sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chlorine, sulfates and nitrates. It is also important that the Vrdnik bathhouse is located on the southern slopes of the Fruska Gora National Park. The climate here is warm, there are no strong winds, cold air masses do not reach the village of Vrdnik, and clean air with a high ozone content allows breathing for a year in advance. Wine tasting sessions are held at nearby wineries.

Cost: weekly accommodation in a double room with meals and treatment - from 661 euros.

Terme Olimia (Slovenia)

The surroundings of this resort are very picturesque. The Terme Olimija resort, located on the banks of the Sotla River, 115 kilometers from the capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana, is so successfully “inscribed” into the landscape that it received many prizes for architecture and landscape solutions. A few steps from the hotel - and you are already walking in the forest or riding along the bicycle paths laid through the forest. The resort specializes in diseases of the joints and spine, chronic skin diseases. They also offer Selfness programs to improve a sense of inner balance and well-being. The water is magnesium-calcium-bicarbonate with a temperature of 30 ° C to 37 ° C. This water has a high content of silicon, which contributes to the renewal of soft tissues: muscles, ligaments, skin.

It is interesting that not far from the resort is the village of Olimje, recognized in 2009 as the most beautiful village in Europe. Above it, on a hill, rises a castle from the 11th century, which is looked after by minority monks. On the territory of the monastery there is an elegant temple and one of the oldest pharmacies in Europe, where they sell teas, honey, tinctures and herbal ointments prepared by monks.

Cost: Weekly accommodation in the Breza hotel in a double room with meals, access to thermal pools and drinking thermal water - from 490 euros.

Terme Zreče (Slovenia)

Several times a day, tourists are taken to the high-mountain Slovenian thermal resort by free buses from ski resort Rogla. But not only sports lovers can enjoy the delights of the Slovenian spa. Just 95 kilometers from Ljubljana - and you find yourself surrounded by coniferous forest... The age-old pines and mountain air by themselves "saturate" the body with health for the whole year. The "highlight" of the resort is Pohorsky peat - ecologically clean and effective remedy for the treatment of rheumatic and many other diseases. Peat wraps, applications and masks help to recover from surgeries and injuries, including severe sports ones. Terme Zreče treats diseases of the musculoskeletal system, for example, chronic back pain and osteochondrosis, as well as gynecological diseases. The water here is acrothermal hydrogencarbonate thermal with a natural temperature of 34.5 ° C. After the treatments, you can relax in the Sauna Village - the largest sauna complex in Slovenia.

Cost: a week of accommodation with treatment and meals at the Villa Terme Zrece hotel will cost about 476 euros.

Poseidon Gardens (Ischia, Italy)

The Emerald Isle, as Ischia is called, is itself a balneological resort. Almost every hotel has a small pool with thermal water. But the real gem of the island is the Poseidon Gardens Thermal Park, located in the town of Forio in Citara Bay, known throughout the world as the “eighth wonder of the world”. The park is under the protection of UNESCO. On the picturesque territory of the park there are 22 thermal pools in marble, surrounded by statues with the romantic names "Aphrodite", "Apollo", "Adriano" and constantly renewing water of volcanic origin, unique in its chemical composition... There is also a natural sauna in the grotto - steam is generated from the source mineral water with a very high temperature escaping from a crevice in the rock. The water temperature in the pools ranges from 28 to 40 degrees, respectively, the composition, concentration and medicinal properties water. There are contrast pools: 15 and 40 degrees, there are cascades, a natural thermal sauna, special foot pools, underwater massage. The park has a medical center with a wide range of physiotherapy services, various types of massages, inhalations, mud and cosmetic procedures.

Szechenyi Baths (Budapest, Hungary)

The largest balneological complex in Europe, the Széchenyi Thermal Baths, is located right in the center of the Varosliget City Park in Budapest. Mining engineer Vilmos Zsigmond discovered the source at the end of the 19th century. After a series of studies and drilling of a well in the rock at the beginning of the 20th century, magnificent buildings in the Baroque style were erected next to the spring. It is noteworthy that the open-air bath can be visited in winter time... The water in the main pool is so warm that the rising steam forms a protective layer of warm air. Swimming in the center of the ancient city among the snowdrifts and right under the starry sky - what could be more romantic? But in Szechenyi, it is customary to walk up to your chest in the water around the pool. Moreover, everyone is moving strictly in one direction. Szechenyi has 11 baths and 5 swimming pools. Water from the spring of St. Stephen with a temperature of +77 ° C (the hottest spring in Europe) rises from a depth of more than 1200 meters. Hydrocarbonate-sulphate-calcium-magnesium water containing sodium ions, microcomponents of fluorine and boron is indicated for the treatment of joints. Drinking procedures are recommended for diseases of the digestive tract, kidneys and respiratory organs. It's funny that the waste mineral water flows along an artificial river through the Budapest Zoo. So zoo workers attribute the extraordinary fertility of exotic zoo animals (even hippos give birth here, which is rare in captivity!) To the miraculous effect of healing water.

Cost: Day pass to the Széchenyi baths with the rental of a personal locker - about 17 euros (at the rate to forints)

Bad Waltersdorf (Austria)

Bad (which in German means baths) is a resort located among the alpine foothills of Austria, in Styria, which is famous throughout the country as an apple and pumpkin region. A mild sunny climate, endless meadows and fields, and most importantly - thermal springs with water of exceptional strength. The thermal waters of Bad Waltersdorf have a temperature of 62 ° C and come from a depth of 1200 meters. In composition, it is bicarbonate-chloride-sodium water, and due to the absence of potassium salts, it is very soft. Here they treat diseases of the musculoskeletal system, joints, muscle pain, pathologies of the cardiovascular system, metabolic disorders. The resort is young - the first spring was discovered here only in 1975, and at first the hot mineral water gushing from the ground was used ... for heating buildings. Since this area does not even have a heating station, the resort is rightfully called one of the cleanest and most environmentally friendly resorts in Europe. And the surroundings of Bad Waltersdorf delight you with the variety and color of farm restaurants and a rich bouquet of Austrian wines. The resort is located on the so-called East Styrian Roman Wine Route, famous for its vineyards and wineries.

Cost: Usually, living here is expensive (in January, from 1500 euros for two per week in one of the best hotels in the Falkensteiner Therme & Golf Bad Waltersdorf resort), but in the autumn-winter period there are various discounts and special offers, in addition, you can always choose a hotel simpler.

Tallinn (Estonia)

Just imagine - a walk through the medieval city accompanied by the chiming of the tower clock, Christmas markets, mulled wine and the spicy aroma of pastries ... In the evening you can warm up in the sauna and enjoy relaxing treatments in the spa center. Where is this possible? In Tallinn. Noble guests have been coming to the Estonian capital since 1813, when the court councilor Witte founded the Badesalon medical institution (in German - bathing salon) in the city. Since then, Tallinn can rightfully be called the center of spa culture. The city has a large number of hotels with bath complexes and wellness centers. Often, hot guests go out to freshen up right outside. A group of people in bathrobes and slippers drinking beer in front of the hotel entrance is quite a common sight in Tallinn at night. Tallink SPA & Conference Hotel is conveniently located just a 2-minute walk from the Old Town. Its architecture is interesting - the bath complex and the water park are located, as it were, in a glass cylinder in the middle of the hotel, which creates the full feeling of being in a tropical resort. The Aqua Spa includes various saunas, a hot tub, a children's pool and an outdoor pool. Beauty treatments are also available.

Prices: A weekly stay in a Tallink SPA & Conference double room with breakfast and access to the spa area in winter (in January) will cost from 620 euros.

Text: Daria Karelina

Thermal resorts- are used for treatment underground natural, hot medicinal thermal springs (thermal waters)... All thermal springs were discovered by the ancient Romans and were used by them as the main remedy for "all diseases". Water from these thermal springs to this day, the healing pools and hot tubs are being filled.

At thermal resorts, bathing in luxurious modern balneological complexes is perfectly combined with active winter holidays, and is also an excellent alternative to summer holidays by the sea if you prefer the coolness of the mountains even in July.

Hot thermal springs, have been used for over 2000 years as an effective remedy in wellness programs, to treat the effects of stress, and simply to maintain well-being and physical fitness, tone the body and strengthen the immune system. Healing properties hot thermal springs were discovered quite by accident. Julius Caesar, returning from military campaigns against the Gauls and northern tribes, noticed that the hooves and damaged joints of horses healed quickly after the horses were in contact with the hot thermal springs and the marshy soil of the Euganean Hills (a prototype of mud obtained by mixing clay and thermal water). This is evidenced by written sources, records of Caesar and Pliny, as well as archaeological excavations in the area of ​​the Euganean Hills, examples of which have been preserved in the museums of Padua and Este. Riding the waters not only for the treatment of diseases, but, above all, for their preventing and for general improvement of the body has become today a tradition that has ancient roots.

Thermal treatment It is divided into two parts: passive (mud therapy, thermal ozone baths, massages: from traditional to oriental techniques, passive rehabilitation and physiotherapy in a cabin and in thermal water) and active (rehabilitation procedures in the gym and in thermal water).

Tthermal water is extracted from wells, after which it is cooled to the required temperature and used for its intended purpose: in the process of "maturation" of therapeutic mud, in thermal pools and balneotherapy. As it moves underground, the water is exposed to high temperature and strong pressure, enriched with mineral salts and healing components such as the minerals sodium, bromine, iodine and sulfur.

Thermal grotto is an ideal complement to thermal treatments, as a visit to it has a beneficial effect on blood circulation, removes toxins from the body and has a tonic effect. It is advisable to visit the thermal grotto after a certain time after the classic thermal treatments (mud therapy and thermal baths). The stay in the thermal grotto should not exceed 10-12 minutes, after which you need to take a shower and relax. A visit to the thermal grotto is recommended for the treatment of stress, excess weight, pathologies associated with metabolic disorders (gout, excess cholesterol in the blood).

Ltherapeutic thermal mud is a rich mixture of several components: solid (clay), liquid (salt bromine iodide water) and biological (microorganisms and algae: diatomee and cianofi cee). Before the thermal mud acquires highly effective medicinal properties, it undergoes a maturation process in specially designated reservoirs, in contact with mineral water, during which it is enriched with organic clay components, salts and minerals, as well as algae and microorganisms. The biochemical composition of the mud determines their osmotic and oncotic effect on the body, which determines the therapeutic effect of mud with a wide spectrum of action. Only matured mud has the appropriate therapeutic, physical and biological characteristics and, as a result, becomes an ideal natural remedy with anti-inflammatory, analgesic, relaxing and tonic effects. At the end of the ripening period, the mud is transferred to the thermal center, where it is used for mud therapy for patients as prescribed by a doctor, a specialist in thermal medicine, after individual consultation.

Mud applications applied to the patient's body according to the doctor's prescription, in
which indicates the temperature, time and area of ​​the body, on which therapeutic mud is applied (general or local mud wraps). The mud therapy procedure consists of mud applications, thermal shower, thermal ozone bath and massage.
After mud applications, the mud is washed off the body under a thermal shower, after which the patient is immersed for 8-10 minutes. in a bath with thermal water enriched with ozone, the temperature of which fluctuates between 36-38 C. After the thermal bath, it is advisable to have a little rest.

Thermal water treatment was invented in ancient Greece. Then the Romans borrowed it from the Greeks, starting to build baths on thermal springs. Actively conquering new lands, the Romans created baths throughout Europe. The popularity of thermal waters increased during the Renaissance - the resorts became centers of social life, summer residences of monarchs, acquiring all kinds of entertainment for vacationers: theaters, casinos, golf courses, hiking, horseback riding, cycling and skiing routes.

Thermal water helps to treat excess weight, prevent aging, chronic fatigue, infertility, stress, diabetes and other diseases. Today, water treatment is flourishing, but the ancient Greek principle has been forgotten: since mineral waters were sent as a gift by the gods, it is impermissible to charge a fee for using them.

Abano Terme,

Situated 8 km from Padua. The holiday season lasts: from September to May. Thermal springs Abano Terme - one of the hottest in Europe (water temperature up to 87 °). The resort is also famous for its mineral muds. The history of the resort goes back to Hercules himself, who supposedly rested in the local healing waters after all his exploits. Whether it is true or not, but Abano literally translates as "without torment", and this promising name has been attracting the suffering here for several millennia. The beauty of the resort lies in the fact that all the local hotels have their own pools with thermal water and a hydropathic establishment. Hotels were reasonably built right on the springs: you don't have to go far and in most hotels the course of mud therapy is included in the price of accommodation. The most famous patients: Petrarch, Shakespeare, Mozart, Byron, Goethe. Site: www.abano.it

Bad Ischl ,

Situated 50 km from Salzburg. Season: all year round. There are 17 warm and cold springs in the Ishl mountains; deposits of mineral mud were also found here. However, the healing effect is achieved not only by medical procedures, but also by hiking along mountain paths at an altitude of about 1000 meters above sea level. Bad Ischl is justly proud of the status of a year-round resort: lifts operate here from November to April, and wellness treatments can be successfully combined with winter sports. The name Ischl sounded in Europe thanks to the Habsburgs: the salt springs cured the wife of the Archduke Franz Karl from infertility, and after the birth of the heir to Kaiserwill in Ischgl, it became the summer residence of the Habsburgs, and the imperial hospital Kaiser-Therme is still receiving patients. In addition to those close to the court and statesmen, artists and musicians spent time in Ischgl - in memory of the two dozen operettas written here by Lehar, an operetta festival is held every August. The most famous patients: Habsburgs. Site: www.badischl.com

Bad Homburg ,

Situated 20 km from Frankfurt am Main . Season: from April to October. The waters of Homburg have been known since Roman times; The revival of the popularity of healing springs took place in the middle of the 19th century: everything that is needed for relaxation, treatment and social life appeared here: the first golf course in continental Europe and the first roulette wheel made Homburg one of the favorite resorts of the aristocracy. Since 1888, the city has become the summer residence of Emperor Wilhelm II, for whom the open and now luxurious bathhouse was built Kaiser wilhelm bad... Among other things, the city has a rich Russian history: it was in Bad Homburg that Dostoevsky was deafeningly played, it was from here that he wrote to his wife: “… The park is wonderful, the boarding house is excellent, the music is good. It would be possible to heal here, if only it were not for this damn roulette ". The most famous patients: Emperor Wilhelm II, F.M.Dostoevsky. Site: www.bad-homburg.de

Vichy ,

Situated in the center of France, a 3-hour drive from Paris, on the banks of the Allier River, a large tributary of the Loire, in a unique area among the virgin nature of the Auvergne region with its extinct volcanoes, picturesque medieval towns and villages. Season: from May to mid-September, although the establishments are open all year round. The resort has long been known for its hot and cold springs. The healing properties of Vichy mineral water have been appreciated by physicians since the time of Napoleon. There are 14 springs here, 6 of them with drinking mineral waters, the medicinal properties of which are highly valued all over the world. The most famous source is Celestine, its healing water comes to the surface in a natural carbonated state. The pharmacy cosmetics of the same name Vichy, based on thermal water, are also widely known. Site Celestins Spa: www.vichy-celestins.com.

Uriages-les-Bains ,

Situated at the foot of an alpine massif, in a wooded valley, 10 km from Grenoble. Season: from April to November. The Uriage Thermal Spa is one of the three leading thermal spas in France, equipped with modern equipment and specializing in the treatment and prevention of rheumatological and dermatological diseases. Near the hospital there is a SPA center, where general health procedures with thermal water, massages, baths and mud therapy are carried out. Thus, Uriages-les-Bains successfully combines serious medicine with rest and relaxation. Once upon a time, French bohemians rested here: the poet Edmond Rostand, the writer Andre Gide and the incomparable Coco Chanel. In memory of the famous guests, the Grand Hotel now has personalized rooms with the appropriate design. The Uriage pharmacy cosmetics are based on thermal water. Resort website: www.uriage-les-bains.com

Bath ,

Situated 160 km from London. Season: from November to April.
According to archaeologists, the first baths appeared here in the 8th century BC. NS. Legend has it that the Celtic king Bloodud was cured of leprosy by the water of the Baths. In the 17th century, Mary of Modena, the wife of James II, was cured of infertility here, after which royalty became frequent in Bath, and the resort quickly became popular with the British nobility and celebrities. Even Shakespeare dedicated two sonnets to the resort - numbers 153 and 154. True, to late XIX For centuries, Bath was somewhat forgotten: sea bathing began to be considered more beneficial to health - and Bath was forgotten, and then completely closed.
And only in 2006, the healing waters of Bath were reopened to visitors along with the newest center Thermae Bath Spa... One of its pools is located on the rooftop of the complex, which offers a delightful view of the city. Even if you have nothing to treat in Bath, you can spend a wonderful weekend here, bringing along a volume of Smollett, or Fielding, or Sheridan, who accurately and wittily describe the high seasons and the life of the inhabitants of Bath. Or a book by the same Jane Austen, all of whose heroines sooner or later went “to the waters in Bath”.
Profile: chronic diseases of the digestive system, diabetes mellitus and metabolic diseases, diseases of the joints and spine
The most famous patients: Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, Shakespeare, Jane Austen.
Site: www.bath.co.uk

Druskininkai ,

Situated 130 km from Vilnius. Season: all year round.
The name of the city comes from the Lithuanian word druska, that is, "salt". Once the salty waters on the banks of the Nemunas were discovered by the local peasants. And the enterprising Surutis family even gained the fame of healers, washing and soldering sick neighbors with mineral water.
At the end of the 18th century, Druskeniki received the status of a health resort from Prince Stanislav, and half a century later Nicholas I approved the project of the resort, which quickly turned into a summer haven for the Polish-Lithuanian nobility, out of patriotic motives, preferring their own waters to some Baden-Baden.
By the way, in addition to water, Druskininkai is treated with magical pine air and peat mud, which has the same miraculous effect on the joints and skin, after which last years it is customary to travel to Tunisia. Well, in the recently built water park - in addition to saunas, water slides and other things - not without irony over the local climate there is a beach with ultraviolet lighting, which ensures an even tan in any weather.
Profile: diseases of the digestive system, nervous system, blood circulation, metabolic disorders, gynecological diseases, diseases of the musculoskeletal system
The most famous patients: Prince of Lithuania and King of Poland Stanislav.
Site: http://info.druskininkai.lt/ru

Kislovodsk ,

Situated 60 km from Mineralnye Vody. Season: all year round.
The first recognition of the sources of narzan belongs to the physician of Peter the Great, who mentioned a "hefty sour spring" in the Pyatigorye region, followed by another member of the St. Russia is so poorly disposed of the gifts of nature. Millions of liters of healing water are poured here, and Russians travel to Europe. " As a result, in 1803, the Decree of Emperor Alexander I "On the recognition of the Caucasian waters as a healing area of ​​national importance" was issued.
Later, Pushkin visited this place twice, Lermontov chose a picturesque rock for Pechorin's duel, and Chaliapin lived in a charming mansion for years. After the revolution, Kislovodsk turned into an all-Union health resort, during the war it became a hospital base, and after the reconstruction of the 1950s, athletes of the Olympic team and cosmonauts were looking for rest here, whose sanatorium is hidden behind an inconspicuous gate right in the park, not far from the nomenclature health resort "Red stones".
By the way, you can find housing for every taste - from the architectural masterpieces of the 1930s like the Sanatorium named after Sergo Ordzhonikidze or the NKVD Sanatorium-Hotel (now "Kislovodsk") to fresh Plaza Spa Hotel... Here they are treated with narzan - drinking, baths, showers, massages; they treat with mud from the Tambukan lake and Matsesta's "fiery water"; are treated with oxygenated air, and sunlight- there are more than three hundred clear days here a year.
Profile: diseases of the nervous, digestive and cardiovascular systems, respiratory organs, joints
The most famous patients: Pushkin, Lermontov, Tolstoy, Chaliapin.
Site: www.kislovodsk.ru

Leukerbad,

Situated 180 km from Geneva. Season: all year round.
Hot springs in the Swiss Alps were discovered, as usual, by the Romans. And at the beginning of the 16th century, a magnificent seating yard with baths and baths was built here, which, however, was sometimes carried away by avalanches. By the end of the 19th century, they learned to cope with this scourge, built railroad, lifts and more than 30 indoor and outdoor thermal pools, which are filled from 65 springs in Leukerbad. By the way, this is one of the few places on earth where mineral water is cooled before entering the pool, and not vice versa.
There are two names worth noting: the first is a spa Burgerbad with all kinds of saunas and hydromassages and, what is especially nice, a pool with slides and attractions, where you can take your children in for the duration of the procedures. And the second is a high-mountain medical center Lindner Alpentherme, more like a palace than a hospital: recently restored Roman baths, and now you can take a series of treatments here - first a shower, then a steam room, then a sauna, then a dry massage, a thermal bath, a jacuzzi and a cool pool.
Profile: diseases of the musculoskeletal system, cardiac and circulatory disorders, neuropathology, neurovegetative disorders, respiratory diseases, rehabilitation after diseases and operations.
The most famous patients: Goethe, Mark Twain, Maupassant .
Site: www.leukerbad.ch

Pamukkale ,

Situated 180 km from Antalya. Season: all year round.
Pamukkale - or Cotton Castle - is a real miracle: here nature itself has taken care of an attractive location for healing waters. Two thousand years ago and until recently, natural pools in snow-white bowls were available for bathing, but crowds of tourists threatened to destroy the entire Castle, and now only a few baths are open.
The water from Pamukkale tastes like Borjomi, and it feels like even half an hour of bathing relieves fatigue and inspires heroic deeds. In addition to the therapeutic effect, the water also has a cosmetic effect: thanks to the miraculous properties, one of the natural pools received the name of Cleopatra (although there is still no convincing evidence that the famous queen visited here at least once).
At 36 degrees ideal for a bath, the water here is saturated with gas, and millions of bubbles massage the skin, promoting more active penetration of minerals. By the way, hydromassage in Pamukkale can be obtained by reclining on one of the marble columns - they dot the bottom of the natural pool after one of the earthquakes that wiped out the ancient resort of Hierapolis.
Profile: diseases of the musculoskeletal system, skin diseases, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
The most famous patients: Cleopatra.
Site:www.pamukkale.net

Marienbad ,

Situated 170 km from Prague. Season: from May to October.
Before World War I, Marienbad was one of the most fashionable resorts in Europe: all eminent visitors can be seen on a giant canvas in the hotel Monty... And after the fall of numerous empires (when both monarchs and great composers died in Europe), Marienbad turned into a quiet and inexpensive resort, which inherited a magnificent park, brilliant architecture and 140 mineral springs, completely different in composition and nature. The local water is drunk, inhaled, taken in baths; peat and mud are used for wrapping, and gas is even injected under the skin.
The source of Mary - formerly deservedly called Smelly - not only gave the name to the resort, but also became the hallmark of Marienbad due to the content natural gas... Mariin's gas is used for gas envelopes - which are made only here in the Czech Republic. This procedure improves blood circulation, has anti-inflammatory effects and is very popular in men, as it stimulates the production of testosterone and estradiol.
In addition, the healing Mariin gas was invented to be used in the form of injections to relieve pain in the spine and large joints. Local muds also have an amazing effect: mud wraps successfully treat not only diseases of the locomotor system, but also problems of the female reproductive organs, as well as diseases of the respiratory tract - the more mud, the more benefits.
The public in Marienbad is very calm, life is measured, on the paths and at the springs it is customary to greet others walking with a wave of a drinking mug. Especially popular are the sources of Krestovy and Ferdinand: they are said to make people grow thinner and younger.
Profile: urological and gynecological diseases, diseases of the upper respiratory tract and central nervous system, diseases of the joints and spine, metabolic disorders .
The most famous patients: Nicholas II, Chopin, Wagner, Goethe, Gogol .
Site:www.marienbad.cz

Situated 140 km from Brussels. Season: all year round.
The tiny Belgian resort, sandwiched in the corner between Germany and Holland, not only became famous throughout Europe, but also gave the English-speaking world a name for spending time on the waters. The self-flowing springs at Spa were so popular during the Roman Empire that even Pliny the Elder mentions them. In the 14th century, the Spa turned into a resort and sold its healing water in jugs throughout Europe. And in 1717, Peter the Great was treated here, whose heroic health was undermined by excesses and labor; in memory of the emperor's stay in Spa, a rotunda was built over the puon (as the drinking springs are called here) named after Peter the Great.
The pride of the resort is the baths open all year round in a luxurious 19th century building and a brand new architectural masterpiece Thermes de Spa, which is a modern spa. It has everything that the Romans did not think of, including hammams and jacuzzis.
Profile: treatment of gynecological and cardiovascular diseases, musculoskeletal system .
The most famous patients: Peter the Great.
Site:www.spa-info.be

Lake Heviz , Hungary

Situated 200 km from Budapest. Season: all year round.
Hungary is a European center of hydrotherapy: 80% of the country's territory contains reserves of thermal waters underground. There are 1,300 registered thermal springs here and you can take a bath anywhere: in the center of the capital, on a hilltop, in ancient castles or in underground caves.
The largest thermal lake on the planet is also located here - the waters of Heviz were also appreciated by the Celts (they also brought here vine, and now water and mud therapy are successfully combined with wine therapy). Then the baths were arranged here for the Roman legionnaires, then the soldiers of the Ottoman Empire healed the wounds here, and in the 18th century the huge crown-shaped bathing pool Tőfürdő was built on the lake - and then the classic course of spa treatment with lake water was invented, which is still offered today.
The lake is fed by three springs: the cooled water from the surface sinks to the bottom, giving way to warm water - this is how the entire volume is renewed in three days, and the lake always remains clean and warm. Even in winter, thanks to the steam cloud and wooded shores, it only cools down to 23 ° C. True, swim here without lifebuoy impossible, and even healthy people it is not recommended to swim for more than an hour and a half. Wellness is achieved by a combination of mineral water, particles of silt and gas bubbles rising from the bottom, which create the effect of a hydromassage.
All types of hydrotherapy are practiced at the St. Andrew's Rheumatology Hospital, which inherited the historic Tőfürdő bath. You can just as well be treated in any of the few sanatoriums surrounding the lake, for example, in Hotel Palace Heviz 200 m from the lake.
Profile: diseases of the musculoskeletal system, peripheral nervous system, digestive organs and ENT organs, gynecological diseases, disorders of venous circulation, rehabilitation after injuries and surgical interventions
Site:www.heviz.hu