The Friedrichsbad Roman-Irish baths at Baden-Baden
1. The Friedrichsbad Roman-Irish baths at Baden-Baden shortly after they were opened on 15 December 1877.
Costing 1,500,000 marks, and taking eight years to build, they met the Grand Duke Frederic of Baden's wish that, in their 'utilisation of the hot waters, [the baths] should surpass those known hitherto, and be in accordance with all the requirements of modern balneo-therapeutics.'
2. The cooling-room shortly after the baths were opened.
The room does not seem to have been much changed between then and the later photograph below.
3. Happily, these famous baths are still open and exemplify the best Turkish bath practice available anywhere today.
Bathers are currently recommended to spend fifteen minutes in the warm room at 136°F (58°C), followed by five minutes in a rather smaller hot room 154°F (68°C), but most bathers sensibly follow their own preferences.
This page enlarges an image or adds to the information found below:
Introduction. Part 1: What is a Turkish bath?
The Victorian Turkish bath comes to London. Part 2: The first Turkish baths
Roman? Turkish? Middle class? Part 2: The Turkish bath as a facility
Women and Victorian Turkish baths. Part 2: The first Victorian Turkish baths
Heritaging the Victorian Turkish bath: creating a saleable asset
Victorian Turkish Baths: their origin, development, and gradual decline
Comments and queries are most welcome and can be sent to:
malcolm@victorianturkishbath.org
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© Malcolm Shifrin, 1991-2023