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, 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.   These days, bathers at the Friedrichsbad Roman-Irish baths at Baden-Baden (built 1869-77) are 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. Bathers finish their visit with an undisturbed rest in the  cooling-room.

< 1. Engraving by Joseph Friedrich Weber reproduced from Baden-Baden, No.2 in the Illustrated Europe series published in Zurich by Orel Füssli & Co some time during the 1880s.

< 2. Photo reproduced from Friedrichsbad: Baden-Baden / Manfred Söhner  (Aquensis, 2007)

< 3. Photos reproduced from a publicity leaflet in the collection of the Victorian Turkish Bath Project. Leaflet issued c.1997

This page enlarges an image or adds to the information found on the following pages:

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

The Turkish bath as a facility

Women and the Victorian Turkish bath. Part 2: the first Victorian Turkish baths

Heritaging the Victorian Turkish bath: creating a saleable asset