Spa Review Römertherme Baden – Wellness like the Romans

Just only about half an hour car ride out of Vienna, the small town Baden is a real fountain of health, located along the so called “Vienna thermal line” – a geographical term referring to a rim, on which a number of thermal water springs are found.

Grace to the rather mild climate, the area today well known as ‘vineyard thermal region’ has been used by Austrian Emperor Franz I, who made Baden his summer residence for its scenery and healing springs.

thermalwasser bad voeslau

 

In 1934 and after the opening of a Casino, Baden became the most important Cure Bath town in Austria. After a great destruction of the city and its infrastructure during WWII, Baden was remodelled in the 1960’s and until today is considered one of the most important health resorts in Austria. 

Fountain of Health

Spa Review Römertherme Baden

 

 

The Römertherme (translates to something like ‘Roman thermal spa’) is part of the vast Baden spa centre, offering age-old treatments such as sulphur baths or sulphur mud packs as part of a traditional health therapy.

 

 

Baden’s sulphur mineral water, also called ‘yellow gold’, has a natural temperature of up to 36 C. It reaches the surface of the earth from 1000 meter depth at 14 different springs.

The warm sulphur springs have already been used back in Roman times, when the settlement used to be called “Aquae”, a term for ‘water’ or ‘bath’, providing a very early hint at the importance of the mineral waters in this area. The Romans were experts in combining bathing, healthcare and socialising under one roof, a tradition that can be found until today.

My visit

I have visited the Römertherme – which provides approximately 3,500 m² of spa tradition – on a weekday’s late evening when the entire facility was rather quiet.
An adjacent parking facility (free parking for spa guests – don’t forget to punch your ticket at check out!) makes access convenient.
I was greeted in a friendly manner by a receptionist, which made a suggestion as to what kind of ticket would be most suitable for my visit (I opted for the ‘night’ ticket after 6 pm), however she did not provide any further information such as how to navigate around.

Spa Review Römertherme Baden

Which actually did not prove to be too difficult, as signage is excellent, there are not only sufficient signs for navigation, but also signs providing information about water qualities, temperatures, and such. A big plus, as physical facilities provide tangible evidence to visitors.

In the clean changing area I was free to chose my locker; additional small safe boxes for valuables are available. 

My very first impression – which has been confirmed later on- of the entire facility was that it is more functional and therapeutical than ‘wellness’. 

I loved the indoor pool area (overall the water surface covers about 900 m²) with its magnificent freely suspended glass roof – apparently the largest in Europe!

Spa Review Römertherme Baden

There are two large indoor pools, one of them dedicated for swimming, the other one providing water features such as bubbles, under water jets etc. following a logical and well displayed schedule.

The two smaller outdoor pools are located in a lovely small garden. The warmer one is filled with sulphur mineral water as described above, both serve relaxation and also provide a good variety of water features. I particularly enjoyed the strong under water massage jets! Water temperatures vary between 27 and 36 degrees C.

Visitors with children may be a little disappointed, as there is only a kids pool for very small childfren, yet no further specific offers for children.

Relaxation areas are located in all different areas, are functional and seem to have sufficient beds and chairs. There are some more quieter areas and more public areas, all are nice yet not highly cosy with no decorations. I was missing some ambience.

During my visit I was able to watch an attendant who was very visible, constantly checking on areas, assisting older guests, cleaning and tidying.

Spa Review Römertherme Baden

The 700 m² nude Sauna area is accessible through a gate at additional cost and provides a good variety of heat experiences:

  • fine pine outdoor sauna
  • indoor steam room
  • indoor salt and eucalyptus steam
  • indoor Finnish sauna
  • infrared
  • small outdoor relaxation area
  • bio sauna with light therapy

The Römertherme has their own restaurant, beauty parlour, gym, hairdresser, and massage studio, which I was unfortunately unable to visit that day.

Massages of duration between 25 and 50 minutes offered at the Römertherme are 

  • acupuncture
  • aromatherapy
  • foot reflexology
  • lymphatic drainage
  • full body
  • sports massage
  • wellbeing massage
  • oil massages
  • cranio sacral
  • sound bowl

The beauty parlour ‘Kosmetik Vital’ offers

  • a large variety of facial treatments
  • make up
  • manicures and pedicures
  • waxing
  • day packages
  • body treatments such as peelings, tanning, wraps

Healthy Holidays

The Römertherme brochure reads: “For anyone who wants to make their spa trup a complete health holiday, the adjoining health hotel Badener Hof provides a stylish ambience, combined with charming hospitality. This cosy hotel is just a few minutes away from the splendid Doblhoff Park…

Conclusion 

The slightly older yet very well maintained Römertherme is a smaller spa with a medicinal touch rather than being a wellness temple, yet highly functional and efficient. Ideal for guests that are looking for therapeutical experiences and services more than ambience!