Baden-Baden Off The Beaten Path

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The Baldreit was first mentioned as a bath and guest house in the 15th century. After the destruction in the 17th century wars it was rebuilt, its current appearance derives from the 18th and 19th century.

The romantic courtyard is well hidden in the old town. The easiest acess wil be from the upper corner of Marktplatz opposite the steeple of the Stiftskirche; follow the sign down the stairs.

The building is used by the Stadtmuseum (town museum) as offices and storage; the museum's exhibitions are in a different building in Lichtenthaler Allee.

The door in the steep hill slope behind Friedrichsbad isn't really off the beaten path but usually overlooked. This is the entrance to a system of 19th century tunnels, 160 m long, that lead to four hot springs in the Florentinerberg hill. The temperature range of these natural springs is 64 to 67.5 degrees Celsius.
The tunnels are not accessible for visitors.

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In the late 19th century the so-called "Schweizerhäuser" (Swiss chalets) were characteristic in Baden-Baden. Only a few of these half-timbered houses still exist. So far I have discovered two: one in the corner of Kaiser-Wilhelm-Straße/Beutigweg/Werderstraße, the other one on the hill behind the New Palace.

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The Romanian orthodox Stourdza Chapel was built in 1864-1866 as a mausoleum for the Princes Stourdza. Prince Michael, who ruled the Principality of Moldavia till his expulsion in 1849, had the chapel built after the sudden death of his 17-year-old son, also named Michael, in Paris in 1863.

The famous Bavarian Architect Leo von Klenze designed the building, Georg Dollmann was in charge of the realization. The chapel is situated on the steep hillside above the Festspielhaus in a park with beautiful old trees. Bus 208 takes you up there if you don't want to walk.

The chapel can be visited only after advance reservation by phone: 07221-28574

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From the outside the strange round, seemingly windowless church resembles a gigantic hat box made from corrugated cardboard. I went in out of mere curiosity and discovered - a remarkable, atmospheric, colourful church room. The walls are all windows, colours, light and shadow. The use of light is especially congenial in the baptismal chapel in the entrance hall.
If you like 1950s architecture, don't miss this church.

St Joseph was built in 1959-1961, designed by the architects Hugo Becker and Albert Peter.

Location: Lichtentaler Straße, close to the exit of the car tunnel.

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Above the Roman Thermal Bath ruins you will find a family oriented and modern thermal spa called Caracalla. There are various indoor and outdoor pools with different temperatures. There are also various tanning beds, steam baths and even a resturant. Many of the spas, beaches...etc require an informal attire: Your Birthday Suite. I'm not into that so I tend to seek places which require a bathing suite. Caracalla is one of those places. For those who must go bare, Caracalla even has a separate solarium for nakedness.

Allerheiligen with it's waterfall and the ruins of a 12th century monestary offers great views of the Black Forest. See more at http://www.badenpage.de/oppenau/tourist/allerh.html.

A few km out of Baden-Baden, in the famous Black Forest, you'll find a little lake called Mummelsee, after the sea sprites who supposedly live on the bottom.