great spa towns of europe
states: [austria] [belgium] [czechia] [france] [germany] [italy] [uk]
category: cultural
year: 2021
region: Europe and North America
latitude/longitude: 50.4922222222, 5.8669444444
last visited: 2015
unesco id: 1613
world heritage site: 1613
The Great Spa Towns of Europe, a UNESCO World Heritage site, encompass 11 historic spa towns across seven countries—Austria, Belgium, Czechia, France, Germany, Italy, and the UK—recognized in 2021 for their shared cultural legacy from the 18th to early 20th centuries. These towns, including Bath, Baden-Baden, and Karlovy Vary, feature elegant architecture, landscaped parks, and mineral springs, developed as therapeutic retreats for Europe’s elite. Reflecting the rise of balneotherapy and leisure culture, this transnational site showcases urban planning and architectural harmony, illustrating a pivotal era of health, tourism, and social exchange in European history.
