Baden is a city in Southwest Germany of Elegance and Sophistication. It is a five star resort city on the edge of Black Forest . Bad means baths, is the old fashion term for spa and the hot. Healing mineral waters here have been popular for 2, 000 years. In what looks like a small palace is the historic Friedrichsbad , with its Roman-Irish baths by contrast the Caracalla Therme is modern. In history Baden-Baden was a favourite of the nobility, now everyone can enjoy the grand hotels, chic shops, gardens and the 19th century casino, with its chandeliers, gilt and red velvet. Stroll in the Lichtentaller Allee, a riverside park , and walk in the footsteps of Queen Victoria, Napoleon III and 19th century Russian author, Dostoevsky. With its acoustics, The Europe’s second largest concert hall, stages 300 world-class events every year. Within easy reach are vineyards and wine taverns.
Golf and tennis are both popular in the area as well as horse racing, which takes place in May, August and October.
Baden-Baden’s casino is straight out of a Jame’s Bond movie. With a history dating back over 250 years, the Kurhaus looks like a French royal palace. The interior gleams with gilt and mirrors, chandeliers and thick carpets. But what used to be the exclusive preserve of European aristocracy is now open to all. If you don’t want to gamble, you can still enjoy a guided tour of the Casino and its exquisite rooms every morning.
North of Baden are half a dozen regions with long names but their own individual character: visit one or visit all of them.
The Palatinate is perfect for light adventure, cruising on the Rhine and Neckar rivers or cycling through the asparagus fields in early summer on the Neckar valley cycle trail. By contrast, t he Odenwald is a mix of woods and valleys, villages and farms. This has long been a favourite gateway for hikers, who stop to pick wild strawberries, blueberries and mushrooms.
One of Germany’s first cycle routes is in the Tauber Valley. Flat and easy it follows the Tauber river through this peaceful countryside.
Stop in Bad Mergentheim , with its half timbered houses and cobblestone streets, or Weertheim where glassblowers are in action at the Glass museum, there is so much to see and do.
In this sophisticated city, shops are elegant and classy. Fashion, jewellery and more tempted shoppers are in the Kurhaus Colonnade.
To be continued part 2
Germany: City of Baden - Part 1
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