Anyone enjoying a warm private bath at BLUME. today may have little idea of the long and rich history behind it. For more than six hundred years, thermal water has played a central role at BLUME. – and the way people bathed here tells us much about the era, the guests and the evolution of the spa town of Baden.
Community over privacy: the early bathhouses
In the late Middle Ages and early modern period, Baden was an international spa destination. People travelled from across Switzerland, Germany, France and Italy to bathe in its famous springs. Guesthouses like BLUME. had large communal pools, often located directly within the main building or in what was known as the ‘Badstadel’, an attachment dedicated to bathing.
Here, one did not sit alone: people bathed side by side, discussing politics, trade, ailments or local gossip – the bathhouses were a meeting place, a therapeutic space and a social hub all at once. Privacy? Nowhere to be found. Instead, relationships were forged, contracts negotiated and sometimes even marriages initiated.
17th and 18th centuries: the spa era
As Baden grew in importance, more baths were built. Historical plans and documents show that BLUME. at times operated several pools simultaneously, including:
- large spa baths for groups,
- smaller pools for extended medical treatments,
- special “women’s baths” reserved exclusively for female guests.
The thermal water flowed continuously – hot, mineral-rich and straight from the Grosser Heisser Stein (Great Hot Stone) source. Much of it was transported by hand, diverted through wooden channels or fed into basins we now know only from illustrations.
19th century: renovations and the way to modernity
With rising tourism and an increasing demand for well-being, a new phase began. BLUME. was refurbished, expanded and modernised several times.
It was during this period that private bathing cabins were built, allowing guests to bathe individually – a luxury that made Baden renowned throughout Switzerland. Historical descriptions mention wooden tubs filled with fresh thermal water channelled directly from the source.
The number of baths changed repeatedly over the centuries – sometimes new ones were built; sometimes they were relocated, dismantled or replaced. What is certain: BLUME. had far more baths throughout its history than those visible today.
Today: private thermal bathing in history
The most significant transformation occurred in the twentieth century: the large historical pools gradually disappeared, and modern standards and expectations reshaped the bathing landscape.
Today, thermal water flows into BLUME.’s private bath tubs – soothingly warm, mineral-rich and as authentic as it was centuries ago, yet far more serene and intimate.
A considerable evolution from the lively communal baths of the Middle Ages to the quiet, personal rituals enjoyed by our guests today
What remains of 600 years of bathing culture?
Much more than one might expect:
- the location of BLUME., right at the heart of the historic spa district,
- the proximity to the source,
- the long-standing tradition of regeneration,
- and the awareness that people have come here for centuries to find rest and relaxation.
When you close the door to your private bath today, you can feel a small part of this history – and perhaps even an echo of the many voices that, over the centuries, have relaxed, debated, laughed and lived within the walls of BLUME.
