Thermalwasser für alle: In Baden und Ennetbaden kann unter freiem Himmel in "Heissen Brunnen" gebadet werden.Das Projekt wurde realisiert vom Verein @bagno_popolarebadekultur.ch - Badetücher mit Lokalkolorit#retro #swissdesign #swissdesigners #aare #regionaleprodukte #produitslocaux #badekultur #badekulturinundennetbaden #sommeramzuerisee #sommeramzuerisee #leaulairetmoi #rhiischwümme #rhyschwimme #wasserschloss #thermalbaden #aareschwimmen @aargautourismus #wasserschlossaargau #baden #ennetbaden
Another packed-to-the-rim post on Europe's soaking and bathing culture.
Let's start with the latter, afterall it's the main purpose of this blog.
Joyce Mol shares (Jan. 13) her best soaking finds of Europe no less and her personal experiences. Iceland to Turkey.
Saunachannel has asked Nudeblog to produce a film on Georgian hot and mud springs (Dec. 14). It results in a good overview of what's on offer in Georgia.
nudeblogru at Nokalakevi:
Снимали для @saunachannelПленка by @sashakulak. Часть 1Сакартвело’23
Over to Italy where most of this posts soaking info is referred from.
Rometravelouges (Jan. 23) has a good post on the hot springs (commercial or free) reachable from Rome, mostly to the north.
San Filippo is the northern most.
Here's a recent post (Jan. 9) solely on this terme libere by Juma.
LOVE IS MY MANTRAEverything in your life is a reflection of a choice you have made.If you want a different result, make a different choice.
An article (Dec. 23) from Vogue magazine on Saturnia hot springs (Tuscany):
'It’s just before sunrise, and the lights of Terme di Saturnia resort are already out of sight. I’ve been walking in the dark for less than a mile, through the rolling hills of the Tuscan countryside, in pursuit of one of the region’s wonders: Cascate del Mulino, a 3,000-year-old travertine hot spring believed to have sprouted in the Etruscan era. Save for a few other intrepid souls who are also braving the crisp morning air, I’m alone.Arriving at the waterfalls, set just below an old stone mill, I drop my robe and rest it on the white pebbles surrounding the springs before tiptoeing into the first of the steamy pools. The chill of dawn on my skin ceases as I float in the sulfuric waters, resting at a temperature of around 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Soon, the crowds will arrive, but for now, I enjoy the oasis to myself, allowing it to both soothe and transport me. I wonder what it was once like to arrive here when the area had no resort or hotel nearby, when the Etruscans, and later the Romans, first began looking to the springs as a sanctuary for healing'.
For the rest it's a write up on the adjacent resort.
Also note that once the sun has risen, these soaks tend to be packed beyond limits.
A recent posting (Jan. 28) from Termalismo medievale in Toscana. Il bagno di Caldanelle implies a beautiful soak near Sasso Piano:
At the ancient Etruscan-Roman thermal complex of Sasso Pisano, hidden in a bush, a small source of very hot water (65 degrees).
Shifting to the intermedium, mineral springs. Not hot, but naturally sourced.
The blog Wandering Carol has quite a spate of entries posted concerning bathing / soaking.
There's this post (Jan. 10) on UNESCO recognized great spa's of Europe:
'With my recent trip to the German spa towns of Bad Ems and Bad Kissingen (I also went to Karlovy Vary in Czechia, but I’ve visited there a million times so it didn’t add to my total), I’ve nearly reached my goal.I’m determined to visit the 11 UNESCO World Heritage Great Spas of Europe. My count now stands at nine'.
'From the picture it looked like Bad Ems would have everything I want in a spa town: Belle Epoque architecture, a scenic setting, fresh air and plenty of nature to get out in.Best of all I learned Bad Ems has 15 mineral springs that are still used in spa treatments and healing therapies today'.
The article looks extensively at everything one would want to do as well as a review of Bad Ems therme and (not hot) springs.
🌿 Ruth Kaplan’s Bathers 🌿From the thermal waters of Iceland to the historic bathhouses of Hungary - every photo in the ‘Bathers’ series tells a unique story of culture, relaxation, and connection. Kaplan’s lens captures more than just moments; it captures the essence of communal joy. 🏊♂️💦more on Hamam:Strange
Focus.de notes (Jan. 5) the newest wellness trend: Bio-hacking. Basically incorporating all available techniques to ensure a healthy stay:
'With the help of modern technologies, a special diet, exercise and other methods, sleep should be improved, stress reduced and one's own energy reserves mobilized. Biohacking also includes tracking your own health values. For biohackers, measuring pulse, blood pressure and weight is just as much a part of their routine as regularly monitoring their own blood values. Fitness trackers, smartwatches, smart scales, home blood tests, sleep monitoring apps and food diaries are essential tools for biohackers. Wellness hotels are increasingly offering health checks or basic sports medical examinations before a biohacking retreat. Here, certain weak points and risk factors can be uncovered and a tailor-made nutrition and fitness plan can then be created'.Lovesauna
Lankea loveen.Suomen ensimmäinen mobiilihoitosauna Lovi avaa ovensa. Perinnesaunotusta, perinnehierontahoitoja, vihdontaa, villiyrttihoitoja."Vaivuin Lauran hyräillessä saunaloitsuja tilaan, jossa tuntui että olen taas äidin kohdussa tai vähintään kehdossa oman äidin hyräillessä lauluja. Siinä ei tuntunut olevan huolia, ainoastaan ihana rento ja turvallinen tila."Tänä talvena Sipoonjoen Perinnesaunalla on mahdollista päästä tutustumaan Mielikin metsän Sauna-Akan saunahoitoihin Loven lämmössä. Varaa itsellesi yleisen saunavuorosi lomassa vihdonta tai vaikka yrtti- tai pesuhieronta. Pitkän kaavan perinnesaunotuksia tulossa myös tarjolle. Nautinto on taattu!Tutustu ja varaa saunahoitosi vellossa, www.vello.fi/lovi. Linkki Sauna-Akan biossa.Huom! Saunamaksu ja saunahoito maksetaan erikseen. Varaa saunahoitosi yleisen saunavuoron lomaan! Nauti maasavusaunan lempeissä löylyissä ja perinnesaunottajan taivaallisissa hoidoissa. Kerää voimasi ja nollaa itsesi!#perinnesaunottaja #saunaculture #finnishsauna #healingsauna #kansanperinne #kylpy #vihdonta #hieronta #kansanparannus #parannussauna #sauna-akka #loitsu #saunotus #bathing #perinnesauna
Over to the sauna news.
From Reddit, an overview (Dec. 2023) of European sauna etiquette.
And nearly 100 comments on how this overview is missing all kinds of nuances.
Clearly European sauna culture is more diverse than the map below suggests, with lots of niches. So complex.
Inews (Feb. 5) columnist Sarah Magill comments on German sauna culture:
'Entering a sweaty wooden cabin full of happily naked people for the first time in Berlin was uncomfortable, of course. I found myself grappling with self-consciousness on two fronts – over my own body and in an attempt to conceal my intrigue at the variety of appendages on display. But I enjoyed the ritual of the sauna, especially the Aufguss (meaning “infusion”) procedure, during which a member of staff pours scented water on hot coals and skillfully disperses the resulting heat around with fans, for an even, more intense, sensation....But in Germany, saunas are a common feature of most sports facilities and there are at least 20 public saunas in Berlin alone. Sauna culture is a big deal here. Last year, well over a quarter of the German population frequently went to the sauna or steam bath in their free time....Having become accustomed to the German sauna etiquette, I was struck by the complete absence of it during a visit to a local health centre in southeast London last year. Everyone was sitting directly on the wood in soaking wet bathing suits, creating an overpowering smell of chlorine, until one elderly gentleman doused the coals in far too much oil he’d brought in a bottle from home. People were also coming and going after only a few minutes – seemingly not knowing what they were supposed to do in there. A German would be bemused, I thought.It made me realise that the UK would really benefit from adopting German sauna culture. By introducing more public saunas and promoting a nudity-friendly environment, Brits could gain access to the physical and mental benefits long cherished in Germany'.
Sustainablejourneys (Jan. 16) has a look at the sauna culture of Finland and notably that of the city of Tampere:
'There are a staggering 60-odd saunas scattered across the Tampere metropolitan area but most, like this one, Rajaportti – strangely perhaps to outsiders who generally associate saunas with the luxurious spa retreats where they are most commonly found in other parts of Europe and North America – are quite modest affairs. Here, in a squat, unadorned building where entrance fees are collected without ceremony at a hatch, the pomp and priciness of much Western wellness is refreshingly absent.‘I think of myself as a sauna classicist,’ confides Lembke [Alexander Markus Lembke], who is also available for hire as a guide to novices unfamiliar with Finnish sauna etiquette. ‘A real sauna is very different to how the concept has been interpreted in other places, and I want to show people that. Rajaportti is in a working-class district, you could be anyone coming in here, rich or poor, and when you do you’re all equal. The most shocking aspect for those coming to a Finnish sauna from the UK, or the US, is that everyone is naked. No clothes. Remove clothes and you take away miscommunication. In saunas here you encounter all body shapes and sizes, fat, thin, the old, the young, little ones of just a few weeks old, all equal, all relaxing and sweating. It’s a healthy thing for society.’...Once disrobed and inside, it’s all about the steam. Lembke’s role at Rajaportti is as saunan lämmittäjä (sauna heater), an art that he assures me is so complicated to perfect that it is considered a highly regarded job'.
The Guardian also delves into Finnish sauna culture (Dec. 6). Surprisingly with reference to Tampere again!
'But in Finland not only are saunas plentiful – an estimated 3.3m for a population of 5.6 million – but the culture around them is unique. Having originated to fulfil a very practical need for heat and sanitation, the sauna’s significance in Finnish society now goes far deeper – perhaps even to the essence of what it is to be human.....Tampere’s public sauna legacy goes back to the early 19th century, when the city was an industrial centre, out of a need for a communal place for primarily working-class people to wash, says Tuomas Paloniemi, from the tourism bureau Visit Tampere. “They needed to bathe, and bathrooms or private saunas were not so common in those residences.” By about 1820, there were more than 100 public saunas in the city, he says....Sauna definitely contributes to Finland’s happiness levels, Koskenniemi [Janne Koskenniemi, the executive director of the Finnish Sauna Society] says. He compares the impact of regular sauna-going to having therapy. “When you’re in the sauna you’re naked in the physical sense, and you’re naked with your thoughts and your standing in society. It’s just you.”
Now I'm slowly losing my bearings: where are we?
Let's continue with a sauna review then, from nearby Norway. Womanshealthmagazine accepts a paid sojourn (thus very positive) to the Wells spa in Oslo. The report (Jan. 17):
'Situated in the midst of the Norwegian wilderness, The Well is all about taking time out from your daily (stressful) routines and making time for slowing down, eating well, resting and de-stressing.Since it’s surrounded by this frosty dreamscape, both the spa and hotel take inspiration from the Nordic woodlands. It’s the kind of place that might actually prompt you to feel a little less prudish (read: British), since all cares about nakedness are left firmly at the front door'.
ℛ𝑒𝓁𝒶𝓍 𝓉𝒾𝓂𝑒 ♡
Then to the Irish Times (Jan. 14), as it looks at the emerald isle's own soaking traditions:
'Beach saunas have been a phenomenon of the past 12 months, and yet getting sweaty has a heritage in Ireland dating back to ancient times....A 2021 study by Katie Kearns and Timo Ylimaunu recorded the sites of 290 sweat houses in Ireland, with the majority being found in Leitrim and its neighbouring counties. This was followed by Leitrim County Council’s Leitrim Sweathouse Project, conducted in partnership with the Heritage Council, which trained volunteer archaeologists and researchers, and added 19 more to the tally. They are sure there are more'.
The article concludes with mentioning a couple of seaside sauna's from around Ireland.
This fits here. The Guardian (Jan. 7) looks at the burgeoning Scottish sauna scene:
'This is Scandinavian winter living par excellence: but it’s not a Norwegian fjord or Swedish forest – it’s the banks of Loch Fyne on the west coast of Scotland. This is one of a growing number of Scandi-style outdoor saunas across the coastline where locals and visitors gather through the long, dark northern winter days in search of company and warmth, and to boost their physical and mental health'.
Gift
Some real news items.
As reported late last year, the BBC (Jan. 19) now notes:
'A Finnish sauna that was gifted to the UK after the 1948 Olympic Games has been granted Grade II-listed status.
The Märkische Allgemeine reports (Jan. 24) on problems with the Kristalltherme Ludwigsfelde. Apparently complaints are of guests getting too excited.
A day later there's an interview with the company's CEO (Kristalltherme Ludwigsfelde is one of Kristall Bäder AG) whereby he explains that with nearly 500,000 annual visitors there's always going to be a very few who seem to go beyond the rules.
So much for society wanting to extend the nakedness = sex.
Im Zürcher @museumgestaltung entdeckt: Historische Werbeplakate für Badekuren in Baden und St. MoritzDie Ausstellung "Talking Bodies - Körperbilder im Plakat" läuft noch bis 25. Februar. Sehenswert!badekultur.ch - Badetücher mit Lokalkolorit#retro #swissdesign #swissdesigners #serviettedebain #segeln #rudern #societenautiquedegeneve #schweiztourismus🇨🇭 #tourismswitzerland #suissetourisme #regionaleprodukte #produitslocaux #regionduleman #vaudtourisme #badekultur #badekulturinundennetbaden #sommeramzuerisee #sommeramzuerisee #leaulairetmoi #rhiischwümme #basel #baselswitzerland #rhyschwimme #zürich #züri
Finally sauna and culture.
From the Reykjavik Grapevine (Jan. 16), they look at how Iceland contributed to the success of Smoke Sauna Sisters:
'To learn more about Iceland’s creative input, I met the film’s co-producer, Hlín Johannesdottír, at Sundhöllin public swimming pool on a busy morning right before Christmas. With water steaming on the rocks, we sat for a chat in the warmth of the public sauna....Could the Icelandic hot pool culture compare to the sauna rituals? Hlín isn’t positive. “The smoke sauna is like a whole different level. Nothing that is talked about in there goes out anywhere.”
Sauna Times lastly reports (Jan. 7) on building your own Finnish smoke sauna.
