WARMBAD VILLACH - WHERE HEALTH AND RELAXATION MEET
Amidst the breathtaking Alpen-Adria region lies the health and thermal resort Warmbad Villach (“Gesundheits- und Thermenresort Warmbad Villach”). A place that has been delighting its guests with quality and dedication for over 220 years. This family-run business uniquely combines the tradition of medicine and tourism with the natural healing power of thermal water.
A LOOK INTO THE PAST*
Warmbad Villach has a rich history as a spa area with thermal springs, used by the Romans. They enjoyed the baths along the important connecting road between Noricum and Rome. The warm springs were possibly appreciated as far back as the Neolithic and Hallstatt cultures. Numerous burial mounds in the area suggest that the Celts also used the springs. Since the Middle Ages, they have been valued for their healing properties. Despite the location's long history, archaeological finds are sparse. Apart from the remains of a late antique fort and the burial mounds, there are few historical buildings. From the Romans, only a statue of a goddess, two altar stones, and a sacrificial bowl have survived.
The place "Warmbad" first appears in medieval written sources as "warme pad bey Villach." Until 1721, it was owned by the bishops of Bamberg and operated by various leaseholders. In the 19th century, Jakob Innozenz Walter renovated the baths, and under his heir Ludwig, Warmbad Villach experienced rapid development. New bathing establishments, guest houses, and parks were built, and with the opening of the state railway in 1873 and its own station, the place saw a boom in visitors. At the turn of the century, Warmbad flourished under the Feldner family, with expanded property and modernized infrastructure, including a small zoo and a cricket field.
The two world wars brought challenges to the spa, which served as a hospital during World War II. In the 1950s, the last major renovation of the thermal springs occurred, tapping an additional, particularly productive source, ensuring the water is renewed in the pool every three hours to this day.
Today, Warmbad Villach is a popular destination for spa and relaxation stays, with a public thermal bath, excellent hotels including the five-star Warmbaderhof, a renowned orthopedic clinic, and an attractive environment inviting for hikes and nature explorations. The area's history is closely tied to its development as a spa destination and is reflected in its historical buildings and parks.
THE POWER OF THERMAL WATER
In Warmbad Villach, seven thermal springs gush, delivering over 10 million liters of health-promoting water daily. With temperatures between 25 and 29°C and a mineral composition of calcium, magnesium, and bicarbonate known for their healing properties, the thermal water can help regenerate body and mind. The thermal baths, with a constant water temperature above 20°C, have had a positive impact on well-being for centuries, especially for musculoskeletal complaints.
The highlight of the health and thermal resort Warmbad Villach is undoubtedly the Thermal-Urquellbecken in the Kurzentrum, considered unique in Europe. Built directly over the thermal springs, valuable spring gases emerge from the natural gravel floor. The pool content is naturally renewed every three hours.
Another Warmbad specialty is the Maibachl, which is only temporarily filled with up to 29°C warm thermal water, usually in spring after snowmelt and heavy rain. It is a natural overflow of the Warmbad thermal springs and has been a natural monument since 2005.
RELAXATION IN NATURE
Aside from the thermal springs, Warmbad Villach offers a variety of opportunities for relaxation and recreation. The spa park invites leisurely walks and offers insights into local flora and fauna. For sports enthusiasts, there are numerous activities such as golf and horseback riding in the picturesque landscape. Additionally, Warmbad Villach is part of the Dobratsch Nature Park and forms the starting point for the first stage of the Dobratsch Circular Hiking Trail.
Warmbad Villach offers its visitors a perfect combination of a spa and vacation destination. With healing thermal springs and a variety of recreational opportunities in nature, it is a place where health and relaxation meet.
*Source: www.unikum.ac.at