Discover The Great Spa Towns of Europe
The Great Spa Towns of Europe is a serial, transnational UNESCO World Heritage Site made up of the eleven most exceptional historic spa towns across Europe. These spa towns are located across seven countries in Europe; Austria, Belgium, Czechia, France, Germany, Italy and the UK. Together, they comprise one ‘property’.
Out of the hundreds of spa towns across the continent, this small group has certain characteristics that show ‘Outstanding Universal Value’.
These eleven spa towns represent ‘the European spa phenomenon’ with the highest degree of authenticity and integrity.
Blossoming as grand health resorts in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, these towns influenced medicine, art, culture, politics and society. They created ‘spa architecture’ and pioneered a new style of urban design – the first one centred on a medical aspect. Attracting visitors from across the world, who came to ‘take the cure’, The Great Spa Towns of Europe also pioneered modern health and wellness tourism.
The unique culture of the European spa tradition lives on today through the town’s residents, local communities and international tourists.
As the ‘crème de la crème’ of European spa heritage, these 11 towns maintain spa traditions. From providing medical treatments to spa guests to continuing the vibrant programme of entertainment in grand theatres, opera houses and music halls, The Great Spa Towns of Europe are living laboratories. Here, tradition is not left in the past, but present throughout daily life.
The Great Spa Towns of Europe
Baden bei Wien Austria
Baden bei Wien, not far from Vienna, is a charming spa town famed for its ‘golden waters’.
Spa Belgium
Spa, the “Pearl of the Ardennes” is surrounded by wooded hills, criss-crossed by ancient footpaths…
Františkovy Lázně Czechia
Františkovy Lázně, with its characteristic yellow buildings, was deliberately planned as a “model…
Karlovy Vary Czechia
Water is at the heart of Karlovy Vary, and is sourced from River Teplá, meaning ‘warm’. The iron-rich spring geysers rise several…
Mariánské Lázně Czechia
Embraced by the dense, cooling forests of West Bohemia, Mariánské Lázně is a climatic spa with healing fresh air…
Vichy France
Vichy, the “Queen of the Spa Towns” was a favourite spot of Napoleon III and you can still see his villa…
Bad Ems Germany
Bad Ems has a spectacular location on the banks of the River Lahn, set in a steep-sided valley. The main spa quarter buildings…
Baden-Baden Germany
Enjoy the “Good-Good Life” in Baden-Baden, once known as the Summer Capital of Europe. A cultural centre with a world-renowned concert hall…
Bad Kissingen Germany
Bad Kissingen’s Kurgarten dates back to 1738, and is the oldest example of a spa…
Montecatini Terme Italy
Montecatini Terme, in beautiful Tuscany just north of Florence, sits in an oasis of olive groves and gardens…
City of Bath United Kingdom
Jane Austen, whose novels describe life in Georgian England writes “Oh! Who can ever be tired of Bath?”…
Eleven towns,
Seven countries,
One outstanding UNESCO World Heritage property.
UNESCO
Google Arts & Culture
Latest News
UN-recognised campaign Heritage Adapts! launches to accelerate climate adaptation for heritage by 2030
Heritage Adapts!, a UN-recognised campaign, launches today to accelerate climate adaptation for heritage by 2030 Last year, four members of The Great Spa Towns of Europe joined Preserving Legacies' Climate Custodian Cohort, a 3-year programme that helps heritage...
Ticket Competition Launches for UNESCO South West Rail Campaign
Win your ultimate adventure: competition to explore UNESCO South West wonders by rail A competition is now running as part of the Explore UNESCO South West Trails initiative, offering adventurers the chance to win exclusive activity-filled weekend packages across the...
The Impact of UNESCO Status on Tourism
Travel and Tour World (TTW), a global multilingual travel media platform, has written an article about the impact of a UNESCO World Heritage Inscription on tourism. Focusing on Baden-Baden, a spa town in Germany near the Black Forest, the article explores how the...
Discover UNESCO South West Trails: City of Bath Collaborates on Rail Promotion Campaign
The City of Bath, one of The Great Spa Towns of Europe, took part in a collaborative project with other UNESCO-designated Sites in South West England to promote rail travel and raise awareness of the ease of discovering heritage attractions in the region. Partnering...
Site Visits, Workshops and Shared Projects: The Great Spa Towns of Europe held General Assembly in Vichy, France
On 29th April 2026, members of The Great Spa Towns of Europe Association (GSTEA) gathered in Vichy for the first General Assembly of 2026. The trip included a series of meetings, discussing heritage management strategies and revising the Property Management Plan --...
Five Years On: The Great Spa Towns of Europe Sets Course for Next Chapter at General Assembly in Vichy, France
Five years on, the impact of a UNESCO World Heritage status is increasingly visible in Vichy; one of The Great Spa Towns of Europe (GSTE) and the only spa town in France to be part of this group. The Great Spa Towns of Europe is a serial, transnational UNESCO World...
The Great Spa Towns of Europe Approaches Fifth Anniversary
March 2026 2026 marks five years since The Great Spa Towns of Europe (the GSTE) was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on 24th July 2021, albeit as a very complex one. Rather than a single location, it is a serial, transnational World Heritage Site, formed of...
The New Era of Thermalism: A New Report Illustrates the Direction of Spa Tourism
January 2026 On 21st January 2026, the Secretary General of The Great Spa Towns of Europe joined a national conference in Rome about spa tourism: “Italian Thermal Tourism as a Driver of Market Growth”. The conference was organised by ISNART (The Chambers of Commerce...
Culture Trip Publishes New Travel Guide to The Great Spa Towns of Europe
January 2026 Culture Trip, a leading global travel and culture publisher, has released a comprehensive travel guide to The Great Spa Towns of Europe, highlighting Europe’s most iconic and historically significant spa destinations. The guide explores how these towns...
The Wellness Traveller’s Guide to The Great Spa Towns of Europe
January 2026 The Wellness Traveller, a leading online resource for wellness travel insights, has published an in-depth guide to The Great Spa Towns of Europe, offering travellers and spa enthusiasts a rich exploration of Europe’s historic and culturally significant...
Events and Festivals
Automne Musical
Since 1985, Automne Musical de Spa has been...
Bad Kissinger Genuss-Welten
Sensual and culinary journeys of discovery for the...
Bahamas Night (July)
Caribbean feeling on the river Lahn? The Bahamas...