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Of course I had to try the three sources, of course only one sip at a time, because I had not sought medical advice beforehand.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
The Three Springs in the Spring Dome<\/h4>\n\n\n\n In 1378, the Georg Viktor spring was discovered in Bad Wildungen and the Wandelhalle was later built around this spring. The natural healing water is a magnesium-calcium-hydrogen carbonate acidulant. It is used, among other things, for urinary tract disorders and to promote digestion. I was very surprised when I read what quantities one should drink daily according to medical prescription – up to 1.5 litres! My test sip surprised me. The water contains carbonic acid and did not taste bad at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second spring I tried was the Waldquelle. This was first drilled in 1958, but the water has only been used since 1963. The water comes from a depth of 250 metres. This water contains other minerals (calcium magnesium sodium hydrogen carbonate acidulose) and is used to improve the calcium and magnesium supply, among other things. One should drink 1-2 litres per day. Here, too, I was pleasantly surprised by the test sip, even though I can imagine that with the amount of water needed, one would prefer to drink something else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nFinally, I tasted the water from the Helenenquelle spring, which was named after Princess Helene of Waldeck. The spring was first enclosed in 1696. The healing water is a sodium-magnesium-calcium-hydrogen carbonate-chloride acidulant and is recommended, for example, for gastrointestinal complaints. The amount of water recommended by doctors is 1.5-2.5 litres a day. Maybe I didn’t taste much after the two previous samples, but I couldn’t tell a clear difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All three medicinal water samples were in any case much more pleasant in taste than the samples I tasted in Karlovy Vary. The water was cold, fresh and did not taste as musty as in the Czech Republic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Walk through the Golden Gardens of Bad Wildungen<\/h2>\n\n\n\n In 2006, the Hessian State Garden Show took place in Bad Wildungen. The existing spa park was extended to include a new area that offers space for sports as well as relaxation. Two renaturalised stream valleys were used to create a connection that ended below Friedrichstein Castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nComing from the spa park, you cross a road and go down the sun stairs. There you will find the “Golden Gardens”, which are intended to remind you of the heyday of the spa around 1900. Below a retaining wall are salons and cabinets enclosed by hedges with different themes. Fortunately there were some signs, because I would not have realised from the planting that the four human qualities of virtue, pleasure, leisure and vanity and the themes such as transience, eternity and return are depicted there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs an example, I looked at the Cabinet of Virtue and the Cabinet of Pleasure. Virtue is depicted with a garden surrounded by thorns and a four-poster bed surrounded by roses. It is supposed to symbolise the decision whether to succumb to temptation or remain virtuous. In the Cabinet of Pleasure, the male meets the female world. The male half is depicted straight-lined, in cool colours, upright angular. The female half is characterised by lush vegetation, strong colours and a soft curved wall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nMy favourite place, however, was the Cabinet of Leisure. Lying on one of the white cloud loungers, I came much closer to the description that one should recharge one’s batteries here, and the possibility to look at things from a distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nIf you continue along the path through the well-maintained green space, you will come to the experience gardens, where the 5 senses are to be addressed, a boules court, a sports field and a meadow orchard. Crossing a wooden footbridge, you finally reach the path that leads up to Friedrichstein Castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nThrough the forest to Friedrichstein Castle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n High up on the Schlossberg hill in Bad Wildungen is Friedrichstein Castle. The footpath to the castle leads on steep paths through the wooded hill. A very beautiful, albeit strenuous, way uphill, which was rewarded in between again and again with a beautiful view over the town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe Count of Thuringia had a Gothic castle built on the 303-metre-high mountain in 1200. Through his marriage, he had become the Count of Wildungen and the castle served as his official residence, administration and jurisdiction over his land. In 1260, the property passed to the Counts of Waldeck. In 1663, the castle began to be converted into a Baroque palace. Over the years, each inhabitant incorporated his or her own tastes and wishes into smaller and larger alterations to the castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nAfter the First World War, the estate went to the Free State of Waldeck. The living quarters were leased out, a hotel moved in and from 1921 there was a youth hostel of the Hessian Mountain Association in the lower rooms. In the 1930s, the NSDAP used the castle as a training centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After the Second World War, the state of Hesse took over the castle and today it houses the hunting museum. In addition, there is a caf\u00e9 in the building that also uses a large terrace in front of the south wing, from which you have a fantastic view of the old town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nHalf-timbered houses and Brunnenallee – the contrasts of Bad Wildungen<\/h2>\n\n\n\n The townscape of Bad Wildungen is characterised by two different stylistic eras. Strolling through the old town, you are surrounded by beautiful half-timbered houses. Some of the houses date back to the 16th and 17th centuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nTown church in the old town<\/h3>\n\n\n\n The steeple of the Protestant town church is clearly visible in the town. The church stands on the highest point of the town hill and you should not miss taking a look inside the nave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe Wildung altar is the most valuable piece of equipment. The winged altar dates from 1403 or 1404 (unfortunately, the exact number is no longer legible in the inscription) and was created by Conrad von Soest. It is considered one of the most important works of German panel painting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhen opened, the altar measures 189 \u00d7 611 cm and is beautifully painted. On the outside of the wings are depictions of St. Catherine, St. John, St. Elizabeth and St. Nicholas. The inner wings show images of the Childhood and the Passion of Christ and the Crucifixion in the centre. I find it particularly exciting that one of the pictures shows a person wearing glasses. It is said to be the oldest depiction of glasses north of the Alps and I have to admit that I would not have known that glasses already existed around 1403.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Brunnenallee<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Brunnenallee is about one kilometre long and is considered the city’s hotel and promenade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nIn contrast to the architecture in the old town, the houses on Brunnenallee are characterised by Wilhelminian-style buildings from the last third of the 19th century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Brunnenallee you will also find some of the city’s landmarks. The fountain nymph was created by the Berlin sculptor Richard Wagner around 1928. The young nymph kneels on a globe and offers the healing water, which is considered the city’s most precious commodity, to the people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nIn the immediate vicinity is the Wildung “Schlute”, a cheeky little leprechaun who is considered the guardian of the spring water. He owes his name to the old tightly sealed clay pots in which water used to be stored and shipped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nYes, and what would a spa town be without a spa shadow. The Kurschattenbrunnen (spa shadow fountain) vividly depicts this phenomenon, which is probably present in every spa town. The people of Wildung are said to have been less than happy when the fountain was inaugurated in 1987. The figures, some of which were quite revealing, did not meet with the approval of all the townspeople.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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I like the fountain quite a bit, as it quite clearly shows a clich\u00e9 about life during the spa that is still preserved today. Especially the older man bathing, who almost stares with stylish eyes at an attractive female figure, fulfils almost all the prejudices one can have.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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Travel information about Bad Wildungen<\/h2>\n\n\n\nArrival<\/summary>\n
By car<\/strong> Coming from the A 49, Bad Wildungen is easily reached via the B 253. Those arriving via the A 485 continue on the B 3, B 485 and B 253 to Bad Wildungen.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBy bus<\/strong> From Kassel-Stadtmitte, the regional bus line 500 takes about 1.15 h to the city. The bus stops there at the “Breiter Hagen” station at the end of Brunnenallee and there are connections with the city bus.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBy train<\/strong> A regional train arrives at the town’s railway station every 2 hours. This runs on the Kassel – Bad Wildungen route. The next long-distance connection is in Wabern. If you are travelling by ICE, you can board the regional train in Kassel-Wilhelmsh\u00f6he. From the train station in Bad Wildungen, the city bus 1 goes to the old town, along Brunnenallee to Reinhardshausen.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/details><\/div>\n\n\n\nOn the way in …<\/summary>\n
By bus<\/strong> 4 bus lines run through the city centre every 30 minutes. The central bus stop (“Treffpunkt”) is located at the northern end of Brunnenallee. The regional bus lines also leave from this area. With the spa card you can use the city bus free of charge in the districts of Bad Wildungen (with the old town and Brunnenallee), Altwildungen and Reitzenhagen as well as Reinhardshausen.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBy bike<\/strong> The cycling network is being expanded more and more. Some beautiful routes are already signposted.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOn foot<\/strong> The city area is quite hilly, but you can easily explore the old town and Brunnenallee on foot. The Kurpark and the former landscape garden park are almost flat and are ideal for a walk. Those who want to explore the area on foot will find numerous well-signposted hiking trails.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/details><\/div>\n\n\n\nParking<\/summary>\n
There is a coloured parking guidance system in Bad Wildungen. The existing public parking spaces are subject to charges. Only the Kaiserlindeneck multi-storey car park, the car park at the Fetten Hagen and the parking deck of the F\u00fcrstengalerie at the Breiten Hagen are free of charge.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/details><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Guest Card \/ Tourist Tax<\/summary>\n
Upon arrival, you will receive a spa card from your host or the rehabilitation clinic, which is valid for the entire stay. Upon receipt of the card, the tax (ranging from \u20ac1.30 to \u20ac2.60 per day) is paid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the guest card you can use it free of charge:<\/p>\n\n\n\n