Bad Kissingen, in the beautiful valley of the Franconian Saale, is one of the most frequented spas in Bavaria. Its hot brine springs, containing carbonic acid and usually iron, are used in both drinking and bathing cures for affections of the digestive organs, metabolism and cardio-vascular system and gynecological conditions.
Visitors can travel from Bad Kissingen in an old mail coach to Bad Bocklet (acidic chalybeate spring; mud baths), 10km/6mi north in the romantic Saale valley.
The annual Bad Kissingen Summer Festival runs from late June to mid-July. The festival includes classical concerts, including orchestral and solo performances, theatrical performances and lectures. The concerts feature the works of various classical composers.
The daily performances take place in the Kurtheater, St Jakobus Church, Regent's Hall, Redeemer Church, Palace Park and the Bildhauser Cloister.
Address: Kissingen Sommer - Festival Office, Altes Rathaus, D-97688 Bad Kissingen, Germany
Southeast of the Luitpoldpark in Bad Kissingen can be found the Ballinghain, with a beautiful open-air swimming pool on the terrace (water-chute, diving tower). Nearby are the remains of the castle of Bodenlauben, home of the minnesinger Otto von Botenlauben (d. 1245). There are fine panoramic views.
2.5km/1.5mi north of the Kurgarten, on the left bank of the Saale (15 minutes by motorboat), are the Gradierhaus ("graduation house" for the evaporation of brine) and the Heinz Kalk Clinic, with a 94 m/308ft deep artesian well (19.1°C/66.4°F; 2% salt content), with a variation in level of up to 3m/10ft.
The activity of the spa in Bad Kissingen centers on the Kurgastzentrum (resort administration, swimming pool, etc.). On the west side of the Kurgarten is the Regentenbau (1911-13), with a main hall and function rooms, on the south side is the large Wandelhalle (indoor promenade; 1910-11) and on Prinzregentenstrasse the Kurhausbad (1927), all designed by Max Littmann.
In the cross wing of the Wandelhalle are the two main drinking fountains, the Rakoczy (11.1°C/52°F) and the Pandur. On the north side of the Kurgarten is the Maxbrunnen (10.4°C/50.7°F).
Opposite the Wandelhalle in Bad Kissingen, on the right bank of the Saale, lies the Luitpoldpark, with the Luitpold Baths (therapeutic exercise bath, steam bath, fitness studio, etc.).
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