Baden, the principal Austrian spa with sulfurous water, lies 30km/18mi south of Vienna on the eastern edge of the Wienerwald (Vienna Woods), where the River Schwechat emerges from the Helenental. The water of Baden was already being used for curative purposes in Roman times, when the town was known as Aquae. However the spa owes its rise in modern times to the regular summer visits by the members of the Habsburg Court between 1803-34, which made Baden the rendezvous of Viennese society and of prominent people. The sulfur springs, at a temperature of about 36 deg C/97 deg F, have a daily flow of 6.5million liters /1.4million gallons.
This international festival first began in 1978, and has since become a major event in the cultural life of the province. Events include orchestral and chamber concerts, choir performances and seminars, held in numerous well-known venues, including the Altenburg, Zwettl and Geras abbeys. There are usually 30 events, which run from mid-July to early September.
Address: Kammermusik Festival Austria, Wiener Strasse 2, A-3580 Baden bei Wien, Austria
Bad Vöslau lies to the south of Baden (270m/8,86ft; pop. 11,000). It has a thermal spring (24°C/75°F) gushing out of the rock-face, which supplies a large open air swimming pool. To the southwest of the pool is a Schloss (17th-18th century).
Address: Bad Vöslau Tourist Office, Schlossplatz l, A-2540 Bad Vöslau, Austria
In Baden bei Wien, to the west of the Hauptplatz by way of Rathausgasse is the Grüner Markt. The composer Ludwig van Beethoven lived at No. 10 Rathausgasse from 1821-23.
Address: Baden Beethovenhaus, Rathausgasse 10, A-2500 Baden bei Wien, Austria
West of the Baden bei Wien town center lies the Doblhoffpark, a natural park with a lake (boat hire), a garden restaurant and a rose garden. In the park stands the Schloss Weikersdorf, now the Clubhotel Baden.
From the Kurpark in Baden bei Wien the Andreas-Hofer-Zeile leads to the Emperor Franz Joseph Museum, with exhibitions of craft and folk-art from Lower Austria (30 minutes on foot).
Address: Emperor Franz Joseph Museum for Handicraft and Folklore, Hochstrasse 51, A-2500 Baden bei Wien, Austria
To the west of Baden rises the peak of the Hoher Lindkogel (834m/2,736ft, 3 hours; inn), with magnificent views in all directions from the look-out tower.
This international meeting of military bands was first held in Baden in 1995. The event begins with a "Spring Parade" featuring bands from Austria and other European countries. Venues for the various concerts include the Baden Race Course and the Ceremonial Hall of the Congress.
From the Grüner Markt in Baden bei Wien it is only a few yards to the Kurmittelhaus (treatment center), Hallenbad (thermal bath) and Mineralschwimmbad (mineral swimming pool). As well as baths there are facilities for underwater massage, underwater therapy, sulfur mud-packs and general massage.
In the Baden bei Wien Hauptplatz (main square) is a Trinity Column (1714). Here, too, are the Rathaus (1815) and, at No. 17, the Kaiserhaus (1792), which was Francis I's summer residence 1813-34. In Frauengasse, which leads south to Josefsplatz, stands the Baroque Frauenkirche, the interior of which was remodelled in the Neo-Classical style in 1812.
This annual two-month festival runs from July to mid-September and includes over 50 evening performances in Kurpark. A moving glass roof allows the performances to take place regardless of the weather.
Northeast of the Hauptplatz in Baden bei Wien stand the Municipal Theater (Stadttheater; 1909) and the parish church of St Stephen (15th C.), a hall church with a Baroque helm-roofed tower. Inside are many gravestones and a commemorative plaque to Mozart, who composed his "Ave Verum" for the choirmaster of this church. The picture over the high altar depicting the stoning of St Stephen is by Paul Troger.
South of the Schwechat in Baden bei Wien, the Rollett Museum houses a rich collection of prehistoric and Roman finds, geological specimens from the Vienna basin, a collection of skulls which belonged to the anatomist Josef Gall (1752-1828), founder of the science of phrenology, as well as musical scores by famous composers (Mozart, Beethoven, Millöcker) who had links with Baden.
Address: Rollet Museum, Weikersdorfer Platz 1, A-2500 Baden bei Wien, Austria
The theater hosts numerous performances throughout the year. It is an important landmark in Baden, where operettas have been considered a tradition for almost 300 years.
In Baden bei Wien, south of Doblhoffpark, on the banks of the River Schwechat, is the large open-air thermal complex with four pools (24-33 deg C/75-91 deg F), a sandy beach and a restaurant.
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Bad Voslau, Austria
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