The health resort of Baden has long been an important market town. The picturesque old town, the core of the medieval settlement, lies in the Limmat defile under the Lägern hills; downstream is the spa, with its 19 sulfur springs (48°C/118°F), already used for medicinal purposes in Roman times. To the west of the spa, where the valley opens out, are the newer parts of the town, with large industrial plants, (Brown-Boveri). Known to the Romans as Aquae Helvetiae, Baden became in the Middle Ages the country's leading curative resort, the hot sulfurous water (1,000 cu. m/35,310 cu. ft daily) being piped up from a great depth. The town's central situation and its political activity made it a place of importance in the old Confederation, and the Diet frequently met here. The first hydroelectric power station was brought into operation in Baden in 1892.
The Brown Art Collection, left to the town by the last member of the Brown family, contains works by famous English artists and French impressionists, with names such as Monet, Degas, Van Gogh and Renoir.
A covered wooden bridge (1810) leads across the Limmat to the Landvogteischloss (rebuilt 1487-89), the old governor's residence, which now houses the Baden Historical Museum.
Always closed on: January 2nd Holiday - Switzerland (January 2), New Year's Day (January 1), Christmas - Christian (December 25), New Year's Eve (December 31), Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24), Easter - Christian
A little way southeast of the Bruggerturm in Baden's old town is the Roman Catholic parish church (built 1457-70, remodeled in Baroque style in 1612-98 and in Neo-classical style in 1813-29.
The spa is beautifully laid out with gardens, and has a Kursaal, with restaurant, inhalatorium (establishment where sulfur vapor can be inhaled) and an indoor thermal swimming pool. A high-level bridge crosses the Limmat to Ennetbaden (alt. 358m/1,175ft; pop. 2,900), on the right bank.
The Swiss Children's Museum, situated about three minutes from the Baden station, gives an insight into the history and manufacture of toys.
Address: Baden Schweizer Kindermuseum, Ländliweg 7, CH-54010 Baden, Switzerland
Hours:
2pm-5pm; Sun:10am-5pm; Closed: Mon
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26), New Year's Eve (December 31), Christmas - Christian (December 25), Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
Baden's Stadthaus (Town Hall) faces the Roman Catholich church in the old town. It contains the Council Chamber (reconstructed in 1497) in which the Diet met between 1424 and 1712.
From Baden the Zurich road (No. 3) passes the former convent of Königsfelden (on left), founded in 1308 by Elisabeth, widow of the German King Albrecht I, on the spot where he was murdered by Duke Johann of Swabia. The convent was converted into a mental hospital in 1866-72. The choir of the Gothic church has magnificent 14th century stained glass.
South of Baden the largest commune in the Aargau, Wettingen (alt. 395 m/1,296ft; pop. 19,500), was once a sleepy little village, which has developed since the last war into a favorite residential town.
1km/0.6mi beyond the Königsfelden convent is Windisch (alt. 366 m/1,201ft; to the left of road), on the left bank of the Reuss, the site of Roman Vindonissa. On the road to Lucerne, which goes off on the left just before the village, are remains of a large amphitheater which could seat 10,000 spectators.
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Brown Art Collection
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