History of Baden near Vienna

Baden near Vienna is a small town, charming, romantic, nestled up against the rolling hills of the Vienna Woods and within easy reach of the metropolitan area of Vienna. It lies only 26 kilometres to the south of Vienna, and is yet far enough away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Time seems to have stopped here, nothing disturbs its inhabitants in the tranquillity of their lives. Embedded in the green hills of the Vienna Woods, surrounded by meadows and vineyards and set in a parklandlike scenery, Baden is a town with its own flair and has developed an atmosphere unmistakably its own. Its history is closely connected with its the healthy thermal sulphur mineral springs. The Romans named the spa Acquae meaning water, and in 869 the name Padun was first mentioned in records. The city’s coat of arms and insignia, awarded in 1480 , tell of the now 2000 years of bathing tradition.

Baden near Vienna was the Emperor's residence in the early 19th century, the period of time referred to as Biedermeier. Between 1803 and 1834, the Habsburg Court spent every summer in Baden. The entourage consisted of noblemen, rich citizens, artists and internationally renowned personalities. Traces of these bygone days still can be found in Baden. Villas and palaces, fancy houses of citizens and squares remind of the renowned architects of 19th century: Josef Kornhäusl, Peter Nobile, Karl von Moreau and Otto Wagner.

Behind the classical façades of these places lived historical personalities like Emperor Franz I and Emperor Karl I , Napoleon's wife Marie Luise, the Duke of Reichstatt, Metternich and Gentz, Fanny Elßler and Moritz von Schwind, Franz Schubert and Karl Komzak have spent many summers in Baden. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven composed in Baden. Franz Liszt stayed here and so did Josef Lanner, Strauss Father and Strauss Son, Carl Michael Ziehrer and Karl Millöcker.
Baden is a town of gardens and roses. The historic spa gardens Kurpark and Doblhoffpark with their rosegardens of many thousands of roses are places of tranquillity and recreation . But not only the town itself is worth visiting. Trails take you past the castle ruins of the Helena Valley to the monasteries of Heiligenkreuz and Mayerling. Within easy reach in the surrounding of Baden are also the grasslands of the Puszta around Lake Neusiedl , the snow-capped peaks of Rax and Schneeberg and Austria's capital and cultural metropolis Vienna.

Baden is most popular for its healthy sulphurous thermal springs of calcium-natrium-magnesium-sulphate-chloride minerals which reach the surface at 36°C, thus forming the basis for the specific spa treatments and cures of Baden. Some four million litres of sulphurous water are used daily in Baden.

The large pedestrian precinct in Baden has been the result of a new understanding of public space and offers new shopping facilities . The newly adapted Congress Casino and the conference and seminar hotels of the town offer state-of-the-art conference technology. A pleasant atmosphere, all necessary installations and facilities and the proximity to Vienna make Baden an ideal place for conferences and meetings.

Baden near Vienna

Josefsplatz