!!!Heilbäder

Spas (medicinal springs, health resorts): Its many medicinal and 
mineral springs and deposits of therapeutic mud as well as mild 
climatic regions make Austria a typical spa country. There are more 
than 80 health spas in Austria, which do not only serve medical 
purposes but are also an important factor in tourism; approx. one 
sixth of all overnight stays per year are registered in health spas. 
Spas have existed in Austria since Roman times. Bad Gastein (Salzburg) 
and Baden (Lower Austria, coat of arms 1480) were known for their 
medicinal springs as early as the 14%%sup th/%  and 15%%sup th/%  
centuries respectively, the description of a journey to Baden has been 
preserved from the year 1514. Bad Tatzmannsdorf (Burgenland) was 
discovered in 1650 and has been operated as a spa since 1820, the 
spring in Sauerbrunn (Burgenland) was discovered around 1800 and has 
been exploited since 1847. The bathing facilities in Baden were built 
at the end of the 18%%sup th/%  century, in Bad Gastein the 
Badeschloss ("bathing palace") was built 1791-1793, Bad Hall (Upper 
Austria) was made a health resort in 1820, Bad Deutsch-Altenburg 
(Lower Austria) and Bad Gleichenberg (Styria) in 1834. Bad Voeslau 
(Lower Austria), too, has been a health resort since the 19%%sup th/%  
century. The pump room in Bad Ischl (Upper Austria) was built in 1819. 
Springs discovered in the 20%%sup th/%  century were at Bad 
Schallerbach (Upper Austria, 1918) and Bad Bleiberg (Carinthia, 
thermal spa 1931). In the 20%%sup th/%  century several smaller towns 
also tried to obtain the status of "spa" and to be acknowledged as 
health resorts. The official recognition of a health spa is granted on 
the legal basis of the Federal Law on Natural Therapeutic Baths and 
Spas (Federal Law Gazette 272/58) with the appropriate implementing 
statutes passed by the provinces. A town is only recognised as a spa 
if it has water, earth or air with proven therapeutic qualities. If 
certain additional criteria are fulfilled a town may call itself a 
health resort.

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The study of therapeutic baths was developed into a distinct 
scientific discipline called balneology by J. H. v.  Cranz 
(Baederbuch 1777). Cranz also promoted the training of specialist 
staff.

!Literature
Federal Ministry for Health and Environmental Affairs 
(ed.), Handbuch der natuerlichen Heilmittel Oesterreichs, 1985.


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