Odenwald-Therme

The Odenwald-Therme stands at Elisabethenstrasse 13 in Bad König in the Hessian Odenwald and is operated by Kurgesellschaft Bad König GmbH. Here the word Therme is backed by a source. German Wikipedia records that two springs were discovered at the end of the nineteenth century, an iron- and manganese-bearing chalybeate spring and a 32 degree thermal spring named the Odenwaldquelle, described as a sodium-calcium-magnesium-bicarbonate-sulphate-chloride water, both first used for drinking cures. The operator publishes an analysis of its own: a document headed Quellenanalysen sets out cations and anions in milligrams per litre, including lithium, sodium, potassium, ammonium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, manganese and iron, and fluoride, chloride, bromide, iodide, nitrate, sulphate, hydrogen phosphate, hydrogen carbonate and carbonate. The site names sodium, potassium and magnesium as the principal constituents with a high proportion of hydrogen carbonate, sulphate and chloride. No borehole depth is published, and the analysis document is a scanned table whose figures are not transcribed here.

The bathing area is a connected indoor and outdoor thermal pool at 32 degrees with a wild-water channel, massage jets, bubble loungers and a water cannon, plus a whirlpool at 36 degrees, a therapy pool at 34 degrees used for individual and group treatment, and a children's paddling pool. The therapy pool carries a standing caveat that rheumatism-league sessions can restrict or close it. Two operator pages disagree about the children's pool: the thermal-bath page lists the Kinderplanschbecken at 30 degrees while the water-temperature page gives the Planschbecken as 32 degrees and the gallery caption reads Kinderbecken 32 degrees. The water-temperature page also lists a sauna outdoor pool at 29 degrees. Alongside the pools are a textile Vitalsauna at 70 degrees, a solarium and a chargeable infrared cabin.

The Saunaland occupies over 1,300 square metres and holds, by the operator's own count, four saunas at different temperatures plus a steam and aroma bath with changing scents: the Odenwald-Sauna at 90 degrees with regular infusions, a herb sauna at 80 degrees, a bird sauna at 80 degrees, a Sanarium at 60 degrees and the steam and aroma bath at 40 degrees. The area also has a roof terrace, experience showers, a foot pool, an infrared lounge, a plunge pool, a rest room, a sauna restaurant and an outdoor swimming pool. Entry to the sauna landscape is restricted to those aged 16 and over unless accompanied by an adult. A separate sea-salt grotto and a Meeresklimaraum are offered on their own tariff, along with physiotherapy, massage and cosmetic treatment.

The bath opens daily from 9:00 to 22:00. Published admission is 12.50 euro for three hours in the thermal bath and 14.50 euro for a day ticket, with a reduced rate of 11.50 and 13.50 euro for spa guests, severely disabled visitors and children aged 4 to 16, and an evening tariff of 10.50 euro from 19:00. Saunaland including the thermal bath costs 19.50 euro for three hours and 22.50 euro for a day ticket. Family rates apply Monday to Friday on admission between 12:00 and 15:00. Wikipedia dates the opening of the Odenwald-Therme, with its 32 degree thermal water and sauna landscape, to the year 2000.