Spa gardens Bad Münster am Stein and Kurhaus
A palace for the healing springs
Spa center and salt works in Bad Münster am Stein
Bubbles rise in cascades from the depths to the vaulted ceiling, as large as marbles, billiard balls, or tennis balls—once they reach the top, they seem to dissolve. The glass artwork by painter Borris Götz from 1975 cleverly deceives the eye, as the lucid spheres appear to actually float. The artist, who lived in Bad Münster am Stein from 1972 until his death in 1998, captured the genius loci. The artwork is located in the Brunnenhalle, which was built in 1911. It is part of the somewhat austere building complex known as the “Kurmittelhaus.” It was designed according to plans by Freiburg architect Robert Mühlbach. This spa building is the most opulent version of a salt spring imaginable. The mélange of Art Nouveau, half-timbered and baroque forms with curved lines, an ornate roof landscape and an imposing window front that floods the hall with light makes the building a jewel of spa architecture. In the basement, glass cylinders indicate the three ascending spring waters, which are combined here to form a single spring – the Rheingrafenquelle. The floor and walls of the spring room are decorated with an Art Deco-style mosaic in iridescent shades of blue and green with countless golden speckles. Until 2014, guests could enjoy baths with brine and radon here. Only here is it still possible to taste the soothing mineral water that flows incessantly from a tap. The drinking cure is currently suspended. The spring still feeds a graduation tower to this day. Bad Münster am Stein proudly points out that bathing operations can be traced back to around 1490. At the same time as the salt works in Kreuznach, systematic salt production using graduation towers also began here in the 18th century. This salt works was destroyed in 1945. Water wheels and a brine tower are relics of the large salt works. An exhibition in the fountain hall tells the story of salt production and bathing with brine and radon as remedies. The spa center is the heart of the spa gardens.
