The town of Aachen has always been a thermal resort since Ancient Rome. The mineral sources of Aachen are among the hottest in Europe. The temperature of some sources reaches 73 degrees. Nowadays, you can visit the modern spa complex of the Carolus Thermen (Charles Thermae).
In total, there are 38 mineral springs in Aachen and Burscheid. Many of them have their own names: Pink Spring, Royal Spring. The hottest spring with a temperature of 73° is called the Bathroom of the Sword (Schwerdbadquelle). It is so named because Roman legionaries bathed in it. The water of the spring is so hot that it had to be mixed with water from a nearby stream.
After the expulsion of the Romans from Gaul in the 4th century AD, the mineral waters of Aachen were forgotten for several centuries. The true heyday of Aachen came in the 8th century, when the Frankish King Charlemagne began to expand his kingdom through numerous campaigns. He had many residences in various locations in modern Germany and France, but by the end of the 8th century he chose Aachen. So the town became the capital of the huge kingdom of the Franks.
According to the memoirs of the biographer, Charlemagne was very fond of taking procedures in the thermal springs of Aachen. He did this almost every day when he returned to the capital after his conquests. After the death of Charlemagne, Aachen lost its capital status and once again became a small provincial town. The Palace and Baths of Charles were destroyed in the year 880, during the raid of the Normans.
Aachen regained its European fame as a balneological resort only in the 17th century. In different parts of the town, baths were built, as well as buvettes. The waters of the Aachen springs are sodium chloride. They contain a lot of sulfates and calcium. They are used to treat rheumatism, gout, skin diseases and infertility. In the 19th century, before antibiotics were discovered, Aachen was one of the main European centers for the treatment of syphilis.
Today, many of Aachen`s thermal springs have been turned into medical clinics. These clinics mainly specialize in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and the nervous system. Many of them are located in the area of Brurtscheid.
The public spa complex in Aachen is the Carolus Thermen, which is located near the Kurgarten Park in the north-east of Aachen. All the pools and baths of this spa complex are filled with mineral water from Aachen springs. In the center of Carolus Thermen is a huge swimming pool. On the sides of the pool there are several baths with hotter water. There are also various steam rooms: Finnish sauna, Turkish hamam, Roman baths, salt cave and much more.
