The Great Spa Towns of Europe

The Great Spa Towns of Europe is a transnational grouping of European towns noted for their development around mineral springs and associated spa culture, combining health, leisure and urban design. The serial property comprises multiple towns across several countries that together exemplify the growth of spa-based tourism and modern urban amenities from the 18th to the early 20th centuries.

Typical features found across the component towns include pump rooms, bath houses, promenades, parks, hotels and casinos, each reflecting the architecture and urban planning linked to spa traditions. Visitors explore historic spa buildings and landscaped public spaces that were designed to accommodate seasonal visitors and social life around the springs.

The towns included in the serial property are distributed across several Central and Western European countries, and the property is interpreted as a Europe-wide cultural phenomenon rather than a single site. Each town retains its own historic spa ensemble and local infrastructure related to bathing and leisure.

As a transnational property the component towns are located in multiple countries across Europe, typically clustered around natural mineral springs with historic centres adapted to spa use.

• Serial composition: The property is a transnational serial site composed of multiple spa towns that together illustrate the European spa phenomenon and associated urban planning, architecture and leisure culture.