A spa town is a resort town based on a mineral spa (a developed mineral spring). Patrons visit spas to "take the waters" for their purported health benefits. The word spa is derived from the name of Spa, a town in Belgium.
Thomas Guidott set up a medical practice in the English town of Bath in 1668. He became interested in the curative properties of the hot mineral waters there and in 1676 wrote A discourse of Bathe, and the hot waters there. Also, Some Enquiries into the Nature of the water. This brought the purported health-giving properties of the waters to the attention of the aristocracy, who started to partake in them soon after.
The term spa is used for towns or resorts offering hydrotherapy, which can include cold water or mineral water treatments and geothermal baths.
Video Spa town
Argentina
- Termas de Rio Hondo
- Presidencia Roque Sáenz Peña
Maps Spa town
Australia
Most of the mineral springs in Australia are in the Central Highlands of Victoria, although there are a few springs in South Australia, Moree, New South Wales and Queensland. Most are within 30 km of Daylesford, Victoria: the Daylesford and Hepburn Springs call themselves 'Spa Country' and the 'Spa Centre of Australia'.
Belgium
- Chaudfontaine (whose name literally means "hot fountain" in French)
- Ostend
- Spa
Bosnia and Herzegovina
See: List of spa towns in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Banja Vru?ica, Tesli?
Brazil
Brazil has a growing number of spa towns. The traditional ones are: Águas de Lindoia, Serra Negra, Águas de São Pedro, Caxambu, Poços de Caldas, Caldas Novas, Araxá, and São Lourenço.
Bulgaria
See: List of spa towns in Bulgaria
Bulgaria is known for its more than 500 mineral springs, including the hottest spring in the Balkans at Sapareva Banya - 103 °C. Other famous spa towns include Sandanski, Hisarya, Bankya, Devin, Kyustendil, Varshets, Velingard.
In Bulgarian, the word for a spa is ???? (transliterated banya).
Canada
See: List of spa towns in Canada
Harrison Hot Springs is one of the oldest among 18 in British Columbia; there are also two in Alberta and one in Ontario.
Croatia
See: List of spa towns in Croatia
In Croatia, the word Toplice implies a spa town. The most famous spa towns in Croatia are Daruvar, ?ibenik and Sisak.
Czech Republic
See: Spa towns in the Czech Republic
In the Czech Language, the word Lázn? implies a spa town. The most famous spa towns in Czech Republic are Karlovy Vary, Teplice, Franti?kovy Lázn? and Mariánské Lázn?.
France
See: List of spa towns in France
In France, the words bains, thermes, and eaux in city names often imply a spa town. There are more than 50 spa towns in France, including Vichy, Aix-les-Bains, Bagnoles-de-l'Orne, Dax, and Enghien-les-Bains.
Germany
See: List of spa towns in Germany
In Germany, the word Bad implies a spa town. Among the many famous spa towns in Germany are Bad Aachen, Baden-Baden, Bad Brückenau, Bad Ems, Bad Homburg, Bad Honnef, Bad Kissingen, Bad Kreuznach, Bad Mergentheim, Bad Muskau, Bad Pyrmont, Bad Reichenhall, Bad Saarow, Bad Schandau, Bad Segeberg, Bad Soden, Bad Tölz, Bad Wildbad, Bad Wildstein, Berchtesgaden, Binz, Freudenstadt, Heiligendamm, Heringsdorf, Kampen, Königstein, Radebeul, Schwangau, St. Blasien, Titisee, Tegernsee, Travemünde and Zingst. Wiesbaden is the largest spa town in Germany.
Greece
See: List of spa towns in Greece
The most famous spa towns in Greece are Aidipsos and Loutraki.
Hungary
See: List of spa towns in Hungary
In Hungary, the word fürd? or the more archaic füred ("bath"), fürd?város ("spa town") or fürd?hely ("bathing place") implies a spa town. Hungary is rich in thermal waters with health benefits, and many spa towns are popular tourist destinations. Budapest has several spas, including Turkish style spas dating back to the 16th century. Eger also has a Turkish spa. Other famous spas include the ones at Hévíz, Harkány, Bük, Hajdúszoboszló, Gyula, Bogács, Bükkszék, Zalakaros, the Cave Bath at Miskolctapolca and the Zsóry-fürd? at Mez?kövesd.
Italy
See: List of spa towns in Italy
In Italy, spa towns, called città termale (from Latin thermae), are very numerous all over the country because of the intense geological activity of the territory. These places were known and used since the Roman age.
Luxembourg
- Mondorf-les-Bains
Lithuania
- Druskininkai - is known for mineral springs. The name comes from Lithuanian word druska - salt.
- Bir?tonas - is known for mineral springs and curative mud applications.
Netherlands
- Bad Nieuweschans in the North on the border with Germany, with "Bad" implying a spa town.
- Valkenburg near Maastricht, which wants to be a "city of wellness".
New Zealand
- Rotorua
- Hanmer Springs
- Ngawha Springs
Poland
See: List of spa towns in Poland
Most spa towns in Poland are located in the Lesser Poland and Lower Silesian Voivodeships. Some of them have an affix "Zdrój" in their name (written with hyphen or separately), meaning "water spring", to denote their spa status, but this is not a general rule (e.g. Ciechocinek and Inowroc?aw are spa towns, but do not use the affix).
Portugal
Portugal is well known by famous spa towns throughout of the country.
Due to its high quality, as well as the landscape where are located, the most important ones are:
- Caldas da Rainha
- Caldas das Taipas
- Caldas de Monchique
- Caldas de Vizela
- Pedras Salgadas
- Vidago
- Chaves
- Sao Pedro do Sul
- Caldas da Felgueira located in Viseu District, and 5km from Nelas town.
Romania
See: List of spa towns in Romania
In Romania, the word B?ile implies a spa town. The most famous spa towns in Romania are B?ile Herculane, B?ile Felix, Mangalia, Covasna, C?lim?ne?ti & Borsec.
Serbia
See: List of spa towns in Serbia
Serbia is known for its many spa cities. Some of the best known springs are the Vrnja?ka Banja, Bukovi?ka Banja, Vrujci, Sokobanja and Ni?ka Banja. The hottest spring in Serbia is at Vranjska Banja (96°C)
In Serbia, the word Banja implies a spa town.
Slovakia
See: Spa towns in Slovakia
Slovakia is well known by its spa towns. The most famous is Pie??any. The most important spa towns in Slovakia are:
- Bardejovské Kúpele
- Dudince
- Liptovský Ján
- Lú?ky
- Pie??any
- Rajecké Teplice
- Kúpele Slia?
- Smrdáky
- Tren?ianske Teplice
- Tur?ianske Teplice
- Bojnice
Slovenia
Spa towns in Slovenia include Roga?ka Slatina, Radenci, ?ate? ob Savi, Dobrna, Dolenjske Toplice, ?marje?ke Toplice and Moravske Toplice. They offer accommodation in hotels, apartments, bungalows, and camp sites. The Slovenian words terme or toplice imply a spa town.
Spain
Spa towns in Spain include:
- Alhama de Aragon
- Panticosa in the high Pyrenees
- Archena
- Caldes d'Estrac
- Caldes de Montbui
- Riofrío
- Caldes de Malavella
- Lanjarón
- A Toxa, an island-spa in northwestern Galicia.
- Mondariz
- Arnedillo
- Zestoa
- Karrantza
- Montemayor
- Caldas de Luna
Switzerland
- Baden
- Bad Ragaz (Ragatz, also known as "Old Baths Pfäfers" or "Old Baths of Pfäfersin)
- Davos
- Lavey-les-Bains
- Leukerbad
- Schinznach Bad
- Yverdon-les-Bains
- Zurzach
- Ragatz
Taiwan
Taiwan is home to a number of towns and cities with tourism infrastructure centered on hot springs. These include:
- Jiaoxi, Yilan
- Wulai, New Taipei
Ukraine
- Morshyn
- Truskavets
United Kingdom
Some but not all UK spa towns contain "Spa", "Wells", or "Bath" in their names, e.g., Matlock Bath. Some towns are designated Spa Heritage Towns. Two out of three of the English towns granted the title "Royal", Royal Leamington Spa and Royal Tunbridge Wells, are spa towns.
United States
- Chena Hot Springs, Alaska
- Hot Springs, Arkansas
- Desert Hot Springs, California
- Palm Springs, California
- Pagosa Springs, Colorado
- Warm Springs, Georgia
- West Baden Springs, Indiana
- Mount Clemens, Michigan
- Excelsior Springs, Missouri
- Jemez Springs, New Mexico
- Truth or Consequences, New Mexico
- Gila Hot Springs, New Mexico
- Ballston Spa, New York
- Saratoga Springs, New York
- Hot Springs, North Carolina
- Hot Springs, South Dakota
- Mineral Wells, Texas
- Warm Springs, Virginia
- Connell, Washington
- Bath (Berkeley Springs), West Virginia
- Waukesha, Wisconsin
- Saratoga, Wyoming
- Thermopolis, Wyoming
Other countries
See: List of spa towns
- in the Arab world - Hammam
- in Australia
- in Belgium -
- in Bulgaria - Bani
- in Chile - Termas
- in Croatia - Toplice
- in Cyprus - Loutra-Therma
- in the Czech Republic - Lázn?
- in Ethiopia - Filwoha
- in France - Bains, thermes
- in Georgia -
- in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland - Bad, the first part of the names of most spa towns, a cognate to the English "bath" while "Therme" is used for the spa itself.
- in Greece - Loutra-Therma
- in Hungary - fürd? or -füred
- in Italy - Terme
- in Iran - "Cheshme Ab-e-Garm" or "Cheshme Ab-e-Madani"
- in Jamaica -
- in Japan - Onsen
- in Korea - ?? or ???
- in Latvia - J?rmala
- in Malaysia - Poring
- in Mexico- Termas or Balneario
- in New Zealand - Rotorua
- in Peru - Cuzco, Cajamarca
- in Poland - Krynica-Zdrój
- in Portugal - Caldas or Termas
- in Russia - ??????????? ???? or ???????? ????
- in Romania - B?ile
- in Slovakia - Lie?ebné kúpele
- in Serbia - Banja
- in Spain - Termas or Balneario
- in Turkey - Termal or Kaplica
- in Ukraine - ?????????? ????
See also
- Bukovi?ka Banja
- Spa
- Resort architecture
- Spa architecture
- Spa resort
- Hot spring
- Sauna
- Thermae
- Mineral water
- Hydrotherapy
- Sanatorium
References
External links
- "Wallonia spas: Step into Belgium's impressive springs - Europe, Travel - Independent.co.uk". The Independent. London. 5 May 2007. Retrieved 3 February 2008.
Source of article : Wikipedia
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