Bad Kleinkirchheim Town

There is a substantial, affluent feel about Bad Kleinkirchheim – as one would expect of somewhere with a history going back 1,000 years or more – and plenty of opportunity for shopping. Popular designer shops include the Boutique Jesse, for Armani, the Alter Moda, Trachtenmoden, and Intersport Gruber, which stocks Bogner, Emmergi, Goldwin, Killy and Spyder. There’s also a perfumery, a jeweller, an antiques shop and several arts and crafts shops, as well as a Craft Museum, four banks, a supermarket, a florist and a bookshop, but if not skiing or when not skiing, best of Bad Kleinkirchheim’s non-skiing treasures are the thermal spas.

Legend has it that the recuperative powers of the local mineral water became known after the badly wounded fugitive Count Palatine Poto hid out in the Kirchheim Valley in 1055 – and saw his injuries miraculously heal after quaffing some water from a fresh spring. It was some early excellent PR for the area.

In 1884 a local hotelier put out a brochure extolling the health benefits of staying here and it became a destination for the infirm seeking the ‘cure’. In 1934 the first outdoor thermal pool was built and the following year Kirchheim was granted the right to add the word Bad (designating it as an official spa resort) to its name and in 1969 came an indoor thermal pool and ten years later the Roemerbad (Roman spa) thermal bathing centre was opened.

The Roemerbad was completely refurbished recently and is an impressive facility which has been transformed into a 15-million euro ‘wellness oasis’, the highlight being a fabulous sauna centre. There’s also a new expanded massage area, state-of-the-art beauty salon, meditation area for total relaxation and an adventure areas for children, both inside and out.

With saunas of all shapes and sizes, covering 4,000 square metres, the Roemerbad sets new standards in the sweat stakes! One of the best things is that the Roemerbad is perfectly situated at the foot of the Franz Klammer ski run, so it could hardly be more conveniently located when legs are burning at the end of a tough ski day.

You’ll find thermal pools, with temperatures ranging between 28 degrees and 34 degrees, saunas of varying heat levels, including a tepidarium where it’s comfortable to stay a little longer, steam rooms, solarium and a hot-tub. There are also water slides, waterfalls and massage jets in the pools. What a great way to unwind and get ready for the evening!

The spa aspect of the resort is not just to do with pampering yourself. The resort is keen to promote the health-giving properties, especially as far as the sports-minded are concerned. The claim that water therapy is the perfect way to keep your body fit for skiing or boarding – it keeps you in shape while being gentle with your joints.

The thermal water in Bad Kleinkirchheim is said to promote good circulation, reinforce the immune system against disease, strengthen connective tissue, alleviate rheumatic symptoms and nerve degenerative conditions, fight cardiovascular disorders and help the healing process after surgery or illness. So there you are – get in there!