Spa Etiquette in the Black Forest
The restorative power of relaxation is something Germans take quite seriously, and nowhere is this better exemplified than in the country's sauna culture. Whether soaking in a hot pool or sweating it out in a 190-degree sauna, after just a short time, you'll find there really is something to this method of regeneration.
Seeking relief from the pains of battle, the Romans erected baths here almost 2,000 years ago, a pastime resurrected in the 19th century as spa towns across the country flourished and Europe’s upper classes began to appreciate the soothing effects of fresh air and mineral waters. These days there are hundreds of facilities throughout the country ranging from sophisticated resorts offering precious-stone massages and chocolate baths to smaller "wellness" hotels with not much more than a sauna and a relaxation room.
Drinking It In
Bad Mergentheim and Baden-Baden are renowned for their drinking-water springs and the healing properties of the mineral waters that spill from them. Used for everything from the stimulation of the pancreas to curing a sore throat, they are drunk by thousands of visitors every year.
Spa Etiquette
Nudity
Every European culture has its own rules about how best to enjoy the sauna experience and in Germany, that includes embracing nudity. Though sitting naked in a dimly lit, scorching-hot room or floating au naturel in a thermal pool among a group of strangers may not be everyone’s idea of relaxation, the saunas, steam rooms, and hot pools in a spa are “textile-free” areas. They’re also mainly mixed sex, except on marked days, and the prevailing attitude is that one's body is nothing to be ashamed of. The theory is that the body needs to be unencumbered to enjoy the full curative effects of the heat and water, and this becomes particularly understandable when the treatments include rubbing hot chocolate, honey, or salt on your skin while sweating it out. Bring a robe and a large towel to preserve your modesty in common areas, and if you’re unsure what to take off and what to leave on, don’t be afraid to ask.
Bathrobes, Towels, and Sandals
While the more upscale wellness locations will provide you with all three, most public spas will expect you to at least bring your own towel. Bathrobes and sandals should be worn in relaxation areas but left outside saunas and steam baths. Towels must be laid beneath you in the sauna to absorb excess sweat. Most facilities provide these items for purchase or will loan them to you for a small fee.
Cold Showers
A quick shower before entering the sauna area is expected. A refreshing rinse between each sauna session is also part of the procedure, not just for hygiene but also for its therapeutic effects. Taking a cold shower directly upon leaving the sweaty sauna is said to invigorate your circulation while also closing all your pores before you hit the icy waters of the plunge pool.
Quiet Time
Given that spas are designed to be oases of wellness and relaxation, loud conversation is forbidden and even whispers—particularly in saunas, steam rooms, and relaxation lounges or reading rooms—may be met with sighs of disapproval or even a telling-off.
Spa Glossary
Algae and mud therapy: Applied as packs or full-body bath treatments to nourish the skin and draw out toxins.
Aromatherapy baths: Oils such as bergamot, cypress, and sandalwood are added to hot baths in order to lift the spirits and reduce anxiety.
Ayurveda: Refers to Indian techniques including massage, oils, herbs, and diet to encourage perfect body balance.
Jet massage: Involves standing upright and being sprayed with high-pressure water jets that follow the direction of your blood flow, thereby stimulating circulation.
Liquid sound therapy: A relaxation technique that entails lying in body-temperature saltwater and listening to classical or electronic music being played through the water while a kaleidoscope of colors illuminates your surroundings.
Reflexology: Massage on the pressure points of feet, hands, and ears.
Thalassotherapy: A spa treatment employing sea air, water, and mud to heal the body.
