Discover the majestic façade of the Friedrichsbad - a tribute to the spa industry and its pioneers! In the spandrels of the richly structured sandstone façade, there are twelve portrait medallions and two figure niches in which personalities who have shaped the spa industry in general and Baden-Baden in particular are immortalized. The visionary physician Paracelsus stands out among them. From 1516, the renowned physician traveled throughout Europe and stayed in Baden-Baden around 1526. There he devoted himself to the scientific study of the famous thermal waters and left us these words: "God has ordained in his creation that there is greater healing power in the bubbling waters than in wise writings. The hot springs of Badin (Baden-Baden), however, surpass everything else."

The sculptures of the ancient gods Asclepius and Hygea, created by Hans Baur from Constance, can be found in the niches of the central building. Above them, the inspiring words from Goethe's Faust II, allegedly reinterpreted by Josef Victor von Scheffel from Karlsruhe, are emblazoned on two panels: "The wave foams wonderfully, the spring steam flows up hot, courage is inspired, blood is renewed - salvation to water, salvation to fire!"

In the monumental arch above the portal, the centerpiece of this extensive Baden-Baden pictorial program, rises the impressive bust of Grand Duke Friedrich von Baden, to whom the Friedrichsbad owes its name!

In the warm and hot air rooms of the Roman-Irish bathing temple, hand-painted tiles adorn the walls and transport bathers to a lush, exotic world. For more than 145 years, the colors of the wall decorations have shone in their old freshness and lend the rooms a timeless elegance. Graphic ornaments attract the eye and create a calming visual anchor point. The artfully hand-painted ceramics with their white lead-tin oxide glazes originally come from the Mediterranean island of Mallorca. This is also the origin of the term "majolica". The technique of this ceramic, called "faience", was developed by Arabs in Moorish Spain from the 13th century and followed Egyptian and Persian traditions. From the 15th century, it was exported to Italy and referred to as "majolica". Initially, only four "hot fire colors" were used: Copper green, antimony yellow, cobalt blue and manganese violet.

The Grand Ducal Majolica Manufactory in Karlsruhe, founded by Grand Duke Friedrich I, is a remarkable beacon of artistic creativity in Baden-Württemberg. It is still known today as the State Majolica Manufactory and carries on the tradition of handmade ceramic art. The tiles in the Friedrichsbad are therefore not only a visual feast for the senses, but also a window into the artistic history that has emerged from the exquisite Majolica traditions.

The second floor of the Friedrichsbad is home to the Renaissance Hall, a place of remarkable historical significance. Here, a chapter of history is opened that had a far-reaching impact on health and fitness culture.

The Friedrichsbad, an iconic facility in Baden-Baden, rightly bore the title of Germany's first fitness studio. In 1886, a groundbreaking change was made in the Renaissance Hall: forty "apparatuses for mechanical therapeutic gymnastics" were installed here. These machines were used to specifically strengthen strength, circulation and mobility. This marked a milestone that radiated far beyond the borders of the Friedrichsbad.

The introduction of these innovative devices transformed the Renaissance Hall into a place that was regarded as the first perfect model institution for physical healing methods.