While wellness and self-care have recently been repackaged as new concepts, the original tenets of physical and emotional wellbeing date back to ancient civilisations from Egypt to Greece, where it was not only a way of life and a cultural priority, but also an essential communal pursuit. Not far from the border of France and set alongside the winding River Oos, historic Baden-Baden is an ideal setting from which to explore the Black Forest. Set in a valley between the Rhine and the Taunus Mountains, Wiesbaden is the perfect size for a weekend city break.
Later, head for sunset cocktails at Milchbar and live music at Atelier. Stay at the Landhaus Benediktenhof so you can benefit from its natural cold-water pool, and get a day pass to other spas. Therme is the main spa resort here, where the water has an average mineral content of 2,mg per litre — there are eight types of health pool, plus 12 types of sauna. The Alpine landscape of spa town Garmisch-Partenkirchen is breathtaking, both literally and figuratively: the glassy lakes, snow-topped mountains and verdant forests make for seriously stunning hiking terrain.
This is nature at its most high-octane, but the faster you go, the more you can see. Poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe drew inspiration for his epic poem Hermann and Dorothea from Bad Elster, one of the oldest mud spa towns with mineral-rich waters and moor mud. After a session at the spa, take a romantic horse and carriage from Hotel Goldner Anker and enjoy a leisurely walk around the landscaped gardens by Lake Louisa.
Riesling, from the Rhine, is one of the best-known varieties, and wine-tasting trips to taverns, vineyards and wineries are easy to book.
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