“This bronze is incredible” whispers a tourist. Right here before us stands Badende a bronze sculpture by Hans Brandenberger. It depicts bathers enjoying the thermal springs. This is Baden a town famed for its mineral-rich waters since Roman times. Aquae Helveticae the Romans called it. They built baths here. Imagine the legionaries relaxing after a hard day.
The springs were valued for their medicinal properties. Vitruvius Pliny and Galen all wrote about them. Not everyone agreed though. Hippocrates warned against mineral spring water. But Baden’s waters proved popular. The town thrived. The waters were said to cure gout and rheumatism. Famous figures visited. Goethe Nietzsche and Thomas Mann came. Hermann Hesse was a regular visitor for almost thirty years.
Baden was more than just a spa town. It was an important political center. The Swiss Diet met here repeatedly from 1426 to 1712. The Rathaus or Town Hall still stands. It hosted important debates. One famous debate on transubstantiation took place in 1526. Zwingli didn’t attend but sent his assistant.
Baden was also a center of innovation. It got Switzerland’s first electric street lighting. The town’s industrial past is also significant. Brown Boveri a company later part of ABB was based here. The former industrial quarter is now being redeveloped. It is now a mix of offices shops and leisure facilities.
Badende itself is a tribute to Baden’s history. The bronze bathers symbolize the town’s long association with its thermal springs. It is a reminder of the people who have sought relaxation healing and enjoyment in Baden’s waters for centuries. It is a beautiful piece of public art. Take a moment to appreciate the detail. Notice the expressions on the bathers’ faces. Feel the warmth of the sun on their skin.
So let’s move on. We have much more to explore in this fascinating Swiss town. But remember Badende and what it represents. The history of healing the legacy of industry the enduring charm of Baden.