Baden-Baden, Germany

Baden-Baden is a spa town in southwestern Germany's Baden-Württemberg state, home to roughly 57,000 residents near the Black Forest. Originally established by the Romans as Aquae Aureliae for its thermal springs, the city became a fashionable 19th-century retreat for European aristocracy. In 2021, UNESCO inscribed Baden-Baden as part of the Great Spa Towns of Europe. Key sites include the neoclassical Kurhaus complex, the historic Baden-Baden Casino, and thermal bath complexes like Friedrichsbad and Caracalla Therme. Visitors walk along the park-lined Lichtentaler Allee promenade to enjoy garden views, art museums, and Black Forest hiking routes.