111km (69 miles) W of Stuttgart, 111km (69 miles) NE of Freiburg, 174km (108 miles) S of Frankfurt
In the 19th century, European nobility rediscovered Baden-Baden, where the bath-conscious Roman emperor Caracalla once came to ease his arthritic aches. Swanky clients such as Queen Victoria, Kaiser Wilhelm I, Napoleon III, Berlioz, Brahms, and Dostoyevsky helped make Baden-Baden the most elegant and sophisticated playground in Germany. Tolstoy set a scene in Anna Karenina here, though he gave the town a different name. Today, the clientele may have changed, but Baden-Baden still evokes an aura of 19th-century privilege, combined with the most up-to-date facilities.
Baden-Baden is the ideal choice for sports and outdoor enthusiasts. Golf, tennis, and horseback riding are all popular. Lovers of horse racing will enjoy the international racing season each August at Iffezheim Track. The surrounding countryside is filled with hiking and mountain climbing options. During the winter, Baden-Baden is a convenient center for skiing: After a day on the slopes, you can return to a soothing swim in a thermal pool and a night out at the casino.
