The world-famous Caracalla Therme
The place to be visited next was Caracalla Therme (Caracalla spa). Caracalla Therme is right adjacent to the Friedrichsbad. If Friedrichsbad is “The place for revival”, a calming bathing facility with an ancient Roma theme, Caracalla Therme is “The place for leisure”, a facility to enjoy sauna bathing and swimming pools. Casual yet genuine spa facility (of over 4000 ㎡ of space!) is being visited by people from all over the world. In fact, there are quite a few bathing facilities that have drawn inspiration from Caracalla Therme in Japan too.
This modern and beautiful facility with charming facade is divided into two parts: Baden zone (swimming suit required) in the 1 st floor and sauna zone (mixed bath, no swimming suits allowed) in the 2nd floor.
The Baden zone with its impressive dome ceiling is filled with natural light and a sense of openness. Besides the biggest hot spring pool in Europe, it has a full set of a cave bath with a waterfall showers, aroma steam bath etc.; Also, open air pools, Jacuzzis, all comfortably at one’s disposal.
In the sauna zone one has at his disposal 8 different kinds of indoor and outdoor saunas, including: a spectrum sauna, that combines the effects of light, sound and scents; aroma steam sauna; mountain hut sauna etc. Aufguss (literal translation: infusion), sauna entertainment originating from Germany, is conducted every one or two hours to entertain “sauna beginners” as well as seasoned saunners (sauna fans) from all over the world.
Furthermore, a complete nudity and mixed bathing are a standard in German sauna. For the Japanese women, this might be somewhat distressing. But we’d like to encourage those with an open mind to try this out, and we’re quite positive that it will prove to be a valuable and rich experience. And of course, there is also “a ladies’ day” on Wednesdays when one sauna room is in exclusive use for females.