Travel Guide Bad Kissingen

Bad Kissingen is one of those spas that have seen better days. From the mid-19th to the early 20th century, Bad Kissingen underwent phenomenal development around the spa and mineral water-related health practices: the town was modernized, integrated into the rail network and attracted a wealthy, international clientele. During the Belle Époque, it was the meeting place of Bavarian sovereigns, as well as Russian tsars, Austrian emperors and others. Sissi, Ludwig II and Bismarck were just some of the famous spa visitors to Bad Kissingen. Chancellor Bismarck came here every year for some fifteen years and, in 1874, survived an attempted assassination attempt in the street. Today, those prosperous days are over, and the town has fallen into a kind of lethargy from which it is struggling to emerge completely. Many shops are empty and some of the major hotels have had to close their doors. Yet Bad Kissingen retains an elegant, refined silhouette and its main resource - mineral water - is still present, with several fountains in town accessible to passers-by. In 2021, UNESCO has added Bad Kissingen - along with other towns such as Karlsbad, Vichy and Wiesbaden - to its list of "Great Water Cities of Europe". It is to be hoped that this recognition will help the town regain its former prestige. Also in 2021, Bad Kissingen will host the filming of a series on Sissi commissioned by Netflix. Perhaps a sign of renewed popularity for this little spa town?