Bad Nauheim Sprudelhof

Built between 1905 and 1911 to a single plan, the Sprudelhof is a complex of six bath houses arranged around a courtyard with fountains, and each house was given its own decorative scheme in tile, glass, wood and stucco by different artists working in the Jugendstil manner; it is described as the largest closed Art Nouveau ensemble in Germany. Carbonated saline springs feed it. The Grand Duke of Hesse, who had already sponsored the Darmstadt artists' colony, backed the project. Elvis Presley was stationed in Bad Nauheim during his army service from 1958 to 1960 and lived in the town, which it still marks.

What you actually see

• The six bath houses - each with its own Jugendstil decorative scheme.
• The fountain courtyard - a formal court linking the whole complex.
• The Jugendstil detail - tile, glass and stucco work by different artists.
• The Elvis connection - the town where he lived during army service.

When to go

April to October; some bath houses are open only on guided tours or event days, and restoration has kept parts closed for years. Courtyards are freely accessible.

Honest expectations

Several bath houses remain closed pending restoration and cannot be entered. Tours are limited. The modern spa is separate from the historic complex.

Nearby

Frankfurt lies south; the Taunus rises west.