Europe's famous spa towns - the long road to the World Heritage List

Eleven European spa towns, representing the best examples of their unique urbanistic and architectural typology, were inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in July 2021. These towns—Františkovy Lázně, Karlovy Vary, and Mariánské Lázně (Czech Republic); Baden bei Wien (Austria); Bad Ems, Bad Kissingen, and Baden-Baden (Germany); Spa (Belgium); Montecatini Terme (Italy); Vichy (France); and Bath (UK)—developed around mineral springs and boast meticulously landscaped spa environments integral to their therapeutic routines. The study traces the two-decade journey of this international nomination, highlighting the challenges and achievements in recognizing these sites for their cultural significance.

Kuča, K. (2022). Europe’s famous spa towns - the long road to the World Heritage List. Zprávy Památkové Péče, 82(2), 197–203. https://doi.org/10.56112/zpp.2022.2.06