The Thermal waters of Bad Ragaz
Bad Ragaz is a thermal resort surrounded by water. You can hear the Tamina river roaring through the town, making its way from deep inside the Tamina Gorge. Waterfalls feed the river as it carves its way through the rugged Tamina valley, to finally pour into the powerful Rhein. Meanwhile, the town’s elegantly designed fountains bubble away softly and the healing waters of the Tamina Thermal Baths gently soothe with their hot pools, massaging jets and steam rooms.
My first visit to Bad Ragaz and Termina Thermal Baths was a couple of years ago. A friend and I were browsing through Switzerland’s public transport website (sbb.ch) for relaxing day trip ideas. They offer combi deals – transport + activity or experience at discounted prices.
We found a good spa deal and neither of us had visited Bad Ragaz before, so off we went. We had a nice relaxing time and I recommend both the town and the spa for a place to recharge your batteries.
The things I thought made this day spa experience special were:
- The mountain views from the outdoor pool.
- The steam room – outside the sauna area (where you can keep on your bathing suit)
- The opportunity to join in a mineral salt experience – which includes being handed your mineral salts
- The beautifully designed building with huge oval windows.
- The large amount of jets – in the large indoor and outside pool.
… and of course, a relaxing walk through the resort’s lovely town then a coffee or spritzer at a cafe before the train trip home. This definitely adds to the experience.
What the Spa offers outside the sauna area:
- Large indoor pool 34°C
- Outdoor pool 34°C
- Movement pool/sportpool 32°C
- 2 x Spa pool 36.5C
- Warm waterpool 39°C/ Coldwater pool 17°C
- Steam room 45°C 100% humidity
- A warm towel
- Massage, sunbeds/collarium , Napshell® (extra cost)
- Relax room
- Bio-Textile-Sauna (gentle sauna) 65°C, 50% humidity
- Mineral ceremony in main indoor pool area
- Peeling Bar
Walk to the Taminaschlucht (Tamina Gorge)
Length:
Bad Ragaz – Tamina Gorge 5km
Season and opening times for Tamina Gorge:
Open daily 10am-5:15pm; May to end of October. For exact dates see Altes Bad Pfäfers website.
Alternative to walking:
Bus 453 to Altes Bad Pfäfers at the beginning of Tamina Gorge. Go to sbb.ch (Bad Ragaz to Altes Bad Pfäfers) for timetables.
Height Difference:
170m gradual climb.
Entrance fee for the gorge:
The cost is CHF5 pp (Aug 2023). This can be purchased either at the Altes Bad Pfäfers (entrance gate) or online.
Alternative routes to gorge:
Hiking from towns in hills above the gorge – Valens (925m), Pfäfers (848m) or Vättis (943m).
Exploring further:
Hike from the gorge to part of the Sardona Tectonic Arena – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To experience the formation of mountains and valleys.
Bus & hike or drive to the historic settlement of Sankt Martin, Pfäfers at the edge of an alpine reservoir – also found in the Sardona Tectonic Arena.
Scientists are still unsure about the origins of Tamina’s thermal water. It’s presumed that the waters originate from the Tödi region in canton Glarus, seeping down about 1,000 metres underground. This causes the water to warm and, after about 10 years, it gradually rises through crevasses into the gorge. The mineral water temperature is a constant 36.5 Celsius at the point it emerges, and is soft and free from bacteria. This Grand Resort Bad Ragaz video explains it all perfectly:
There have been thermal baths here since the 16th Century. A museum and information about the story of the baths and the thermal waters can be found at the Altes Bad Pfäfers (old Pfäfers baths) and inside the gorge.
After leaving the town it is a short walk to the Tamina Valley walking trail:
This walk begins at the centre of Bad Ragaz and follows the Badtobelweg. This narrow road runs alongside the Tamina river and ends at the enclosed part of the Tamina gorge (about 4.5 km). The only vehicle allowed on this road is bus 453 that runs from Bad Ragaz train station.
The post bus easily manages to fit through the gap.
There are plenty of opportunities to cool off. Water cascades or trickles down the rockface all along the walk.
The gorge becomes wild and rugged in places – giving the gorge a tropical feel.
Walking under the TaminaBrücke (Tamina Bridge). The largest arched bridge in Switzerland.
Once reaching the gorge through a large opening and turnstile, there is a fenced-off walkway curving alongside the rockface, with water spraying past, and sometimes directly onto it – so expect to get a bit wet when entering.
There is an entrance charge for this enclosed part of the gorge. Tickets are available at the old baths Pfäfer which you walk through just before entry. There is a light show that accentuates the curves of the inner gorge’s walls. These lights are reasonably subtle and double as lighting so you can see where you are going.
Down the rabbit hole….
Once you get to the end of the walkway there are two doors with years 1969 and 1987 written above them – The original entry from the old baths closed in 1969 so this door is closed and locked, however, 1987 opens out to a narrow, dimly lit tunnel. When following the tunnel the temperature rises until finally reaching a dead end. Here is a warm natural spring so you can feel the thermal waters for yourself while reading the information panels. So no white rabbits or mad hatters down here…
When passing back through the altes Bad Pfäfers, there is a kiosk with seating outdoors, a cafe inside and, as mentioned earlier, a museum where the original thermal bathing rooms and a kitchen are displayed.
It is now possible to take a bus back or continue walking to other towns above the gorge.
Fascinating sculptures in the Bad Ragartz Exhibition
Bad RagARTz
Runs from: May-November 2021
(and then every three years)
Entrance Fee: Free
Website: Bad RagARTz.ch
Impressions
This open-air exhibition takes place in and around the town every 3 years and is considered to be the largest open-air sculpture display in Europe. The last exhibition (2021) showcased 83 artists from 16 countries.
It is free to view unless you want to take a guided tour. For me, the interactive sculptures were the best. I was able to add my head to a sculpture full of heads, walk up the stairs of a rusty metal structure and bounce on a beam that sunk partially underground. There are plenty of other pieces where kids can clamber over, through or climb on, however, some sculptures are NOT interactive, indicated with a polite do not touch sign. Also, what are those apes looking at??
