Celebrating Europe's thermal water sources
Every year, on World Water Day, the 22nd March, we celebrate the water sources which are at the heart of our Historic Thermal Towns. It’s a day where our member towns and thermal regions can give access to their heritage and healing springs in interesting and unusual ways, such as open days, special offers, water bars, guided walks, and behind the scenes tours. This reinforces the importance of our waters and the history behind them to both local residents and visitors, welcoming everybody to explore our fascinating world of health, tradition and well-being.
Mr Manuel Baltar, President of EHTTA speaks about the importance of our water sources an Groundwater on World Water Day 2022.
This year, please tell us how you see your thermal town in the past, present and future and what thermal water means to you. Scroll down to find your flag to connect to the short survey!
World Water Day 2022 in Historic Thermal Towns
- Baden bei Wien, Austria – guided tours to explore the sources of “yellow gold” and fantastic bathing stories and tell you about the bathing culture, as well as the launch of some new tourism products.
- Bad Kissingen has an extensive programme for World Water Day including Guided walks/tours throughout the town: Water technology in history and today; From brine to salt; Experience refined salt; Maxbrunnen: History, springs protection and techniques. There is also an exhibition – “Ground Water and World Heritage in Bad Kissingen” in the Wandelhalle.
- Budapest in Hungary is launching online quizzes and surveys on the 22nd and then putting on free guided tours with a prize draw to the famous baths – Széchenyi, Gellért, Rudas, and Lukács as well as mineral water tasting tours. In all nearly 200 people will be able to take part on these tours.
- Caldas da Rainha, Portugal, is holding a special concert and will be opening restored historic fountains.
- Ourense, Spain is running two main activities. Popular free water yoga lessons held Tues to Sun at the just-reopened thermal spaces of Outariz and Burga de Canedo. Also on March 22nd, local tourist guides will be offering three free tours around the hot springs of As Burgas, explaining the importance of water sources (and underground waters) in the history of Ourense.
- In São Pedro do Sul, in Portugal, there’s a whole day of free activities that includes a guided walk, films about the water origin and its importance and, a guided tour to the natural spring and geothermal system and a thermal experience
- Wiesbaden, Germany – World Water Day talks and tours kick off a whole year of celebrating a Year of Water. A new statue of a spear, representing the founding myth of Wiesbaden will also be unveiled on World Water Day.
- One of our newest members, Varaždinske Toplice has organised a concert at the archeological site AQUAE IASAE in the old Roman Basilicum. First Ode to Joy (written in Baden bei Wien) will be played by brass section from Music School Varazdin and afterwards jazz duo- guitar and saxophone- will play jazz classics.
What'Spa Survey 2022
Do you live in a thermal town, or did you visit thermal spa towns when you were a child? Are they important destinations to you now, especially after the pandemic? Visiting one of our Historic Thermal Towns is about drinking or bathing in the the waters but also so much more! We have architecture, history, culture, events, parks, landscape, relaxationand stories of the famous people that visited the towns in the past. How do you feel about your spa town? What does it mean to you to live there or visit?
For World Water Day, we would like to find out what YOU think about your thermal spa town in the past, present and future, and what thermal water means to you.
Find a survey in your language below and please let us know how you value your thermal water.
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