kurort

Kurort is a German term for a town or locality that specializes in health care and wellness through natural resources or climate, and that provides facilities for spa treatment. The word derives from Kur (cure) and Ort (place). In practice, a Kurort is typically a town with mineral springs, thermal baths, or a favorable climate, where residents and visitors may receive medical therapies, rehabilitation, or preventive care within a dedicated spa infrastructure, including bathhouses, sanatoria, therapy institutes, and spa hotels.

Historically, spa culture developed in Central Europe from Roman times and gained prominence in the 18th and 19th centuries, when travelers sought remedies for rheumatic and respiratory conditions and for general well-being. Many Kurorte built promenades, parks, and distinctive architecture aimed at comfort and health.

Today, the designation and branding of Kurorte remain part of health and tourism strategies in German-speaking countries. In Germany, a town may be officially recognized as a Kurort (or as a Bad) when it offers therapeutic facilities and plays a recognized role in health tourism. Austria and Switzerland maintain similar concepts, sometimes under local terms or administrative frameworks, and integrate spa medicine into regional tourism planning.

Typical features of a Kurort include mineral springs or brine pools, spa hotels, medical centers or rehabilitation clinics, and landscaped environments designed for relaxation and convalescence. Treatment approaches often combine spa procedures, physical therapy, and wellness services with conventional medical care.

Notable examples include Baden-Baden and Wiesbaden in Germany, Bad Ems in Germany, Bad Gastein in Austria, and various Alpine spa towns in Switzerland.