From the Roman aristocracy congregating for social leisure to Victorian England’s pursuit of health remedies, Europe’s ancient spa towns have always attracted tourists seeking wellbeing. Eleven of these healthy hubs, including Bath in the United Kingdom, Baden-Baden in Germany, and Vichy in France, are listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
However, the natural springs that have produced these popular tourist attractions may soon be threatened by drought, floods, and increasing temperatures. The Great Spa Towns of Europe are joining the National Geographic Society’s Preserving Legacies initiative to safeguard their cultural heritage from climate-related threats in the face of global warming.
According to Naomi O’Toole, communications coordinator for The Great Spa Towns of Europe, the continent’s renowned spa towns and the spa craze of the 18th and 19th centuries were sparked by the continent’s natural springs.
There is not yet enough data evidence to help us understand precisely how rising temperatures, floods, and drought may affect spring emergence points and water flow rates,” she adds. However, the effects are already being seen as more and more spa towns such as Spa in Belgium in 2021 and Baden bei Wien in Austria in 2024, are being impacted by flooding.
Also Read:
In Texas, a Deadly Measles Outbreak Does little to Dispel Vaccine Skepticism
