Stuttgart Attractions

Venue: Leuze Mineral Baths    When: Daily

Stuttgart is Germany's leading spa town and its lucky inhabitants have been enjoying its aquatic benefits for more than two millennia. The biggest and most spectacular of the city's public baths is the Leuze Mineral Baths in Bad Cannstatt.

An outing to the baths is an all-out family affair, with all generations coming together to take the plunge in the medicinal waters. After changing into your swimming costume, head to the Kalts Bad Halle. There you take a very hot shower before throwing your poor body into a freezing pool (20°). Initially there seems little point to the whole exercise, but then slowly bubbles form on your skin and your circulation springs into action. Imagine a mix of slapping on mustard and swimming in flat Perrier...

After this exhilarating and thoroughly refreshing experience, it's time to head back inside to more mineral water, this time of a slightly warmer variety (30°), which is an altogether more relaxing experience.

There's also a normal swimming pool with massaging water chutes, loungers for taking in the sun (when available), steam rooms and a sauna. Outside, you can sample the mineral water at a water fountain, but its salty brackishness is certainly an acquired taste.