Bad Gastein-Holiday destination for the Rich and Powerful

Gastein derived from the Indo Celtic word Gastuna which means a white/grey stream of water. Bad of course ,as in Hindi, means a body of water, a spring, or spa. The hot springs in the  area  had remarkable healing effects and soon the area became famous for the curative effects of the hot springs and started drawing people in search of cures. The Emperor of Austria  Franz in the 1800s and the Archbishop of Salzburg contributed through land donations and royal funds to develop the area and soon Bathing Houses sprung up along the river flowing through the centre of the city.  The Kings and  Emperors  of Europe  started coming to Gastein to take the water treatment  and then meetings and conferences between kings and emperors taking place in  Bas Gastein . At that time Austria was the biggest empire in which the sun never set. Bad Gastein became the holiday destination for Europe’s rich, powerful and the famous.



The picture on the left shows how the water treatment was taken in those times. It was required to spend at least 90 to 100 hours in the water to complete the treatment. The ailments for which the treatment was effective were rheumatism, arthritis, various skin ailments, blood pressure etc.  In the 15th century a new branch of medicine called  Balneology was developed which dealt with treatment of disorders by the use of water and hot springs. The hot waters of Gastein with the Radon Gas were perfectly suited for balneology and on the left is an illustration of patients undergoing treatment. Please note the waterfall in the picture.Water

In the 1950s effective  Medical Treatments started coming up for the disorders which Balneology was treating and Bad Gastein started losing its visitors and importance. To take care of the issue  Bad Gastein was developed into a Ski Resort and the Cable Cars, Chairlifts were installed along with artificial snow making infrastructure and today bad Gastein is one of the top Ski Resorts with "After Ski Nightclubs , Discotheques, Restaurants ,Pubs” and the Bathing Houses (like Bellevue Mondi” also, were converted into luxury hotels and resorts.

The Wasserfall (Waterfall) through the centre of the city  . It is the same as shown in the old painting in which patients are taking the water treatment of Bad Gastein.

Hotel Bellevue Mondi -RCI Resort at Bad gastein

Hotel Bellevue Mondi Bad Gastein Austria

Our RCI resort at Bad Gastein was Hotel Bellevue of the Mondi group of Hotels. The group has 5 hotels in the area which are absolutely jam packed during the Skiing season which starts from Nov  and continues up to March. Built in 1831 as a Spa the Bellevue is a luxury hotel catering to  ski guests. The restaurant serves good food along with excellent beer  during the daily dinner buffet. 

Jagerhaus Restaurant, Bellevue Mondi, Bad Gastein, Austria

At the back of the resort about 200 ft below is another Resort Restaurant called Jagger Haus which served excellent Austrian beer. The waitress in Bavarian dress was surprised that my wife refused the beer ,preferring the water instead. She did not know that it was the holy fasting period of Nav Durge when Indians are supposed to fast for 9 days. We needed to purchase some groceries and the helpful waitress guided us by pointing upwards and said go up and up and up............. We had to do just that ,and it was a steep climb.

Inside Hotel Bellevue Mondi-Bad Gastein, Austria Our unit No 1002 ,on the ground floor consisted of a Living room on the upper level and a bedroom on the lower level. On the ground floor was our kitchen and dining area. Resort Suite Hotel bellevue Mondi, Bad Gastein, Austria  Extremely comfortable. It was one the good accomodations we have enjoyed courtesy RCI. The balcony of the living room ,opening in front of tall pine trees, was the perfect place to enjoy the October Alpine weather. Excellent Weather In Bad Gastein with Stiegl,Austria Bellevue Mondi was established in the ninteenth century as an upper class spa for water treatement.Water treatment was the only sucessful cure for rheumatism ,arthritis and blood pressure etc and therefore the rich and the famous of Europe came to Bad Gastein to take the waters and get relief. By the twentieth century medical science had provided better and sure shot cures for most of the diseases and Bad Gastein changed to a Ski Resort and accordingly Bellevue Mondi changed from a Spa to a modern hotel with all weather swimming pools instead of spas. All Weather Swimming Pool of Bellevue Hotel Mondi, Bad Gastein, Austria