Spa town

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This article is about a town frequented for health reasons. For other uses, see Spa (disambiguation).
Taking the waters at Bath became a fashionable means of leisure

A spa town — or simply a spa — is a town situated around a mineral spa (a developed mineral spring). Patrons resorted to spas to "take the waters" for their purported health benefits. The word comes from the Belgian town Spa. In continental Europe a spa was known as a ville d'eau (town of water). The term spa is used for towns or resorts offering hydrotherapy which can include cold water or mineral water treatments and hot thermal baths.[1]

Contents

[edit] United Kingdom

See: List of spa towns in the United Kingdom

Some but not all British spa towns contain "Spa", "Wells", or "Bath" in their names, e.g., Matlock Bath. Some towns are designated Spa Heritage Towns. Both English towns granted the title "Royal", Royal Leamington Spa and Royal Tunbridge Wells, are spa towns.

[edit] Australia

Most of the mineral springs in Australia are in the Central Highlands of Victoria, although there are a few springs in South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland. Most are within 30 km of Daylesford, Victoria: the Daylesford and Hepburn Springs call themselves the 'Spa Centre of Australia'. [2]

[edit] Bulgaria

The Roman walls of Hisarya. Many spa towns in Bulgaria exist since the Roman Empire.

See: List of spa towns in Bulgaria

Bulgaria is known for its over 500 mineral springs including the hottest spring in the Balkans in Sapareva Banya - 103°C. Other famous spa towns include Sandanski, Hisarya, Bankya, Devin, Kyustendil, Varshets.

In Bulgarian language the word for a spa is баня (transliterated banya).

[edit] France

See: List of spa towns in France

As the first tourist destination in the world, there are more than 50 spa towns in France, including Aix-les-Bains, Bagnoles de l'Orne, Enghien-les-Bains.

[edit] Croatia

See: List of spa towns in Croatia

In Croatia, the word Toplice implies a spa town.

[edit] Germany

See: List of spa towns in Germany

In Germany, the word Bad implies a spa town.

[edit] Romania

See: List of spa towns in Romania

In Romania, the word Băile implies a spa town.

[edit] Serbia

See: List of spa towns in Serbia

Serbia is known for its many spa cities. Some of the best known springs are the Vrnjačka Banja, Bukovička Banja and Niska Banja.

In Serbia, the word Banja implies a spa town.

[edit] Other countries

See: List of spa towns

[edit] See also

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[edit] References

  1. ^ "Healing Waters; Investigative Files (Skeptical Briefs June 2005)". http://csicop.org/sb/2005-09/i-files.html. Retrieved 2008-02-03. 
  2. ^ http://www.mineralwater.vic.gov.au/quicksite/?id=tourism#activities Victorian Mineral Water Committee Tourism information

[edit] External links

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