Through the Spa Quarter to the Gönneranlage

Stops along the route

1. 1

   Kurhaus

   bei km 0.2 · show on map

   The columned portico is part of the neoclassical architecture with which Friedrich Weinbrenner shaped spa life in Baden-Baden. The building was constructed between 1821 and 1824 as a Konversationshaus, a place for social gatherings. The name itself hints at its purpose: this was where society met for conversation and entertainment. Behind the portico lies the grand hall. Named after Weinbrenner, it is the oldest surviving part of the building and is used for concerts. The casino is also part of the complex. The building thus brings together several forms of social life that made the spa town famous.

2. 2

   Museum Frieder Burda

   bei km 0.6 · show on map

   White surfaces and large windows define Richard Meier’s museum building. Opened in 2004, it was conceived from the outset as a villa in the park. The trees of Lichtentaler Allee are therefore part of the architectural concept: the glazing creates a connection between the interiors and the surrounding parkland. Daylight also plays a central role. It filters into the exhibition rooms, changing their illumination with the time of day and the seasons. A glass bridge links the museum to the neighbouring Staatliche Kunsthalle. Here, 2 museum buildings from different eras meet directly.

3. 3

   Gönneranlage

   bei km 1.3 · show on map

   Clipped hedges and clear geometric shapes give this garden its structure. Max Laeuger designed it in the early 20th century, taking inspiration from French Baroque gardens. This sets it apart from the open landscape park of Lichtentaler Allee. Its name commemorates the former mayor Albert Gönner. The Josefinenbrunnen fountain was donated by the coffee merchant Hermann Sielcken and named after his wife. The 2 stone figures at the fountain represent bathing and drinking cures. Roses were a later addition to the formal hedge garden: they have defined its summer appearance since the 1950s.

4. 4

   Evangelische Stadtkirche on Augustaplatz

   bei km 1.9 · show on map

   Behind this church lies a long history of donations and interruptions. The Protestant congregation chose the design by Karlsruhe architect Friedrich Eisenlohr. The foundation stone was laid in 1855, but a shortage of funds brought work to a halt at times. Spa visitors supported the construction, as did royal and aristocratic benefactors. The church was finally consecrated on 8 May 1864. Its 2 towers were still unfinished at the time; they were not completed until 12 years later. The building thus also tells the story of the close ties between the local congregation and the spa town’s international visitors.

5. 5

   Theater am Goetheplatz

   bei km 2.3 · show on map

   This theatre was built in 1862 on the initiative of casino leaseholder Édouard Bénazet. He wanted to strengthen Baden-Baden’s role as a meeting place for international spa visitors. The architect Charles Couteau designed a theatre with a grand façade and an auditorium in the French Rococo style. There were also close musical ties with France: Hector Berlioz wrote his opera Béatrice et Bénédict especially for the new venue. It had its world premiere here in the theatre’s opening year. The theatre shows how important the performing arts were to the spa town’s social life, alongside its baths, casino and parks.