European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 26, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                By Linda White travel editor Elicious Jugendstil architectural confection. The Bath House Complex in the Gorman spa bad nauheim. 22 Miles North of fran Lurl us off the a-5 autobahn is a feast for the eyes. It is the largest uniform Complex of Jugen Sld buildings in the country. Jugendstil is the Gorman name Lor Hal Short lived period of excitement in Arl and architecture at the turn of tha Century also known As Art Nouveau. Ii got ils Start in Germany in Darmstadt at the artists Colony around the Malhilde Hohe As it simultaneously blossomed in Prague. Vienna and Paris. Ii is distinctive for its sinuous even erotic curves and sprawlings symmetrical but Wilh hardly a straight Edge or Square Corner to to seen. The bad nauheim apr Uelhof Fountain court built Between 1905 and 1011. Is the Center of the Jugendstil Complex that stretches from the railway station through the Kur Park cure Pareto the Hurnaus. Ii a Bast known for its windows the fountains in stained Glass in the administration building at Ludwi Strasse 20 Are Fine examples and or the courtyard of Bath House 7. The courtyard is surrounded by the building arcades held by stylized figure columns in italian terracotta designed in Darmstadt the courtyard is perfectly quiet inviting one to sit on the Terra Cotta benches amid Lowers spilling red Blue purple yellow Over the gravel path. The figures on the columns Are mainly water creatures. Throughout the Complex the appreciation of water and health is symbolized. Though the Bath houses appear to to the same at first glance a peek inside reveals that the decorations Dilford irom one to the next. Each has a waiting room done in ceramics or mosaics or Marble Wilh finely crafted Copper camouflage for the radiators. Radiator heal was an advanced notion for the limes installed because it was much healthier for the a aliens than breathing sooty air. The heating Plant whose Chimney soars behind the railway Stalion still provides warmth for the spa As Well As for the . Army facilities in town. The individual treatment Cabins also differ decoratively and Many still have their oversized Hospital White chairs. The tubs Are Wood a Row of knobs along the front controls the various types of water treatment. Each tub has a built in Towel warming compartment. When a patient finishes Tho Bath he is wrapped in warm towels and allowed to rest once the spa had Lour special balls for Royalty but now Only one is open used exclusively by a saudi who has been taking the cure there for 18years, his Bath is All Marble with brass fittings and Gold placed mosaics but the decor harks Back to classicist rather than being typical Jugendstil bad nauheim has been an enclave of the Rich and famous since the new buildings changed its character it began As a realm on Center or employees of is Salt works among the Etile visitors were bismark. Ausna s beloved Empress of Isibell Sissy and Franklin d Roosevelt Roosevell spent a couple of years there As a child and Many local people believe that s Why i he town was spared bombing in world War ii even though a nazi radio Iran Miller was Sel up there Roosevelt s family divided their Lima Between their Home in America and various recoils m Europe when he was growing up when the War was Over. Bad nauheim was Sas Poloi or 6hoa Hoster Headquarters of the . Army before Headquarters was moved to Heidelberg ii still has a . Installation this is where Elvis Presley was stationed when he was in the army. Since the War the spa business has changed Many private clinics have their own Hook  to the warm Mineral Springs underneath the town. That Means Hal some of the spa buildings Are not in use. And to Sec them a visitor must Lake the guided tour that starts at 3 . Each wednesday year round. Cost is 2 Marks about $1.10. Ii is in German but English Tours can be arranged for groups. The tour begins underneath the fountains in the Center of the Complex. Three Wells produce Waler with a Salt Content equal to that of the North sea and Wilh a temperature Between 30 and 33 degrees centigrade 86-plus fahrenheit a Section of Clear tubing shows i to water coursing through the pipes natural pressure Means in does t have to be pumped. The water which comes from an ancient Volcano in the Vogelsberg is High in Carbon dioxide so when i reaches the open air Rusl forms quickly. The water bubbles White from the fountains but the pools Are a murky Reddish color. Schematics on tha Walls underneath the fountains show the geological split Limestone and Quartz collide and orce the water to the surface which has blessed the town with Healing water. Another drawing shows How the Mineral strength can be regulated Lor various treatments the bathing treatments Are Given at the Surv Zelhof a second treatment Center is the  the drink Center. Ii is set apart from the other buildings behind a Church which stands on Iho site of the town s Lisl spa a building containing eight tubs and nine apartments. The drink Hall is also Jugendstil also set in a Park where the town orchestra plays on a sunny afternoon in the ban Shell beside the Pool inside the Hall one rents a handled Glass of Pink Green or Clear Crystal marked with Milli Liler measure the octagonal water bar is done in Brown and Green ceramics from the Darmstadt school. The patient drinks from one of the three welts each Well has ils own Sel of brass spigots and water can be ordered warm or cold. It tables better cold but is healthier warm and it really does taste medicinal. Water irom the Kari Brunnen is Lor the stomach and contains 1 percent sail Waler from the Kur Brunnen is for the liver and bile and contains 1,2 percent Salt. Hearl and kidney patients gel the Best tasting water though it Mebs of Sulphur that from the Ludwig Brunnen containing 0.1 percent Salt. Health care is a entered at the two stir areas but the town s cultural and social Center is the Hurnaus set behind a Bank of Flowers at the end of a manicured Park the sprawling building houses meeting and parly rooms of All sizes a cafe and restaurant the luxury Par hotel belonging to the Best Western Chain and Tho healer. Seven Jugendstil paintings from bade aus 2 have been moved to its foyer. The theater recently burned but has been rebuilt in the original style. Visitors can get a Good View of the Overall Complex irom the railway station at one end and the Johann Sherg cafe in the Forest at the other they can also Lake a pleasant tour around Lown by horse and carnage year round the town a Al its most festive the last sunday