| Munich Volksbad | ||
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The
Volksbad in Munich are the most beautiful pools in the world. I
know I say this about lots of pools, for example the Jameos
del Agua, or Therme Vals, but really,
these ones are nothing short of stunning.
Considering their Jugenstil beauty and opulence, it is remarkably cheap to visit them and they stay open late too, so there's no excuse not to go. Built in 1901, Munich's first public bathhouse was donated to his fellow-citizens by wealthy engineer Karl Müller. As with many pools of this era the complex hosts two pools for men and women that are now mixed. Both of the pools are incredible, like temples to bathing and swimming decorated with statues, fountainheads spewing water, intricate ironwork and lofty ceilings that would put some cathedrals to shame. 
Müllersches Volksbad also contains a Roman-Irish bathing complex. I don't know where the Irish bit came from, but this area of the building is characterised by a circular hot pool and Romanesque plunge-pools and showers. There's a giant sauna and a series of dry hot rooms that have windows looking out to the sky, which is very unusual. This being Germany, sessions are mixed and nobody wears any clothes. It's kind of weird. 
The steam room is one of my favourite parts of the Volksbad. Massive carved stone plinths form benches on which you sit and sweat. There is a large Jugendstil copper fountain, which adds to the humidity. The scale, the relentless steam, the roughness of the stone, the industrial look of the pipeworks all make you feel as though you are in the belly of a gigantic and beautiful machine. 
The other thing about the Volksbad is that you should always pay the little extra for a large cabin. These line a long dormitory. They are little cubicles carved and painted in a way that would appeal to any Heidi-wannabe. They contain a locker for your stuff, a hook for your clothes, a small mirror and a bed with a blanket and some clean white sheets. Lock yourself in and take a nap, you have all the time in the world, don't worry about the outside world, just lie and rest, let your mind drift and...simply...nod...off. Still awake? Look at some more photographs. |
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