Bad Kissingen Park

The dampferle

The Dampferle.  There are 2 boats that run people up and down a 2 mile stretch of the Saale within the park.  One boat as been in use since 1924 and the other since 1964 and do round trip in 40 minutes.   In the winter they pull the boats out on a track and into a garage.   This run picked up about 40 people.  It usually runs in the nice sunny days and is a peaceful trip thru the park.  

flowers and the park

Evidently clubs have adopted places that they take care of.  The children plant the flowers and the older people the tend them

Regentenbau

Flowers tended by a club

The casino

Johanna in the Kneipp pool.  Kneipp was the inventor of hydrotherapy.  The water was quite cold and there was a tub for elbows and hands

park promanade along the Saale

The Saale in the park

Rosengarten across the river

The Saale

Promanade thru the wild rosengarten.  Already bloomed and done

Gradierbau. The rock foundations are where the original Gradier stood including what is still there

Remaining Gradierbau

Folks taking in the cooling salt water air.  Branches are packed tightly together from ceiling to floor.  The water is pumped from deep underground spring by some pumps that were built in 1844 and are still being used.  The water is pumped up to the top and then filters down thru the branches and gives a "cooling by evaparation" effect.  The salt in the water makes it seem like you are on the coast and is considered to have some therapeutic properties.  The day I was here it was around 80 degrees but it seemed a lot cooler near the gradierbau.  I had seen other ones at other spa towns but none of this size. 

The park stretches for at least 4 miles along the Saale.  Germany doesn't have high school sports as America does.  They have a club system.  A lot of the different sports have their venues in the park such as the tennis club, the soccer club and the riding club and I'm sure many more that I didnt see.  Each sport has a clubhouse where the parent can sit and have beer or wine while they watch their kids practice.  The city maintains a greenhouse at the upper end of the park.  I was here 20 years ago in April and one day the park by the Kurgarten looked grey and wintery and the next morning the whole place was planted with the flowers blooming.  Even at this late date, close to Nov.,  there are still flowers at the Rosegarten. 

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