Baden-Baden, located in the Oos valley between the Black Forest (Schwarzwald) and the Baden vineyards, is one of the most luxurious resorts in Germany. International conferences are often held in town which is also a meeting place for statesmen and the rich and famous. An especially mild climate and wide range of entertainment, including the famous casino, draw visitors year round. The spa was already known in roman times when Emperor Caracalla came here to cure his rheumatism. In the 12th century the town became the seat of the Zähringen branch of the Margraves of Baden. In the 16th century the famous Paracelsus, one of the first to use chemical products, came to look after the Markgrave. In the 19th century the town became the summer capital of Europe: a casino was opened by the Frenchman Jacques Bénazet and the opera was inaugurated in 1862 when Berlioz himself conducted his opera Béatrice and Benedict The Kurhaus was built in 1821 and is very typical with its portico and white Corinthian columns. Glittering balss and concerts are held here. Just northeast of town you can visit the Ebersteinburg castle, with its wonderful views of the Black Forest foothills.
Paracelsus, the man and his times