DEUTSCHLAND	GERMANY
Bundesland: Baden-Württemberg
Regierungsbezirk: Stuttgart
Landkreis: Heilbronn

map →

Bad Rappenau is situated at an elevation of 250 m in the hill country of the upper Kraichgau region. The first mention of Rappenau in a document dates from 1190. The village itself began to develop in the mid-14th century. The Renaissance castle of Rappenau was built in 1601 and today is used by the city administration. The history of Bad Rappenau as a spa goes back to 1822 when a rich salt deposit was found at a depth of 175 m. Soon, plans were made to use the saline for bathing cures. A petition was sent to the Grand Duke of Baden, but as the state did not show any interest to establish a spa itself, a public limited company was formed in 1832. The first spa bath opened two years later. The predicate Bad (spa) was awarded in 1930. Bad Rappenau obtained the official status of a town in 1973.

The building of the Sanatorium [left] was opened in 1912. It was established by the Heidelberg physician Oscar Vulpius as a treatment facility for bone, joint and endocrine diseases. Today it serves as an orthopaedic hospital (named after its founder Vulpius-Klinik).