Bad Abbach is a spa town in welcoming Lower Bavaria that’s the birthplace of German Emperor Heinrich II and his sister Gisela, the Queen of Hungary. Granted, this was a thousand years ago and the town has never forgotten that it’s the hometown of royalty. ;-)
Today Bad Abbach is a lively resort town with lots of sporting activities to keep the most fickle of travelers happy. There’s no way anyone couldn’t call Nordic Walking, hiking, biking, miniature golfing, and playing the links on an 18-hole and 9-hole golf course a good time.
More outdoorsy type activities include a leisurely ride along the mighty (and romantic) Danube and lots of fishing. If you rather rough it, try camping. But, there are also both upscale and more economical accommodations if you prefer.
If you want to take a more historical look at this town then you’ve got more stuff to keep you busy. The area of Bad Abbach was once a Roman town and they built an old estate that’s now known as a Villa Rustica. You’ll also find Celtic fortifications, a Town Hall Museum (that’s a lot of history in one place), Henry’s Tower with a church to St. Nikolaus, and the town has its own Pilgrimage Church.
But, the reason most people come to Bad Abbach is for the sulfur springs. Said to help with arthritis and other ailments, the Kaiser-Therme (Emperor Hot Springs — oh, how fitting a name is that?) is one of the most popular. People from all over have been coming to the area of Bad Abbach (only a few kilometers south of medieval Regensburg) since the 13th century to soothe tired, achy joints.
A spell at a Lower Bavarian beer garden can be just as relaxing; and some conversation with the local residents can be quite entertaining.
It’s truly amazing how Bad Abbach rebuilt itself after more than half of it was destroyed by Allied bombings during WWII. I guess nothing is too good for a town built for royalty and enjoyed by all.
