Places on the bicycle route: Bad Schlema

The radon spa in Erzgebirge

Surrounded by diverse, hilly landscape, Bad Schlema is located 360-450 m ASL, nestled in a valley of the Mulde River.

The development of the town is closely associated with radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is present throughout the earth’s crust and in the air. Radon in low doses is attributed to have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, whereas its medicinal properties function to stimulate the body’s own healing powers.

At the beginning of the last century, scientists from Freiberg analyzed the Schlema water and discovered an enormous amount of natural radon. Richard Friedrich, from upper Schlema, continued the analysis and up to 1913 he found more springs, which had the highest radon concentration of all natural waters on earth. To take advantage of this natural phenomenon for the benefit of mankind, a “radium pool” was opened in upper Schlema in 1918.  The enormous increase in the number of spa guests (just in 1943 there were 17,000) led to a repeated expansion of the spa and the spa facilities, as well as the establishment of extensive parks, tourist rentals and modern hotels. Some of the most famous guests at this time were celebrities like Heinz Rühmann, Grete Weiser, Brigitte Horney or Hans Albers.

At the end of World War II, the Schlema valley came under Soviet occupation, who immediately resumed a feverish search for uranium. In the fall of 1946, the first mining equipment was set up just inside the spa area, and only after a few months, all healing springs had dried up.

Thus, the temporary end of radium baths in upper Schlema was sealed. In October, 1998, a new spa was opened after years of effort. Since 2005 the town has the title “Bad” (Bath) in its name.

Bad Schlema belongs to one of the aspiring budding resorts with a vital spa. In the treatment area of the spa house, tub baths and exercise baths are carried out in the radon water to primarily treat diseases of the musculoskeletal system, arthritis, rheumatic diseases and metabolic diseases. Other treatment methods are drinking cures and therapies with radon air.

Rest and relaxation can be found in our health spa “ACTINON” with large pools in the indoor and outdoor areas as well as an attractive sauna and wellness landscape.  The radon and briny therapy pools are appealing with temperatures up to 36°C, as well as numerous air- and water attractions.

Our large-scale park with a sun shade, herb garden, deer park and miniature golf course is ideal for taking long walks. Furthermore, there are well-marked climatotherapy and hiking trails (many of them characterized by mountain history) as well as destinations in the area which provide opportunities for active recreation.

Guests, who would like to trace the footsteps of the mining industry in the Schlema valley, will find them at the visitor’s mine “Markus-Semmler-Stolln” as well as at the Museum of uranium mining.