Quick FactsOverview
About Palais Thermal
Palais Thermal, Germany is a paid thermal spa at Kernerstraße 5 in Bad Wildbad, Baden-Württemberg, in the Enz valley in the Northern Black Forest. The building was designed by Nikolaus Friedrich von Thouret and completed in 1847 as the Graf-Eberhard-Bad. The bathing tradition in Bad Wildbad is documented since 1521. After a 33-million-Deutsche-Mark renovation from 1991 to 1995, it reopened as the Palais Thermal in December 1995. The interior Moorish Hall features 1.4 million mosaic tiles and serves as the central lounge and bistro.
The facility spans 2,000 square metres across four levels with 12 thermal pools at 32 to 38 degrees Celsius, including whirlpools, massage pools, bubble pools, historic princely baths, the Blue Bath, a Kneipp foot path, and an outdoor pool with panoramic sun deck. The sauna world has 4 Finnish saunas at 75 to 95 degrees, a meditation sauna, an oriental sauna, a Roman steam bath, and a tepidarium, with ice lounge and plunge pools. The outdoor rooftop pool and panorama sauna offer views over the Black Forest. Mokni's Palais Hotel connects via bathrobe access.
Location & Access
Getting to Palais Thermal
Palais Thermal is at Kernerstraße 5, 75323 Bad Wildbad, in the town centre beside the Enz river. By car from Stuttgart, travel approximately 60 km southwest via the B10 and B294 through the Black Forest; the drive takes around 60 to 70 minutes. From Karlsruhe, travel approximately 55 km southeast via the B462; around 60 minutes. Parking is in car parks P3 Palais Thermal and P4 Kurzentrum, both directly adjacent and offering three hours free parking to Therme visitors.
Bad Wildbad is served by the Murgtalbahn regional railway from Pforzheim, which connects to the main rail network at Pforzheim Hauptbahnhof. The train journey from Pforzheim to Bad Wildbad takes approximately 45 minutes, and the Palais Thermal is a short walk from the station. From Stuttgart the total rail journey is approximately 90 minutes. Visitors holding the KONUS guest card, valid for all registered accommodation guests in the southern Black Forest region, can use regional public transport free of charge.
Bad Wildbad is a compact spa town with a pedestrian zone, spa gardens, and the Sommerberg funicular to the plateau above, which offers hiking, the Baumwipfelpfad treetop walk, and the WildLine suspension bridge. For visitors seeking hot springs near Stuttgart in the Black Forest, the Palais Thermal is one of the most architecturally significant thermal facilities in Baden-Württemberg.
Suitability & Accessibility
Who Palais Thermal Suits
Palais Thermal suits adults and older visitors who value architectural heritage, historical bathing culture, and a distinctive sense of place over a modern leisure pool complex. The neo-Moorish interior with its mosaic halls, sculptured columns, and historic pool rooms gives the bathing experience a character unlike any standard German Thermalbad, and visitors who appreciate historic spa architecture will find it one of the most impressive in Central Europe.
The facility is mostly textile-free across the sauna areas and the outdoor rooftop pool, following standard German spa culture. Tuesdays are designated textile days on which swimwear is permitted throughout. On all other days, swimwear is permitted in the Blue Bath and in the historic pool section but the sauna world and rooftop pool are textile-free. The minimum age is 14. The layout across four levels is described by visitors as labyrinthine; newcomers should allow time to explore rather than expecting a linear circuit.
Hotel guests of Mokni's Palais Hotel access the Palais Thermal directly via bathrobe corridor from the Badhotel building; guests of the Rossini building cross the Kurplatz in a bathrobe. Hotel guests have entry included throughout their stay. Day visitors purchase tickets at the door with no advance booking required. For those seeking hot springs near Stuttgart in the Northern Black Forest in a facility combining royal heritage, Moorish architecture, and contemporary sauna culture, the Palais Thermal is the most distinctive thermal spa in the region.
Safety & Etiquette
Palais Thermal Safety Tips
Palais Thermal is a managed facility with continuously monitored water quality. The thermal water rises naturally at 36 to 41 degrees Celsius and is maintained in the pools at 32 to 38 degrees. The water contains calcium, sodium, chloride, hydrogen carbonate, and fluoride. Visitors with cardiovascular conditions, high blood pressure, cancerous tumours, acute infections, or pregnancy should seek medical advice before using the thermal pools, particularly the warmer options at or above 36 degrees.
The sauna world includes Finnish saunas reaching 95 degrees and should be approached progressively by visitors new to sauna. Begin with the lower-temperature meditation sauna or tepidarium and increase heat gradually over multiple sessions. Guests should use the plunge pool and cooling zones between sessions and remain hydrated throughout. Exiting directly to cold outdoor air from a hot sauna should be done with care, particularly in winter when the temperature contrast is extreme.
The facility is mostly textile-free across the sauna area and outdoor rooftop pool. Swimwear is not permitted on sauna benches regardless of the textile policy; guests must sit on their towel. The Blue Bath and historic pool section may be used with swimwear. Tuesdays are the designated textile day when swimwear is permitted throughout. The minimum age of 14 is enforced. The multi-level layout can feel disorienting on a first visit; guests should take time to orient themselves and not rush between levels. Lockers are available in the changing areas. The Moorish Hall bistro is on site.
