Old bath Pfäfers

The Alte Bad Pfäfers is the oldest preserved baroque bath in Switzerland. Today, the historic building is a cultural attraction with supra-regional appeal. The historic building stands at the entrance to the Tamina Gorge, where the famous 36.5° C thermal water springs. The history of the Alter Bad Pfäfers begins in 1240, when two hunters discovered a 36.5°C spring in the Tamina gorge. The monks of the nearby Benedictine monastery recognized the healing properties of the water. Over the centuries, the spa grew into an internationally renowned health resort. However, people have not been bathing in Bad Pfäfers for a long time now. It was extensively renovated between 1983 and 1995. Today it is home to a popular restaurant and is a regular venue for various cultural events. The Museum of Bathing History provides an insight into the eventful history of the baths and bathing from its origins to the present day. The Pfäfers Monastery Museum shows the close connection to the history of the spa and presents the Benedictine monastery as the spiritual and cultural center of Sarganserland, from its foundation around 730 to its abolition in 1838. The Paracelsus Memorial shows the life and work of Paracelsus, who was the first spa doctor to work in the old Pfäfers spa. The neo-Gothic bath chapel and the restored old kitchen are also worth a visit. The generously designed media library invites you to linger. The history of the old Bad Pfäfers is presented using various media. A new audio walk invites you on a virtual stroll through the heyday of Bad Pfäfers around 1833.