At Hylliger Born, Pyrmont’s oldest healing spring, water bubbles up in a twelve-columned fountain temple. The Wandelhalle is located right next to the spring. Together with the Hauptallee, the spa park and the HUFELAND Therme, water shapes Bad Pyrmont in different ways: as a historic spring, part of the townscape and a wellness offering today.
Avenues and Gardens in the Spa Park
The Hauptallee is the central axis of the spa town and is considered one of Germany’s oldest spa park complexes. Majestic lime trees line the avenue for leisurely strolls, and there is a wide range of places to eat and drink along it. The Palmengarten offers a different setting: it is Europe’s northernmost open-air palm garden and features more than 500 potted plants of various species. The palms grow up to 11 metres tall.
The flowering season is also easy to pinpoint. The 300-metre-long Azaleenweg was laid out in 1926. Its deciduous azaleas bloom in May in vivid colours ranging from yellow to pink and give off an intense fragrance. The barefoot trail, by contrast, offers a year-round way to experience the spa park differently: it can be walked in any season, including winter, but only barefoot. It is more than 180 metres long and around 1.50 metres wide.
The Klosterallee is part of the spa park’s historic avenue system, which is around 3,000 metres long. The western section contains the Asian Refuge, with a Japanese garden and loungers, as well as a hydrangea, maple and snowball garden. A teahouse built around 1810 stands in the Telemanngarten. Visitors can enjoy the tranquillity of the park there over a cup of tea, then relax on the loungers in the neighbouring meadow. The garden areas therefore differ not only in their planting, but also in the ways described for spending time in them.
Healing Springs and Wellness
The Wandelhalle is in the heart of Bad Pyrmont, right next to the town’s oldest spring, Hylliger Born. The healing spring waters are served in the hall, which also houses several shops, a café and an event room. Before your visit, check whether the water service or a particular offering is currently available, so you can plan accordingly.
The HUFELAND Therme complements the history of the springs and baths with a wide range of wellness options: it offers water with a 2% salt content, as well as indoor and outdoor pools. There are also several saunas, a beauty and spa area, a whirlpool and an event pool. When planning your visit, you can therefore choose between the historic spring setting in the centre and the thermal baths’ pools and sauna areas.
History and Culture
Since 1987, the Museum in Bad Pyrmont Castle has housed collections on the town’s history and bathing culture in the Baroque rooms on the castle island. Its story reaches back to the Pyrmont springs’ nearly 2,000-year history. The castle island is also the venue for the “Pyrmonter Sommer”: the large and small castle courtyards provide the setting for events held annually. If you would like to plan your visit around them, check the current programme before travelling.
Another historical trail leads to the Dunsthöhle. It lies on the site of a former quarry where Bunter sandstone was extracted in the 17th century. From a certain depth, quarry workers noticed a “vapour” there. In 1720, Prince Friedrich Anton Ulrich of Waldeck and Pyrmont, with permission, had a stone vault built over the steaming pit, with a small building above it, to provide spa guests with a dry sweat bath. For another way to explore the town’s history, visitors can follow a historic walking tour using the Weserbergland app and discover the spa town’s most significant places.
More Outdoor Discoveries
Ewilpa® Bad Pyrmont in Bergkurpark is open to everyone free of charge. Gathering edible wild plants is explicitly encouraged, except at Station 14. Check the applicable rules before collecting. The wildlife park offers another themed experience: during feeding sessions, visitors learn about the animals’ eating habits, distinctive characteristics and natural behaviour.
These attractions offer different reasons to visit: the azaleas bloom in May, the barefoot trail can be used all year round, and the springs, museum and historic sites offer insights into the town’s bathing history. Which of these aspects matters most to you can shape your choice of activities in Bad Pyrmont.
Discover more destinations: Löwensen, Bad Münder Am Deister, Hameln, Coppenbrügge, Salzhemmendorf, Lauenstein, Aerzen, Emmerthal.
For the broader travel overview: Hameln-Pyrmont.
