Bad Ragaz

Bad Ragaz, a lovely town with about 6,000 people, is tucked away in the canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland. Originally a small farming community at the meeting of the Tamina Valley and the western edge of the Rhine Plain, this little town has developed into a well-known health resort drawing guests from all over Europe and beyond.

Bad Ragaz’s history begins in the Neolithic era; the first known written reference of the settlement comes from 843 AD, when it was called “Ragaces.” For millennia, the fate of the town was entwined with that of the Benedictine Abbey of Pfäers, which possessed major rights and land holdings in the vicinity. The Palais Hof Ragaz, once the lieutenant’s residence for the prince-abbot, still clearly shows the abbey’s impact today.

Beginning in the 19th century, Bad Ragaz evolved from an agricultural town into a chic health resort. The channeling of spring water from Bad Pfäers in the neighboring Tamina Gorge to Ragaz acted as the impetus for this shift. The town’s official renaming as Bad Ragaz in 1937 followed from this development, which signaled the beginning of its reputation as a spa destination.

The thermal springs that map Bad Ragaz have a rich history all their own. Rising in the Tamina Gorge, the Old Bad Pfäer is the first baroque spa building in Switzerland. Originally home to a museum honoring the spa history of Bad Ragaz and Pfäers, this ancient site—where the eminent physician Paracelsus once practiced—now serves as a reminder of its healing powers. The 36.5°C thermal water‘s therapeutic qualities attract guests looking for rest and renewal still.

Bernhard Simon from Niederurnen bought the Ragaz domain from the canton in 1868, so solidifying the town’s reputation as a health resort. With the building of many hotels and guest houses, this purchase brought in an era of fast development. For European and Russian nobility as well as intellectuals from the spheres of politics, business, art, and literature, Bad Ragaz soon became a preferred location.

Another turning point in the evolution of the town was the founding of the Ragaz-Pfäers spa and health resort company in 1911. But the development was momentarily stopped in 1941 when a fire seriously destroyed the Grand Hotel Quellenhof, so affecting tourism in the years following World War Two. National Councillor Hans Albrecht‘s efforts helped the Quellenhof to be rebuilt, so enabling Bad Ragaz to once more be a top spa destination.

Bad Ragaz has kept developing and adjusting to the times in recent years. The town’s appeal to outdoor enthusiasts and winter sports aficionados has improved with the total modernization of the Pizol cable cars in 2007 and the gondola installation from Bad Ragaz to Alp Pardiel. Moreover, the opening of the Heidiland motorway service station has positioned Bad Ragaz as the entrance to the canton of Graubünden, so raising its strategic relevance in the area.

The architectural legacy of the town mirrors its rich past. The Catholic parish church of the Assumption of Mary adds to the cultural fabric of the town center; the neo-Gothic Evangelical Church of Bad Ragaz is evidence of the religious variety of the town. Especially notable is the St. Leonhard Chapel, identified as a national cultural treasure. Those who enjoy history will also value the remains of Freudenberg Castle, which provide a window into the medieval past of the region and date back to the first half of the 13th century.

The cultural importance of Bad Ragaz transcends its architectural wonders. Literary masterpieces of ongoing popularity have come from the town. Here, about 1880, Johanna Spyri wrote the cherished children’s tale of Heidi, perfectly capturing the core of Swiss alpine living. The calm of the town also inspired the poet Rainer Maria Rilke to pen “Being Here is Wonderful” while visiting Bad Ragaz.

Leading proponent of German idealistic philosophy Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling has a place of respect in the town cemetery. His presence emphasizes Bad Ragaz’s historical ties to artistic and intellectual interests even in death.

Bad Ragaz is still vibrant today as a tourist destination as well as a residential area. Its first-rate transportation system guarantees simple access with the Bad Ragaz train station manned by several regional and inter-regional lines. The town is also conveniently connected by road; the A13 motorway is essential for getting anywhere in Switzerland or beyond.