Ludwigsbad

The former spa hotel Ludwigsbad in Bad Aibling was Bavaria’s first peat pulp spa and the world’s first saline peat pulp health resort. Its origins date back to a "Soolen- und Moorschlamm-Badeanstalt" founded by the royal Bavarian court physician Desiderius Beck in 1845.

The Ludwigsbad in the 19th century (wood engraving after Max Kuhn, about 1870)

History

19th century

In the middle of the 19th century, the spa was the centre of Bad Aibling's health resort business. Despite this, it got into economic difficulties, which were solved when the spa was taken over by the entrepreneur Karl von Berüff.

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  External view of the Ludwigsbad ca. 1900
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  Dining room about 1900

20th century

After the owner's family had contracted debts and made default in payments, the Ludwigsbad had to be put up for compulsory sale in 1902. The entrepreneur and financier Ludwig Meggendorfer acquired the long-standing estate. Extensive reconstruction introduced a then very advanced equipment including a steam heating system, electrical light baths, hydro-electric baths and shower rooms. Under the control of the engineer von Hößle a modern spa house was erected, which featured an automatic peat pulp conditioning plant. This installation according to the "Meggendorfer-System" was able to optimise both the consistency of the mud and to disinfect it.

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  External view, ca. 1905
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  Northern buildings, ca. 1910
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  Total view of the Ludwigsbad installations, ca. 1918
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  Memorial plaque for Dr. Desiderius Beck at the former hotel's northern wall
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  Memorial plaque for Ludwig Meggendorfer

21st century

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  The dismantled spa hotel Ludwigsbad before the arson (Summer 2006)

External links

• Article on the Ludwigsbad in the official history of the city of Bad Aibling (in German)