We dive into 1001 nights. Let’s float in a hammam that fills us with a soothing warmth, opens our pores and truly cleanses us. Previously, the bath was used as a bathing place. Oriental sensuality, fragrant scents and soft light are part of it. Even today, visitors to Turkish or oriental baths are still concerned with cleanliness. But today, relaxation is also part of it. It is a place of peace where you can close and not be disturbed by the daily noise.
What is a hammam?
Architecturally, the bath is nothing more than an ordinary place. Traditionally, facilities were not usually equipped with windows or ventilation openings. The walls are thick to retain heat. In the baths, it is dark and quiet, which should serve the purpose of complete relaxation.
The first finds proving the existence of such a bath belong to the seventh and eighth centuries AD. Since then, the procedures of the purification ritual have changed little. The key is to still wash and turn it off at the same time.
This is what a hammam visit looks like
The purification ritual in the bath consists of several stages. Clothes are removed and the body is wrapped in a linen cloth called loincloth. First enter the heated area, where you need to get used to the heat and high humidity.
A shower in the hot air room is the first stop to prepare for what lies ahead. It continues until the steam room, where there is a heated core stone in the center, which is used as a sleeping surface. As the heat rises into our pores, we rest, relax, and close. The muscles should relax and the pores should open at 45 degrees for about 15 minutes so that all the dirt can disappear. We throw it out of our body from time to time with warm water.
If you wish, you can also make a cleaning reservation by the pool attendant or the masseur. All sweat, old skin cells and dirt are then removed with an exfoliating glove. It is cleaned up to the skin pores. Soaping by staff is also possible. For this, a special cloth is used, which is skillfully shaken in the air to create foam. While someone else takes care of our washing, we can leave all the daily worries behind in the slight shimmer.
effects of the bath
The skin is not only rid of dirt, but also the blood circulation in the connective tissue is stimulated. As the pores open and the body gets rid of old burdens, serotonin and endorphins, namely happiness hormones, are secreted. Muscles relax, blood circulation increases. Tension and pain in the muscles can be relieved. A regular visit to the oriental bath should ensure that the skin remains youthful and the immune system strengthened.
The most beautiful hammam in Switzerland
Tip 1: Hammam at Hotel Castell in Zuoz GR
You do not need to check-in at Hotel Castell in Zuoz to use the hammam. Here, a modern bathroom with soft light in different tones awaits its visitors. Soap bubble massages can also be booked, reducing the entry price from CHF 42 to CHF 25 (plus the price of the chosen treatment).
More information here.
Tip 2: St. Bath at the Oberwaid Kurhotel & Privatklinik in Gallen
Everyday worries quickly evaporate here: you can completely relax in the hotel, spa and hammam of the Oberwaid clinic. The hotel’s Tau Spa features a fully equipped hammam for an oriental bathing ritual. Outside guests can also visit the building. Daily admission 60 francs.
More information can be found here.
Tip #3: Sihlpark Fitness & Wellness at Schindellegi SZ
At the Sihlpark Fitness & Wellness in the canton of Schwyz you can also enjoy the indoor wellness circuit: clean, sweat, relax. Soap bubble or oil massages with therapists can be booked separately. The bath also offers a cure with healing earth, also known as Rasul. The body is rubbed with it, this creates warmth and the body is also cleansed and detoxified.
More information can be found here.
Tip 4: Stadtbad Zurich
Eastern bath culture can also be discovered in the city on the Limmat. Relax in an elegant atmosphere at the Stadtbad in Zurich’s Volkshaus. Instead of the «Gala», picture books on art or architecture are available here. You pay 54 francs per person for three hours for the hammam tour. Ayurvedic treatments, massages or facials can be booked separately.
More information can be found here.
Tip 5: The Bath Bazaar in Zurich
In the Hamam Bazaar in Zurich, you can not only enjoy the oriental bathing ritual, but also eat healthy and balanced meals. The menu includes vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and lactose-free dishes. Of course, rest and bathing are not neglected here either: “Away from the hustle and bustle of daily life, the ecologically built and operated hamam rooms invite you to purify and relax,” says the website of the hamam temple. Here visitors will find – as it should be – an introverted space to relax without any outside references. Adult admission is CHF 58 for two and a half hours. Women’s Day is Thursday, Friday and Sunday.
More information here.
Tip 6: Aquabasilea in Pratteln BL
You can have internal and external cleaning in the Aquabasilea bath area in the canton of Baselland. “There is power in stillness”, the water park asks for support to maintain the relaxed atmosphere. Treatments for the tour can also be booked. There are various packages offered.
More information can be found here.
Tip 7: Splash & Spa Tamaro at Rivera TI
A touch of the East in Ticino: The Splash & Spa Tamaro adventure pool also includes a modern hammam area. You can also enjoy the open air, clay and salt saunas during the visit. Resul is already included in the entrance fee. Traditional Hammam scrub can be booked for CHF 55.
More information can be found here.
Source : Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
