Bilzbad pool complex
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© Martin Förster
Friedrich Eduard Bilz was self-taught naturopath who devoted himself to the study of healthy living. In 1882 he published his first book, Human Happiness. A Guide to Health and Prosperity through a Return to Nature, which earned him a fortune and much recognition.
Bilz converted his home in Oberlößnitz into a sanatorium. Demand was high, so he had a four-storey spa house built in the Swiss style on the basis of plans drawn up by master builders Gebrüder Ziller. At the turn of the century, his sanatorium was one of the largest of its kind in the Dresden area, with 150 beds. Bilz also had hundreds of fruit trees planted, and built 20 Lufthütten (“air huts”) and several sports fields. The sanatorium also developed into a cultural centre for the Lößnitz communities through regular concerts in the square and park festivals.
F. E. Bilz was planning to establish a public health centre in the Lößnitzgrund as early as 1903 in accordance with his theory of natural healing, people of all ages and from all walks of life were to be able to move freely there in light bathing costumes.
The wave pool built in 1912 became a special attraction. Its centrepiece, the Undosa wave machine, was purchased by Bilz at the International Hygiene Exhibition in Dresden in 1911. Today, the wave machine is considered to be the oldest machine of its kind and, thanks to a general overhaul in 1998, is still in operation in the Bilz pool.
With its non-swimmer's pool, wave pool, wave machine and camping site, the Bilz-Bad is without doubt the most beautiful outdoor pool in the city in summer.
F. E. Bilz was planning to establish a public health centre in the Lößnitzgrund as early as 1903; by 1905 he had acquired 9 hectares of land for this purpose and in June of the same year opened what was then Germany's largest "light and air bath".
The facility initially consisted of a pool with an island, 50 air bathing cells and a bowling alley; in the years that followed, the baths, which had been run by Bilz's son Johannes since 1906, were expanded several times.
By 1907, there were 3 bathing pools, which were supplied with water from specially constructed wells. In addition, sanitary and utility buildings, gymnastics, tennis and ball courts as well as a music pavilion were built.
In 1928, the establishment, … was also granted a license to serve alcohol and host dances.. On part of the site, which eventually covered almost 30 hectares, numerous tenants built small weekend cottages from 1931 onwards.
In 1975, Hans-Joachim Bilz (1922-2001) had to sell the post-war baths to the city of Radebeul for a minimal price. Between 1992 and 1998, the baths, which were now much smaller, were thoroughly renovated.
During Bilz's lifetime, bathers organized an annual summer festival at the baths, focusing on gymnastics and games. In GDR times, the tenants of the summerhouse continued this tradition, and since 1992, the Bilz-Bund e.V., together with the regional working group for health promotion, health insurance companies and the Eigenbetrieb für Stadtbäder und Freizeitanlagen, has organised the Bilz-Bad-Fest on the last weekend before the summer holidays.
© sbf GmbH
| Bilzbad pool complex Radebeul | |
| Meiereiweg 108 | |
| 01445 Radebeul | |
| +49 351 8387274 | |
| http://www.bilzbad-radebeul.de | |
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Mid-May to mid-September daily 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. June to August daily 9 am – 8 pm |