Baden, Switzerland, has been synonymous with bathing for over two thousand years. Its name literally means “baths,” a legacy dating back to the Romans who first settled around the area’s natural hot springs. When the city’s last public baths closed in the mid-20th century, a piece of communal culture faded, until a group of friends decided to bring it back.

In 2012, they began meeting at night with makeshift wooden tubs, channeling 46.6°C sulfur-rich thermal water straight from the street vents. By 2017, the collective had formalized as Bagni Popolari with a mission to research, preserve and further develop the 2000-year-old communal and non-profit bathing tradition in public thermal baths in Baden. The association earned support from the city and permission to build two outdoor thermal pools along the Limat River.  Constructed with the help of local architects, chemists, and builders, the pools use only natural mineral water - untreated, flowing directly from Baden’s ancient source. To satisfy city regulations, they’re officially registered not as “pools,” but as “fountains”.

Today, more than 900 members sustain the project through shared ownership, volunteerism, and art. Through its residency and exhibition programs, Bagni Popolari continues to merge bathing and creativity. Installations turn steam, sound, and water into participatory art. The hammam-like acoustics of the bathhouse amplify visitors’ voices, reminding them that resonance, both physical and social, grows stronger when people listen to one another. 

Bagni Popolari is supported by volunteers from all over the community and is open to all individuals, clubs, or groups interested in helping out. 

Special Thanks:

To the Board of the Association Bagni Popolari and the Board of the Cooperative Bad zum Raben for their support and collaboration.

Historical Images (Public Domain, courtesy of Historisches Museum Baden):

• Mathäus Merian d. Ae, 1642 – Q.02.8999

• C.W. fecit, Caspar (Leontius) Wyss (1762–1798) – Q.02.8414

• Ludwig Vogel – Q.02.8040

• C. Koller del. / C. Rordorf sc. – Q.02.8406

• Jacob Mayer-Attenhofer – Q.02.8465