Bad Wörishofen | ||
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Coordinates: 48°00′21″N 10°35′49″E / 48.00583°N 10.59694°ECoordinates: 48°00′21″N 10°35′49″E / 48.00583°N 10.59694°E | ||
Country | Germany | |
State | Bavaria | |
Admin. region | Schwaben | |
District | Unterallgäu | |
Government | ||
• Mayor | Klaus Holetschek (CSU) | |
Area | ||
• Total | 57.80 km2 (22.32 sq mi) | |
Elevation | 603-670 m (−1,595 ft) | |
Population (2015-12-31) | ||
• Total | 15,446 | |
• Density | 270/km2 (690/sq mi) | |
Time zone | CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2) | |
Postal codes | 86825 | |
Dialling codes | 08247 | |
Vehicle registration | MN | |
Website | www.bad-woerishofen.de |
Bad Wörishofen (German pronunciation: [ˈvøːʁɪsˌhoːfə̆n]) is a spa town in the district Unterallgäu, Bavaria, Germany, known for the water-cure (hydrotherapy) developed by Sebastian Kneipp (1821–1897), a Catholic priest, who lived there for 42 years. Many of the resort hotels and boarding-houses in Bad Wörishofen offer their guests treatment using Kneipp's methods.
The new spa complex out of town is called Therme Bad Wörishofen. Time Magazine called the city "The secret capital of health".
The town is located on the Wörthbach, a tributary of the Mindel River, in which is a frontier region straddling Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. It is approximately 80 km / 50 miles west of Munich and 35 km / 22 miles east of Memmingen.
The first known reference to the place dates from 1067, where it is described as the lordship "Werenshova". The name is thought to mean "Homestead of Werin". For centuries Wörishofen was an agricultural settlement. Between 1719 and 1721 the Dominican was built under the direction of Dominikus Zimmermann.
After World War II, with south-western Germany belonging to the American occupation zone, Bad Wörishofen was the site of a displaced persons camp. Most of the displaced people in question were of Lithuanian provenance. The camp enjoyed the confidence and support of the UNRRA, and was accordingly permitted to print its own bank notes.