When breaths carry memories
There are places where, with your first breath, you feel like you're inhaling a piece of the past. Places where the air is not only clear, but minerally, heavy, almost spicy. In Bavaria, these are the graduation towers – imposing structures made of wood and blackthorn, through which salty water trickles, creating a climate reminiscent of coastal air. From Bad Reichenhall in the south to Bad Kissingen in Franconia, they shape entire towns, testifying to a salt history deeply rooted in the Bavarian soil. Visitors come here seeking relaxation, relief from respiratory problems, or simply a moment of peace. But graduation towers are not just architecture and medicine – they are also symbols of a longing: for clear air, for inner balance, for a place where one can catch one's breath again.
Those who visit more often, however, also experience the downside: entrance fees, travel costs, the hours you have to invest. A regular salt air cure can cost more per year than you initially think – and this is precisely where many people begin to consider whether a piece of this experience might be possible to integrate into their everyday lives, perhaps with a miniature saltworks at home. Below, we embark on a journey through Bavaria to seven of the most impressive graduation towers – places you simply must experience if you want to understand the power of salt air.
Bad Reichenhall - Salt town with alpine breath
Bad Reichenhall is considered Bavaria's salt capital. Brine has been extracted from the mountains here for centuries, and the large graduation house in the spa gardens remains a magnet for visitors. The massive wooden structure, covered in blackthorn, rises between the Alpine panorama and the neoclassical spa buildings. The world's largest Alpine open-air inhalation room is 160 meters long and houses around 100,000 blackthorn bundles, from which approximately 400,000 liters of Alpine brine trickle down daily from a height of 13 meters.
Anyone standing in front of it can hear the constant murmur of the brine trickling over the branches, transforming the air into a maritime atmosphere. The high-percentage Alpine brine, with a salt content of 26 percent, comes directly via the brine pipeline from the springs of the Old Saltworks in Bad Reichenhall. The morning is particularly impressive, when the first rays of sun make the salty mist sparkle. For many, a stay here is more than just relaxation—it's a piece of Alpine health tradition, embedded in a town that has built its pride on salt.
The effectiveness of Alpine brine inhalation at the Gradierhaus has even been scientifically proven by a study conducted by the Paracelsus Private Medical University in cooperation with the Bad Reichenhall Clinic. Visitors report noticeable relief of their respiratory problems, especially in cases of chronic conditions such as asthma or COPD. The combination of pure mountain air and highly concentrated brine makes Bad Reichenhall a unique location in all of Germany.
Bad Kissingen - Spa history to breathe in
As a world-famous spa and UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bad Kissingen is famous for its healing springs. Less well-known, but equally impressive, is the graduation tower in Luitpold Park. With its impressive length, it is one of the largest and most important graduation towers in Bavaria, creating a climate that attracts visitors from all over the world. As early as the 19th century, aristocrats and artists used the salty air to treat their respiratory system.
In addition to the historic graduation tower at the "Am Gradierbau" site in 97688 Bad Kissingen, there is a second, modern graduation tower at the KissSalis Therme spa complex at Heiligenfelder Allee 16. This combination of a traditional open-air graduation tower and a modern indoor graduation tower makes Bad Kissingen a special place. Today, families, spa guests, and locals alike stroll along the drop walls, taking a deep breath, and letting the town's history come alive with every breath.
The architecture, embedded in a park landscape full of ancient trees, makes the graduation tower a complete experience of nature, history, and health. The historic graduation tower stands as a monument to a time when Bad Kissingen was one of Europe's leading spa resorts. Bismarck, Tsar Alexander II, and Empress Sisi were just a few of the prominent guests who sought relief here.
The graduation tower at the KissSalis thermal spa offers a contemporary interpretation of salt air therapy. In a protected environment, regardless of the weather, and combined with thermal baths, the effects of the brine can be experienced particularly intensively. Many visitors appreciate this diversity: a morning stroll along the historic graduation tower, followed by afternoon relaxation in the thermal spa with its modern graduation tower.
Bad Staffelstein - Salt air in the Bamberg region
Between Banz Monastery and Staffelberg lies Bad Staffelstein, a town renowned for its thermal baths and healing springs. The graduation tower in the spa gardens blends harmoniously into the landscape, creating a climate that many visitors describe as surprisingly maritime. The dark blackthorn tangle, interwoven with silvery brine threads, creates a microclimate that visitors often compare to a walk by the sea.
Those who linger here in the afternoon, as the sun disappears behind the hills, experience a moment where nature, history, and relaxation merge. The brine comes from local springs and is continuously piped over the brushwood walls. For many, taking a few minutes here is a daily ritual—a bit of breathing therapy without much effort.
Bad Staffelstein is especially popular with families, as the graduation tower is freely accessible and can be perfectly combined with a trip to the nearby Staffelberg or Banz Abbey. The small town in the "Garden of God" on the Upper Main River has made a name for itself as a spa resort over the decades, and the graduation tower is a central part of this identity.
Bad Königshofen - Salt air in the Grabfeld
In northern Bavaria, almost on the border with Thuringia, lies Bad Königshofen im Grabfeld. The graduation pavilion in the spa area is an insider tip: not monumental in size, but a charming structure nestled in a spacious spa park. The salty air here is particularly intense, as the brine is atomized in a concentrated area.
Many locals use the graduation tower daily on their way through the park—not as a tourist destination, but as a quiet way to take care of their health. Those who linger here experience the simplicity of the salt air in an almost familiar atmosphere. The facility is located in the spa area of Bad Königshofen im Grabfeld, 97631, and is well integrated into the local infrastructure.
Bad Königshofen has a long tradition as a saline spa, dating back to the 19th century. The Gradierpavillon is both an expression of this history and a modern health resort, highly valued by the local population. Its location, surrounded by meadows and ancient trees, lends the town a calming atmosphere.
Bad Aibling - Salt air in the thermal baths
Bad Aibling in Upper Bavaria is known for its mud spas and modern thermal baths. The graduation tower at the Bad Aibling thermal baths at Lindenstraße 32 is part of a comprehensive health concept that combines various natural healing methods. Unlike the large open-air graduation towers, this facility is integrated into the thermal baths' architecture, creating a protected inhalation environment.
Many visitors find the combination of warm thermal water, mud baths, and salty air particularly soothing. After a bath in the warm water, the pores are open, allowing the salty air to take full effect. Visitors describe this change as one of the most intense moments of their spa visit.
Bad Aibling is conveniently located between Munich and Lake Chiemsee, making it easily accessible even for day visitors from the state capital. The modern thermal spa with its integrated graduation tower represents a contemporary interpretation of Bavarian spa tradition—without forgetting its historical roots, but with an eye on the needs of today's visitors.
Bad Endorf - Salt air in the Chiemgau thermal baths
Bad Endorf am Chiemsee is home to the Chiemgau Thermen, one of Bavaria's most modern wellness and health facilities. The graduation tower at Ströbinger Straße 18 is part of this complex and combines an alpine setting with the healing power of salt water. The proximity to Lake Chiemsee lends the town an additional maritime feel, which perfectly complements the effects of the brine.
Visitors appreciate the professional atmosphere of the Chiemgau Thermen spa, where various therapies are combined under one roof. The graduation tower is an important component, especially for people with chronic respiratory diseases. The salty air is offered here in a controlled environment, regardless of the weather and available year-round.
The region around Bad Endorf is well-developed for tourism, so a visit to the thermal spa can be combined with a trip to Lake Chiemsee, Fraueninsel, or the nearby mountains. For vacationers in the region, the graduation tower at the Chiemgau Thermal Baths is often a must-see—a way to do something for your health even while on vacation.
Bad Wörishofen - salt air and Kneipp tradition
Bad Wörishofen is inextricably linked with the name Sebastian Kneipp. The graduation tower in the spa gardens adds another natural healing method to the famous Kneipp tradition. The brine trickles over blackthorn walls, creating a microclimate that combines perfectly with Kneipp treatments.
The graduation tower is located in the expansive spa gardens at 86825 Bad Wörishofen and is freely accessible. Many spa guests incorporate a visit to the graduation tower into their daily walk through the park, where they can also enjoy the Kneipp facilities, barefoot paths, and medicinal herb gardens. This combination of various natural healing therapies makes Bad Wörishofen a holistic health resort.
Sebastian Kneipp would certainly have appreciated the effects of the salt air, as it fits perfectly into his concept of natural healing. Today, Bad Wörishofen is a mecca for all those who value gentle, natural forms of therapy. The graduation tower is a valuable complement to showers, baths, and exercise therapy.
Conclusion: Between spa tradition and everyday life
Bavaria's seven graduation towers demonstrate the diversity of salt air experiences in the Free State. Bad Reichenhall impresses with its monumental AlpenSole graduation house, unparalleled anywhere in the world. Bad Kissingen, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, combines historic graduation buildings with modern thermal spa architecture. Bad Staffelstein and Bad Königshofen demonstrate that even smaller facilities can have a major impact and are deeply rooted in the local health culture.
The thermal spa graduation towers in Bad Aibling and Bad Endorf demonstrate how salt air finds its place in modern wellness concepts. Finally, Bad Wörishofen combines the Kneipp tradition with the power of brine, demonstrating how various natural healing methods can complement each other.
Together, these places form a network of health resorts that have shaped Bavaria for centuries. Whether in Bad Reichenhall with its Alpine backdrop, in Bad Kissingen, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, or in Bad Staffelstein with its tranquil atmosphere, each graduation tower tells its own story. They are places where breathing becomes ritual, where history lives on in the form of water and wood.
Keeping an eye on costs
But anyone who regularly seeks salt air knows the limitations: trips to spas, admission prices, and the time commitment. A day pass for the KissSalis thermal baths costs around €15-25, and the Chiemgau thermal baths are in a similar price range. Anyone who wants to visit a thermal bath with a graduation tower two or three times a week can quickly reach monthly costs of €100-150, plus travel expenses.
Even the freely accessible graduation towers in Bad Reichenhall, Bad Staffelstein, or Bad Wörishofen require time and travel. It's about 130 kilometers from Munich to Bad Reichenhall, and about 100 kilometers from Nuremberg to Bad Kissingen. With multiple visits per week, the distance quickly adds up to considerable travel time and costs.
Many visitors eventually realize that regular use incurs significant costs that add up over months. At this point, they consider integrating the experience into their daily lives.
A mini saltworks for your home does just that: it makes the salty air available regardless of location and opening hours. Compared to frequent trips, the initial investment often pays for itself in a short time, while the health benefits are long-lasting. This turns an occasional spa visit into a daily opportunity to support your respiratory system and your well-being – without losing sight of the Bavarian heritage of the graduation towers.
Bavaria's graduation towers will continue to attract visitors. They are historical monuments, architectural gems, and places of encounter. But for everyday life, for daily respiratory care, and for integrating salt air into a holistic health concept, a local solution can be the ideal complement.
(Image sources: Adobe Stock)
