Sauerbrunn, Marhof, Natural spring in Marhof, Austria
Sauerbrunn, also known as Erzherzog-Johann-Quelle, is a natural mineral spring located near Stainz in Western Styria. The water contains iron, calcium, sodium, and natural carbonation and flows from a public outlet where two basins are available for visitors.
Archaeological finds, including bronze coins from the Roman period, show that the spring was used during ancient times. Modern development began in the 19th century when Archduke Johann opened the site for water therapies.
The spring is named after Archduke Johann, whose 19th-century involvement spread knowledge about its healing properties. Today, people visit to drink the iron-rich water or wade in the basins, practices that continue as part of local wellness traditions.
Water can be collected year-round at no cost from the spring outlet, so visitors should bring containers. The basins are also freely accessible and require only appropriate clothing for wading.
The water leaves reddish deposits around the spring outlet, a visible sign of its high iron content. These colored traces form when minerals in the water react with air and remain as natural staining.
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