Bad- und Waschanstalt Winterthur, Historical bathhouse in Altstadt, Winterthur, Switzerland.
The Bad- und Waschanstalt Winterthur was a public bathing facility with marble bathtubs, various shower facilities, chemical baths, and an indoor swimming pool measuring 12 by 8 meters (4 by 2.4 meters). The building at Badgasse 6 served as a hygiene center for residents without private bathroom facilities.
The building was constructed between 1862 and 1864 following designs by architect Wilhelm Bareiss and marked Switzerland's first indoor swimming pool. The facility closed as a bathhouse in 1923 while retaining its architectural heritage status.
The interior shows Moorish style elements with horseshoe-shaped windows and decorations that reflect the oriental bathing culture of that era. Visitors can still see these decorative details today, which set the building apart from other structures of its period.
Access to the restored building today is limited mainly to exterior viewing and occasional guided tours. Visitors should check in advance for any special opening times or available tours of the interior.
The building contains a minaret-shaped chimney and Carrara marble bathtubs that blend practical requirements with elements from different cultural traditions. This unusual combination makes the structure a distinctive architectural work from the 19th century.
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