Closure of the “Air Bath” in Friedensau

With the foundation of the village Friedensau in 1899 and the construction of a school for the training of pastors and nurses, a lively building activity began in the small village in the middle of the forest at the end of the 19th century. As early as 1901, a sanatorium with 30 beds was inaugurated, which had an air bath and outdoor swimming pool in addition to the indoor swimming pool. The outdoor swimming pool belonging to the air bath was approx. 75 sqm large. Using parabolic mirrors, people took a sun bath in the air bath. The water basin received water from an artesian well. Already 100 years ago, air, sun, and water were considered natural factors for strengthening the immune system.

After almost 120 years, an era is now coming to an end. On August 12, 2019, the old facility of the air bath and outdoor swimming pool in Friedensau finally comes to an end. From then on it is no longer possible to take a refreshment between the playground and the soccer field. The excavators move in and demolish the walls of the outdoor swimming pool, which had become increasingly dilapidated in recent years and would have needed a cost-intensive and uneconomical reconstruction.

Thanks to the support of the European Structural and Investment Fund, a new natural pond with an area of around 1,600 sqm is being built near the oldest building in the village, the old mill at the village square. The natural pond should be ready by late autumn 2019.

On Sunday, August 11, 2019, residents as well as staff and students of Friedensau Adventist University (FAU) met at the outdoor swimming pool and celebrated a colorful, wet, and happy farewell party.