Timeline of Spa History

Ottoman Empire builds Turkish baths

spring discovered at Spa, Belgium

First 'shower' developed in baths of Bormio in Italy

Bishop of Bath proclaims nude mixed bathing profanes God's 'holy gift of water'
Bathers made to wear smocks

Henry VIII of England closes hot baths + holy wells do to Catholicism

Natural Bathes by Tomas Guiddot, lists the minerals contained in water for first time

Dr. Richard Russell of Brighton publishes 'De Tabe Glanduri" where he claims "The sea washes away all evils of mankind"
First recognition of thalassotherapy

Modern massage techniques (Swedish massage) developed by Swedish physiologist Per Henrick Ling

first US 'pleasure resort' opens in Saratoga New York

Vincent Priessnitz establishes first modern hydrotherapy spa with health package treatments involving fresh air, cold water, diet + exercise in Graefenberg Germany

Dr William Winternitz (father of scientific hydrotherapy) opens a clinic + Institute of Hydrotherapy in Vienna, Austria

by Dutch doctor
accepted by Germany + US

Father Sebastian Kneipp starts practicing hydrotherapy for the benefit of the poor in Germany

first facility for remedial exercise in water - Hubbard Tank - developed by orthopaedic surgeon L.W. Hubbard

WWII shifted focus of spas to medical treatment of soldiers
Change from ancient to modern/contemperary

Post WWII saw decline of medical use of spas
Now put $ in development of science + medicine