Baden-Baden — Dostoevsky's Bet

Your quest begins at the Kurhaus in Baden-Baden, a neoclassical building 100 m long, constructed between 1821 and 1824 by Friedrich Weinbrenner. It was here, in this listed historical monument, that the casino opened its doors in 1824, and where Dostoevsky confronted his gambling passion in 1867. Frequented by emperors and aristocrats in the 19th century, this iconic site of the historic spa town of Baden-Baden was closed by the Nazis in 1933 before reopening in 1950, bearing witness to the upheavals in the history of Baden-Württemberg.

Continue to the Trinkhalle, or Pump Room, erected between 1839 and 1842 by Heinrich Hübsch. This 90-meter-long thermal spring hall houses frescoes from 1842 by the Schraudolph brothers illustrating 14 local legends. It was a fashionable meeting place in the 19th century, a stone's throw from the casino, where people could drink 53°C thermal water sourced from Roman ruins, with a flow of 500,000 liters per day. The Trinkhalle is a key stop to understand the rituals of Baden-Baden society.

The adventure then takes you to the Römische Badruinen of Baden-Baden. These Roman baths, built around 80 AD under Emperor Domitian, were abandoned in the 5th century. This 2-hectare thermal complex included a 12x7 m frigidarium, a tepidarium, and a caldarium, supplied by 68°C springs for the 4,000 inhabitants of the Aquae colony. Rediscovered in 1847, these ruins form the basis of modern Baden-Baden spa cures, highlighting the deep connection between the city's history and its healing waters.

Stroll along the Lichtentaler Allee, a 2.5 km landscaped avenue created in 1839 along the Oos River. This botanical park, with its 300 tree species including giant sequoias planted in 1850, was the preferred promenade for spa guests in the 19th century. It leads to the Lichtenthal monastery, founded in the 13th century. This avenue embodies the serenity of the Black Forest and offers a contrast to the casino's bustle, an ideal setting for Dostoevsky's reflection.

Your circuit concludes in front of the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, a concert hall inaugurated in 1998 with 2,500 seats, the largest in continental Europe. Built on the former thermal site, its architecture is by Hans Kammerer. Although modern, its proximity to the Kurhaus (500 m away) and its location on ancient thermal springs anchor it in the city's tradition. Your exploration of Baden-Baden's historic sites, from Roman baths to gambling venues, will have offered an interactive and immersive visit to the heritage of Baden-Württemberg, revealing the history of Baden-Baden through Dostoevsky's eyes and the ages.