Leukerbad, Switzerland

Leukerbad, Switzerland
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Leukerbad2.jpg
Author: Olivier Bruchez


Leukerbad (French: Loèche-les-Bains) is a village in Dala valley in Valais canton, Switzerland. The village is part of the district of Leuk. It covers 67.2 sq km (25.9 sq mi) and has a population of around 1,600 people (2011 estimate). The village is surrounded by tall mountains and comprise of Swiss-style chalets hugging the mountain slopes.

Most of the people of Leukerbad speak German, with French being the second most common language. 77% of the population are Roman Catholics, with the rest belonging mainly to the Swiss Reformed Church.

Situated at an altitude of 1,400 m (4,595 ft) above sea level, Leukerbad is the highest and largest spa resort in Europe. This is made possible by the availability of hot springs in the area. The "bad" in its name means it is a spa town in German.

View of Leukerbad chalets
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Leukerbad1.JPG
Author: Andrewabbott


The history of Leukerbad goes back to prehistoric times, based on shards of ceramics found in the area. These are dated to the 4th century BC. The earliest mention of Leukerbad is in 1315, when it was already described as a spa village.

The spa at Leukerbad became popular towards the 18th century, attracting a number of famous people including Mark Twain and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. The therapeutic waters of Leukerbad has however been enjoyed since Roman times. Leukerbad also has skiing pistes and becomes a popular skiing destination during winter. The ski area is accessed via cable car.

Leukerbad spa resort
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Burgerbad.jpg
Author: Davide Rüetschi

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