Baden

Baden, resort and spa town in Niederösterreich (Lower Austria) province, Austria. Baden (or Baden bei Wien) is located on the River Schwechat at the foot of the Wiener Wald, south-west of Vienna. The site was settled before Baden became Roman Aquae. It has had a distinguished history as the spa of emperors and of composers such as Ludwig van Beethoven and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The waters of Baden are sulphurous, and have long been reputed to have medicinal value. A fire in 1812 destroyed most of Baden, and Josef Kornhäusel designed many of the buildings that exist today. Baden was the military headquarters of the Soviet-controlled zone of occupation between 1945 and 1955. There are some textiles industries in the town. Features of interest include the villas of distinguished visitors and the 15th-century church of St Stephan. Population 25,212 (2006 estimate).