A Visit to the City of Baths: Baden in Kanton Aargau

Wednesday April 6, 2022 -- As I am currently cleaning out our old "family home" where my Dad's family lived from about 1946 onwards, and where my Aunt Ruth lived until she sadly passed away from COVID in 2021... I am coming across many old Black & White photos of all kinds of family members I don't know about. In a way it was a good thing that Aunt Ruth kept so many photos, as it did awaken my interest to find out more about the family.

On my paternal grandfather's side, the family was relatively small. One living cousin of my father's with whom we have a good relationship still lives near the original family home where my grandfather and his siblings grew up in Kirchdorf, Canton Aargau, and we visited her this day, getting a better look at the area as we walked the 6 kilometers from Baden train station to her home for lunch. 

The old family home where her mother grew up, and later she did as well, still stands but is no longer owned by the family.

The city of Baden which lies on the Limmat River, was founded by the Habsburgs in 1291. The word "Baden" translates to "bathing", and its sulfur hot springs have attracted people since the Roman times (1st Century AD). Fairly recently a more modern public baths has been built here along the river (steep entry fees!), but we were pleasantly surprised to find that two additional outdoor "hot tubs" are available for free, as long as you are willing to change in public!

Baden is also home to several factories and electrical-engineering works such as ABB, where my father had his first employment as a young engineer. At that time he lived with his Aunt's family (and this particular cousin) in the original family home nearby.

NOTE: As the walk we took this day was on the North side of the city and along the Limmat River to a neighbouring village, we didn't enter the Old City this time. A few photos of the old town and its castle ruins can be viewed HERE, on a different hike we did starting in Baden at the time.

Passing by the Casino in Baden, we spotted this fabulously blooming magnolia tree

Entering the industrial district along the Limmat River

Outdoor sulfur hotsprings available for free if you don't mind chaning in public!

Walking westward along the Limmat River, with a look back at the city of Baden

Some of the houses in Kirchdorf

Heading to the bus stop in Kirchdorf, this is apparently the oldest house in the community

This is the house my great-grandfather purchased, where four siblings grew up (including my grandfather) and where my father lived while working at ABB

A 6-km walk in the region of the city of Baden, Canton Aargau

As a side-note to this family history, here are a few recent photos of the town of Küssnacht, where my father last lived before moving to Canada, where his siblings grew up, and where I now own a house...

Walking from the train station along the lake into the heart of Küssnacht, Jan.2022 (Mt.Rigi in the background)

Japanese Cherry Trees in bloom, March 2022

Japanese Cherry Trees in bloom, March 2022

Beautiful blossoms, March 2022

My father's family moved into this house when he was about 15 or 16 years old. Six people lived in here at the time! (without the addition at the front....)

The road in front of the house. Many of the older houses are being torn down now and replaced with modern, angular concrete buildings.

View of Küssnacht from the balcony on the old family house

The wild old garden