The Swiss town of Bad Ragaz in the canton of St. Gallen, is renowned for its spa culture. This is “Heidiland”, the beautiful mountain region that inspired Johanna Spyri to write her world-famous Heidi story. Located at 510 m altitude in the Rhine Valley, Bad Ragaz has its own hot spring which surges down from the four-kilometre distant Tamina Gorge at about 35°C. The Bad Ragaz spring was actually discovered in the 11th century and monks began to make use of its healing powers some 200 years later. However, Switzerland’s oldest spa first began its rise to fame around 1840 when the healing waters were channelled down to the village in wooden pipes. It rapidly became a fashionable spa where wealthy people came to relax and recuperate. Bad Ragaz (population approx. 4800), remains a trendy town and still attracts around 60,000 visitors each year. It boasts excellent medical centres with the latest equipment and facilities and visitors also have the choice of various medicinal baths and therapeutic treatments.

Bad Ragaz offers a wide range of overnight accommodation, from camping site and mountain inn to five-star hotel. Sport addicts will find no shortage of action and leisure activities - biking, cycling, climbing, fishing, riding, skating, squash, tennis – it’s all here. Snow-sport fans can get their kicks on the various pistes along and around the 2844-metre Pizol Glacier. Hikers can explore 200 kilometres of well-kept paths and trails. And golfers can pursue their passion on an 18-hole or a 9-hole course.