Antique map - Baden-Baden 1920

Beckmann-Plan of Baden-Baden in 1920: the spa town in the Black Forest, its Roman baths, its Kurhaus and the Old Castle.

This Beckmann-Plan shows Baden-Baden, a spa town in the Black Forest, in 1920. At the time, the town was in the Republic of Baden (Republik Baden), which succeeded the Grand Duchy of Baden in 1918. Today it is part of the state of Baden-Württemberg. From 1945 to 1999, it was also the headquarters of the French forces in Germany.

At the time this map was made, the town was officially called simply Baden, a German word meaning "baths". To distinguish it from other towns of the same name, it was called "Baden in Baden", Baden in the land of Baden, hence the name Baden-Baden, which did not become official until 1931. The map shows both forms: Baden-Baden in its title, and "Stadtwald Baden" over the town's forest. The Romans called it Aquae, "the waters", then Aurelia Aquensis.

Places and districts shown:

• The bath district - the Friedrichsbad, built from 1869 to 1877 and opened on December 15, 1877, was considered the most modern of Europe's bathing establishments; it follows a Romano-Irish route in seventeen stages. Its foundations rest on the remains of the Roman baths, which the map index still identifies as underground "Römerbäder". This quote is attributed to Mark Twain: "After ten minutes, you forget the time; after twenty, the world."
• The Kurhaus - built from 1821 to 1824 by the architect Friedrich Weinbrenner, it housed the gaming halls that attracted nobility, the bourgeoisie and artists from all over Europe. In 1920, they had been closed since 1872, the date of an Imperial law banning casinos; the Spielbank would not reopen until 1933. In the 19th century, the town had earned the nickname "the summer capital of Europe", facing Paris, the winter capital.
• The Neues Schloss and the Old Castle (Altes Schloss Hohenbaden) - the castle dates from around 1100. In 1479, the Neues Schloss, closer to the town, replaced it as the margraves' residence. On August 24, 1689, during the War of the Palatine Succession, French troops burned the town; in 1705, Margrave Louis William, known as "Türkenlouis", transferred his residence to Rastatt.
• The Battert cliffs and the forests - the old town extends into the Oos valley, between the Battert, the Merkur and the Fremersberg. The map shows the Battert rocks to the northeast, near the Old Castle, and vast forests (Stadtwald) all around.
• Lichtental - at the far southeast of the map, the Lichtenthal monastery, founded in 1245, served as the necropolis for the margraves of Baden until 1372.
• Oos and the station - the plan shows the passenger station at Oos, to the northwest. It is from there that, since 1845, the branch line has led trains into the town.

Cartographic key: this "Beckmann-Plan" was published by Otto Weber & Co. in Heilbronn, as part of a series of town plans, including that of Heidelberg. Its legend distinguishes public buildings, private buildings, gardens and fields, forests, waterways, railways, the tramway with its stops, and the road for motor vehicles. Below the map, a long index lists the streets, districts, public buildings, churches, schools and monuments, but also the bathing establishments, hot springs, carriage stands ("Droschken"), and already motor vehicle stands. The mention "Nachdruck verboten" prohibits its reproduction.

In short: for anyone with ties to Baden-Baden or the Black Forest, or who loves spa towns or the Belle Époque, this map shows the "summer capital of Europe" without a casino, two years after the end of the former Grand Duchy.

What area does this map of Baden-Baden cover? It covers Baden-Baden and its surroundings: the thermal center, the Kurhaus, the Old Castle and the Battert cliffs, the forests, Oos to the northwest and Lichtental to the southeast.

In what year was this map published? This map dates from 1920.

Reproduction of the "Beckmann-Plan von Baden-Baden", published by Otto Weber & Co. in Heilbronn, 1920.

Printed on 200 g/m² textured art paper. Portrait orientation, standard 50x70 and 70x100 cm formats: easy to frame.