The Frauenbad
The Frauenkirche was first built in 1297 as a large chapel above the Frauenbad spring, a gift from Heinrich von Pottendorf to the Augustine convent that had been established there in 1285.
The spring, which had likely been used by the Romans, spilled out under the steps of the high altar and filled a reservoir at the north side of the church. The first written record of the Frauenbad occurs in a document from 1357, when the baths belonged to Duke Albrecht II. After the Turkish invasion devastated Baden in 1531, Emperor Ferdinand I gave the city the Frauenbad and the new baths that had been erected on the south side of the church as compensation for its losses.
In 1631, outraged that members of the nobility and landed upper class had slowly managed to usurp bathing rights at the Frauenbad, Kaiser Matthias formed a separate court—a Badgericht—dedicated to its oversight. The Badgericht would execute his new bathing decree, which consisted of 22 separate orders to grant bathing access to all residents."
A great fire ravaged Baden in 1812, severely damaging the Frauenbad. It was entirely rebuilt in 1821 by master builder Hantl, who followed the plans of architect Ritter von Moreau.
On April 7th, 1821 Archduke Anton, benefactor of Baden, laid the cornerstone and the new baths opened on July 11th. Today, the memorial stone sits in the Frauenbad foyer.
Unfortunately, the building soon revealed multiple defects that steadily worsened. In 1876, officials decided that the building needed a thorough renovation and would be rebuilt from the ground up according to the latest standards.
In 1878, construction was complete and Baden once more had a beautiful bathing complex. Distinguished guests like Emperor Leopold and Empress Eleonora, Friedrich August Elector of Saxony, Emperor Josef I, and Emperor Franz I took the baths here, savoring the marble interior and the exquisite façade.
The Frauenbad remained fully operational and nearly untouched until 1973.
Since 1980, the building has been used as an exhibition space highlighting regional artists. However, due to general deterioration of the building materials, the rooms no longer met current exhibition demands and the city of Baden, under the direction of Mayor LAbg. August Breininger, decided to remodel the building in 1991. Architect Werner Nedoschill designed the new Frauenbad, which was complete in 1994. The renovated building has since hosted exhibitions by Christian Ludwig Attersee, Adolf Frohner, Arik Brauer, and Ernst Fuchs.
In 2006, the Frauenbad was dedicated to the work of Baden-born, internationally renowned artist Arnulf Rainer. Architecture team Lottersberger-Messner-Dumpelnik aims to retain the integrity of the original venerable baths.
Retrofitting began in January 2009. The new Arnulf Rainer Museum will open in September 2009 as a public cultural center honoring the work of one of Austria's most important (and most provocative) post-war artists.
