At a glance
Information checked on 23 October 2026 — always confirm on the official website before your visit.
AlpenSole Gradierhaus
Bad Reichenhall has been a spa town for more than 175 years, thanks to its AlpenSole, the salt water of the Alps. In the Royal Spa Garden, the Bavarian State Spa has built some of the most remarkable spa buildings in Germany: the open-air inhalatorium of the Gradierhaus, the Wandelhalle and the concert rotunda.
Along the Gradierhaus, brine trickles from 13 metres high over some 100,000 bundles of blackthorn and evaporates into a fine aerosol: walking calmly along the sheltered side for about half an hour is the traditional way to breathe the salt air. Next to it, the Wandelhalle offers a bright place to rest, read and drink the brine water.
Photo gallery
Our own photos — click to enlarge.
Key dates
- 1868
The Royal Spa Garden is laid out.
- 1910–1912
The Gradierhaus is built in the Kurgarten.
- 1912
Eugen Drollinger builds the neo-baroque concert rotunda.
- 1927
Franz Bürgerling designs the marble brine fountain of the Wandelhalle.
- 2013
Renovation of the concert rotunda to its historical model.
How the Gradierhaus works
Brine with about 26 % salt is piped from the well house of the former Alte Saline, diluted with water and pumped to the top of the structure. It trickles down through blackthorn hedges — about 400,000 litres a day — and, as it evaporates, concentrates to about 5 % and releases a salty aerosol. The wind decides which side it runs over.
In the Wandelhalle, the AlpenSole fountain — also called the Kaiser-Karl-Brunnen, in red Ruhpolding marble — is fed with brine of about 0.5–0.7 % from the Kaiser-Karl spring, used for gargling and rinsing.
Did you know?
Plan your visit
Getting there
- In the Royal Spa Garden, a few minutes on foot from the railway station.
- Wandelhalle and concert rotunda: Salzburger Straße 7.
Our tips
- Walk calmly on the side sheltered from the wind and breathe through your nose.
- The Gradierhaus is closed in winter; the Wandelhalle stays a pleasant shelter.
- See the weekly Kurmusik programme before you go.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Gradierhaus open?
From April to October; it is closed in winter for maintenance and because of the risk of ice.
Is it free?
Yes, admission to the Gradierhaus is free.
How long should I stay at the Gradierhaus?
About 30 minutes a day, walking calmly on the sheltered side.
What is the fountain in the Wandelhalle?
The AlpenSole or Kaiser-Karl-Brunnen, in red marble (1927), fed with brine for gargling.
Where are the Kurmusik concerts?
In the concert rotunda next to the Wandelhalle, all year except on Mondays.
Official sources
- Berchtesgaden.de — AlpenSole Gradierhaus
- Berchtesgaden.de — Konzertrotunde & Wandelhalle
- Staatsbad-Bad-Reichenhall.de
VisitBadReichenhall.com is an independent guide. Information is provided for planning purposes; the official websites above are the reference.