In the valley town of Laško, best known to many Slovenians for its beer, there's a warmer claim to fame: a mineral spring that has been drawing bathers since the Roman Empire. Rimski Terma — the Roman Baths of Slovenia — occupies a quiet spot ringed by forested mountains, and its waters were prized for supposed healing powers by everyone from legionaries to European royalty.
The site today is much more than a historic pool. Visitors move between calm indoor bathing spaces and an outdoor area with a proper view, where two smaller hot mineral pools fitted with jets sit beside a large lounging terrace with chairs and umbrellas. It's the kind of place you come for a soak and end up staying all afternoon.
The grounds themselves double as a historical walk. Tree-lined paths around the baths were planted with specimens donated by aristocratic guests over the centuries — a nod to the spa's status among high society. One standout is a giant sequoia gifted by Victoria of Prussia, an odd and wonderful sight in the Slovenian hills.
The full complex works as a hotel, spa, restaurant, bar and cafe, with event spaces too, so you can turn a day trip into a proper slow weekend. Two small details worth seeking out: the Latin phrases dotted around the building and baths, and the mineral spring itself — bring an empty bottle and fill it up on your way out.
Laško sits in eastern Slovenia, an easy detour between Ljubljana and the Styrian town of Celje, and pairs naturally with the region's other draws: thermal spas, hilltop castles and Slovenia's surprisingly good beer culture. Wellness travellers who like their spa experiences with a side of actual history will find this a refreshing change from modern resort complexes — the water here has been doing its thing for two millennia, and the setting has barely lost any of its calm.
Story credited to Atlas Obscura.
