The Baltic seaside resorts - wellness belle-époque style

As far back as 1793, one man had already done the wellness movement a great favour. By patronising the seaside resort of Heiligendamm, the "white town by the sea", the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin founded a bathing culture that is still alive today and very much in evidence all along Germany's Baltic coast. Villas in Heringsdorf, Binz, Sellin and Baabe incorporate elements from many stylistic eras - Renaissance, baroque, classicism and Art Nouveau - and are a feast for the eyes. You can treat your body and soul to a wellness treatment also further west in Timmendorfer Strand, Damp and Travemünde, offered by a wide range of specialists. These include thalassotherapy, mud therapy and treatments using the rare chalk found on the island of Rügen.