Reconstruction

Improvised reconstruction took place from 1955 to 1965 in an attempt by the city to restore what was "left over" with its own resources . Tourism was very slow in reviving and it soon became evident that only a major investment could bring the hot springs health resort back up to the standard Europe had achieved in the meantime. A decision to go forward on this investment was made in 1965. The city administration commissioned a number of studies to be done. They ranged from actual urban planning and an expertise on tourism to an electronic examination of infrastructure and an analytical stocktaking of monuments. All these efforts gave rise to a municipal mission statement with the following key functions of Baden set down as top priorities for further development: health and recreation resort town, conference venue, residential town with attractive leisure-time offerings, regional educational center, regional center for supply, administration and industry, and a popular wine city. In individual step-by-step plans this mission statement was made a reality in one of the biggest construction booms the city has ever known. Generally, they followed in triple step: Safeguarding the supply of sulfuric water (impounding Mary's Spring) and quickly reviving tourism by converting the sanatorium (Kurhaus) into a conference center; promoting expansion in the hotel industry by having the city sell prime properties (Parkhotel, Hotel Gutenbrunn, Clubhotel, Sauerhof as the most important of a large number of new buildings and enhancement projects) and having

the social insurance funds for farmers, for business owners, for federal employees and the Lower Austrian district health insurance fund build new sanatoriums; building or modernizing tourist facilities for the health resort, e.g.: Kurmittelhaus, indoor pool complex, gambling casino, beach baths, special events center, Rosarium, pedestrian district, parking. At the same time the remaining functions defined for Baden were expanded in cooperation with other institutions and corporate bodies. In a short period of time, two kindergartens were opened along with two secondary schools, a secondary business school, and a teacher's college. A building was erected for the district commissioner's office and an automatic telephone exchange for the Post Office was installed for the entire district. Moreover, a fully biological sewage plant was constructed and a number of residential complexes were built. An extensive road and bridge construction program was also carried out. A new hospital was completed in 1983. In parallel with these efforts, the city devoted great care to developing and carrying out a preservation plan for its historical center. Not only were city leaders bound by tradition to preserve the city's unique appearance, they also saw it as a valuable asset for the local tourist industry. Far-reaching and lovingly executed rehabilitation set in. Thanks to all these endeavors, Baden bei Wien is now a modern city in an old and venerable guise and has won back its rightful place in the tourist sector as one of Austria's most significant health resorts.