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The Return of the Sanatorium

JL;DR SUMMARY Sanatoriums, once romanticized as places for the elite to escape urban pollution and seek rejuvenation in the Alps, have been transformed into modern wellness retreats. A way out west there was a fella, fella I want to tell you about, fella by the name of Jeff Lebowski. At least, that was the handle his lovin' parents gave him, but he never had much use for it himself. This Lebowski, he called himself the Dude. Now, Dude, that's a name no one would self-apply where I come from. But then, there was a lot about the Dude that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. And a lot about where he lived, likewise. But then again, maybe that's why I found the place s'durned innarestin'.

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Tags

HistoryTraditionTourismTransformationHealthAlpsWellnessLuxuryRetreatsSanatoriums

Places mentioned

Davos, Graubünden, Switzerland
"In Davos, for example, some guests were treated to long cowshed stays to breathe in the ammonia-drenched air."
Belluno, Italy
"Forestis in the Dolomites, originally a sanatorium catering to the Austrian aristocracy, now invites visitors to wander among larch forests and sweat in panoramic saunas that would leave patients of bygone days breathless for different reasons."
Bürgenstock, Nidwalden, Switzerland
"guests now undergo metabolic assessments and oxygen therapy in sleek, futuristic surroundings. Waldhotel Davos resort, the former forest sanatorium that inspired Manns work (his wife was a patient), has retained its signature rest cure balconies and added a medical and relaxation spa treatment menu. Across the Alps, new retreats borrow from the old design language: vast windows, minimalist lines, and elevated perches."
Saas-Fee, Valais, Switzerland
"George Papamarkakis, owner of The Capra in Saas-Fee, Switzerland."
Salzburg, Austria
"This fairytale castle oasis, tucked away in the historic Salzburg area, has traded its turrets and tiaras for cryotherapy chambers and IV drips."
Lefay Dolomiti, Belluno, Italy
"Forestis in the Dolomites, originally a sanatorium catering to the Austrian aristocracy, now invites visitors to wander among larch forests and sweat in panoramic saunas that would leave patients of bygone days breathless for different reasons."
Lake Lucerne, Nidwalden, Switzerland
"Brgenstock Hotels & Resort Lake Lucerne, for example, is just 50 minutes from the Zurich airport."
Lake Fuschl, Salzburg, Austria
"Overlooking the emerald-green Lake Fuschl, the spa offers herbal wraps and Alpine-sourced juices."

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Retrieved 2025-08-02 05:30:30 UTC
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