Goethe undertook over 20 spa trips in his lifetime: to Pyrmont, Wiesbaden, but especially to the Bohemian baths of Karlsbad, Marienbad, Franzensbad, and Teplitz. He appreciated both the health benefits and the stimulating variety they offered. Undoubtedly, he also enjoyed the attention he received from the spa-goers. The spa was the meeting place of the Goethe era. It provided a stage for self-presentation and allowed for a break from social etiquette and the rules of everyday life.