Europe’s first medical fasting clinic has opened a panoramic sauna and hydrothermal space under the guidance of thermotherapy experts, including a world Aufguss champion, as part of a health program focused on longevity. Reported by Olivia Palamountain

Buchinger Wilhelmi The company in Überlingen, Germany, has launched a new medically-led thermal therapy program alongside the opening of Panoramic Sauna Bellevue, a purpose-built thermal space overlooking Lake Constance and the Alps.

Introduced in January 2026, the facility forms part of the clinic’s fasting and regenerative health approach. It combines a Finnish panoramic sauna, a gentler 60°C biosauna, infrared heat therapy and salt inhalation, all integrated into a medically supervised protocol rather than being offered as a separate spa experience.

Scientific director Dr. Robin Mesnage explains that heat therapy in the clinic is used to gently stimulate blood circulation and support the nervous system during fasting. “Regular sauna use improves vascular function and reduces stress responses,” he says. “Exposure to heat, like light physical activity, places a mild load on the cardiovascular system, increases parasympathetic activation, and promotes rest and sleep.”The move reflects a broader reappraisal of sauna culture, with sauna culture being reframed as a modern health practice linked to longevity, nervous system regulation and better sleep. Interest in the sauna’s relationship to cardiovascular resilience and stress reduction is bringing the sauna out of the spa and into everyday life.

From design-driven urban public baths such as otherness and Bathhouse New York to London sauna social club waterfront sauna etc. Lolly In Helsinki, heat exposure is also increasingly positioned as a low-impact equivalent of exercise and a rare analogue space for social connection.

The core element of Buchinger Wilhelmi’s new program is a series of traditional programs. aufguth Ceremony led by former Aufguth World Champion Mike Brandenburg. In structured sessions, aromatic ice placed over hot stones is dispersed by controlled towel movements to manage the intensity of the heat.

Sessions range from classical to gentle formats and may include sound therapy such as singing bowls. At the end of each, take a cold shower or cold water to support circulation and recovery.Starting in 2026, the clinic will also run a dedicated sauna week led by Dr. Siegfried Baumler, an expert in hydrotherapy and thermotherapy and former senior doctor at the Kneipanium in Bad Woerishofen.

In addition to the sauna, the thermal area includes a relaxation room, footbath, saline inhalation therapy, and a tea and water station fed by a spring water fountain. The sauna is built using Swiss pine, selected to match circadian rhythms and the clinic’s fasting protocols. A cold plunge pool is planned for late 2026 and can already be combined with thermal therapy. kneipp Hydrotherapy, aquabics, barefoot walking paths and more.

Founded more than a century ago by Dr. Otto Buchinger, Buchinger Wilhelmi operates medical fasting clinics in Germany and Spain. A typical 10-day fasting stay includes approximately 6 days of fasting followed by a return to a structured diet, supported by medical supervision, daily exercise, cultural activities, and therapy. Short-term wellness stays that do not involve fasting are also possible.

A 10-day fasting program starts from €4,078 per person, while a non-fasting stay starts from €1,356 with a minimum of three nights.