The Rašínova Spa and Relaxation Centre has been serving its purpose for over a century.
In the rapidly growing industrial city of Brno in the 19th century, a network of public municipal baths was developed that reflected the frequent lack of bathrooms in urban homes. As early as 1860, the Diana Baths were established in the city centre on the site of the former garden of St James’s Church. Between 1905 and 1907, they were modernized and expanded according to a design by the architect Hubert Gessner, with operations beginning in August 1907. The baths, primarily catering to the middle and upper classes, offered steam treatments, showers, and bathtubs. However, at the end of the Second World War, the building suffered severe bomb damage, leaving only lowered perimeter walls and what was left of the interior, the pool included.
Post-war reconstruction greatly simplified Gessner’s façade and reduced the building by one floor. Some architectural details from the original interior have survived, among them the geometrically divided ceilings of the gallery and the main staircase with a railing featuring horizontal rods ending in curled volutes. After 2000, a heritage-focused restoration based on historical photographs reinstated the building’s original façade.
The architecture of the Rašínova Baths exhibits elements of modern geometric Art Nouveau. The lower part of the façade is structured with bold horizontal rustication, while the upper cantilevered floor is supported by an intricately shaped cornice. The original character of the façade was further accentuated by geometrically arranged window panes, balcony railings on the upper floor, and prominent mouldings around the semicircular windows. The original frontage was more decorative, but despite modifications throughout the 20th century, the latest renovations successfully rehabilitate Gessner’s architectural vision.
Since May 2013, the baths have been operated by Starez-Sport a. s., a city-owned company that manages sports facilities. Today, they offer a wide range of spa and wellness services, including various forms of exercise, manual and underwater massages, a gym, body wraps, a sauna, a solarium, and, of course, a swimming pool.
