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8:35 PM    

this is belgium

Thermae Palace Hotel and Brasserie Albert in Ostende

Posted: 27 Jul 2016 12:50 PM PDT


How wonderful to see old buildings preserved and institutions  from the past coming back to life again. Brasserie Albert on the ground floor of the  Thermae Palace hotel in Ostend is a perfect example. A little history on this hotel:
"One of the many projects of King Leopold II was the construction of a large thermal institute against the colonnade that he had built at the beginning of the century. In 1929 the plans of the French architects Flegenheimer, Bard and Garella together with those of André Daniels, architect from Ostend, for this so-called "Badenpaleis" ("Thermal Palace") were approved of. The "Badenpaleis" had everything a health and spa resort needed, including a Turkish bath, mud baths and massage rooms. A swimming pool and a luxurious hotel with various conference rooms were also erected. In 1933 the majestic Thermae Palace Hotel, in Art Deco style, was officially opened by King Albert I and Queen Elisabeth. Because of the unique combination of mineral water and seawater this health resort grew into one of the most important spas of the whole of Europe. Numerous noble families and even the shah and his retinue came to Ostend to try out the healing effects of the thermal baths.The  "Thermaal Instituut" ("Thermal Institute") suffered a lot from World Word II. After the war it was reopened as "Badenpaleis" ("Thermal Palace") and hotel. In the beginning of the eighties the "Thermaal Instituut" was gradually run down. During the nineties the unique complex was completely renovated and the new Thermae Palace saw the light of day."http://www.thermaepalace.be/en/hotel