Europe's first medical fasting clinic has opened a panoramic sauna and hydrothermal space guided by thermotherapy experts – including a World Aufguss Champion – as part of its longevity-focused health programme. Olivia Palamountain reports

Buchinger Wilhelmi in Überlingen, Germany, has launched a new medical-led heat therapy programme alongside the opening of its Panorama 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 bio-sauna, infrared heat therapy and salt inhalation, all integrated into medically supervised protocols rather than offered as a standalone spa experience.

Scientific director Dr Robin Mesnage explains that heat therapy at the clinic is used to gently stimulate circulation and support the nervous system during fasting. “Regular sauna use is associated with improved vascular function and reduced stress responses,” he says. “Heat exposure places a mild demand on the cardiovascular system, comparable to light physical activity, while encouraging parasympathetic activation, which supports rest and sleep.”The move reflects a wider reappraisal of sauna culture as it is reframed as a modern wellness ritual tied to longevity, nervous-system regulation and better sleep. Interest in sauna’s relationship to cardiovascular resilience and stress reduction is pulling it out of the spa and into everyday life.

From design-led urban bathhouses such as Othership and Bathhouse in New York, to London’s Sauna Social Club and waterfront saunas such as Löyly in Helsinki, heat exposure is also increasingly positioned as a low-impact counterpart to exercise – and a rare analogue space for social connection.

A core element of Buchinger Wilhelmi's new programme is a series of traditional Aufguss rituals led by Maik Brandenburg, a former World Aufguss Champion. The structured sessions use aromatic ice placed on hot stones and distributed through controlled towel movements to manage heat intensity.

Sessions range from classic to gentler formats and may include sound therapy such as singing bowls. Each concludes with a cold-water shower or immersion to support circulation and recovery.From 2026, the clinic will also run dedicated Sauna Weeks guided by Dr Siegfried Bäumler, a specialist in hydro- and thermotherapy and former senior physician at the Kneippanium in Bad Wörishofen.

Beyond the saunas, the thermal area includes relaxation rooms, foot baths, saline inhalation therapy and a tea and water station supplied by a spring-fed fountain. The saunas are built using Swiss stone pine, selected to align with circadian rhythms and the clinic’s fasting protocols. A cold plunge pool is planned for late 2026, with heat therapy already able to be combined with Kneipp hydrotherapy, aqua aerobics and barefoot sensory walking paths.

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 around six days of fasting followed by a structured reintroduction of food, supported by medical supervision, daily movement, cultural activities and therapies. Shorter non-fasting wellness stays are also available.

Ten-day fasting programmes start from €4,078 per person, while non-fasting stays start from €1,356 for a minimum of three nights.