Bad Staffelstein is a spa town that benefits from the local salt thermal springs. It also has many interesting and valuable monuments, including a Baroque pilgrimage basilica and the monumental Banz Monastery.
The history of the city dates back to the 8th century, and at the end of the 11th century, the Benedictine monastery of Banz was founded here. Its present, baroque appearance is the result of reconstruction after the destruction of the Thirty Years' War. Due to its vastness and monumentality, the abbey is often called the Banz Castle. Its central part is the richly decorated monastery church of St. Dionysius and St. Peter. The monastery buildings now house a conference center, as well as an exhibition of fossils and natural wonders, as well as ancient mummies.
The town of Bad Staffelstein has retained its historic layout with many half-timbered houses, a picturesque market square and a historic town hall. There is also the City Museum presenting collections on the history of the area.
The great attraction of Bad Staffelstein is the baroque basilica in Vierzehnheiligen on a hill outside the town. It is a pilgrimage church dedicated to the Fourteen Holy Helpers and stands in the place where the apparitions were to take place in the 15th century. It is distinguished by an extremely rich interior with illusionist polychromes and stucco decorations as well as magnificent altars.
Since 2001, Bad Staffelstein has been a health resort. Thermal brines are used here, which are used primarily for bathing and inhalation. There is a modern complex of Term Obermain and several other small bathing areas.
