St. Blasien is a small spa and tourist town in the Black Forest. Its symbol is the neoclassical cathedral of St. Błażej, which in the past was part of the local Benedictine abbey.
The history of the city from the 9th to the beginning of the 19th century was associated with the Benedictine abbey. The local monastery had large estates and was an agricultural center. The town was primarily its servant settlement, and its development was brought about only by the liquidation of the monastery at the beginning of the 19th century.
The most characteristic building of the town is the cathedral of St. Błażej was built in the 18th century. It replaced an earlier, gothic monastery church that had been destroyed by fire. It is a neoclassical building with a monumental facade and a large dome.
After the monastery was dissolved, its buildings were used by the pioneers of local industry. They tried, among others, install water turbines and generate energy. However, the proper development of the city did not begin until the second half of the 19th century, when thermal springs were discovered in the area. Currently, St. Blasien is primarily a spa and recreation center.
The picturesque surroundings of the town encourage hiking. There are also thermal baths, and in winter there is a small ski center.
