History of Sonnentherme

Successful drillings for thermal water were carried out in 1989/90 on the so-called Anger Meadows east of the Lutzmannsburg, in immediate proximity to the Austrian-Hungarian state border. A previously formed thermal development company had faced difficulties securing investment capital for the realization of a thermal spa. But Burgenland province eventually took a 95 percent holding in the newly founded Thermen Lutzmannsburg Frankenau Ltd. The communities of Lutzmannsburg and Frankenau-Unterpullendorf both have 2.5 percent shares in the company.

At the beginning of June 1993, construction began on the thermal spa, which was mainly conceived for families with babies. The Sonnentherme thermal spa of Lutzmannsburg-Frankenau was opened already on September 17, 1994, laying the foundation for the following tourism boom in Middle Burgenland.

The name "Sonnentherme" (sun spa) was chosen because the region counts the most days of sun in Austria.

The spa features a total water surface of 1,581m² and is conceived as a "place for the whole family." The total area of Sonnentherme Lutzmannsburg-Frankenau is 44,367m², with 6,918m² of buildings.

In 1996, the spa received the Environmental Prize of the Ministry of the Environment. In October of the following year, its thermal water was recognized as an elixir.

In 1999 a second drilling was conducted. In the fall of 1999 after renovation and construction, the significantly enlarged spa was opened. With the enlargement, Sonnentherme is designed for an average capacity of 1,000 visitors.

In the year 2000, the WIBAG (Economic Service of Burgenland plc) assumed the Burgenland province's holdings (95%). The communities of Lutzmannsburg and Frankenau still each have a 2.5 percent share.

Due to the great success of the spa, it is currently being enlarged. -Since 2003 the new addition opened.