Sauna remains Finland’s most important contribution to world culture, following Nokia phones, the AngryBirds game and the Sibelius symphony. Finland is one of the most northern countries, it is not surprising that the inhabitants of this frosty country like to bask in hot rooms.
Southern peoples do not always correctly understand the attractiveness of saunas. A real Finnish sauna has windows overlooking the beautiful landscape, and contrast cooling in the lake, pool or in the shower. The Finns can spend several hours in the sauna, drinking beer during breaks. This is a whole ritual, and not just a way to sweat and wash.
But not only the Finns love the sauna. Many other nations also like to take a steam bath. Saunas began to appear in the most unexpected places and in the most unexpected forms. Crazy Finnish trend has spread all over the world. We present to your attention the most unusual saunas in the world.
1
Gondola Sauna (Ylläs, Finland)
The Finnish ski resort boasts not only beautiful views and proximity to the Arctic Circle, but also a very unusual sauna on the lift. While you are climbing, you can use the gondola sauna. Imagine that you are on top, skiers below, mountains and snow, and you lend yourself to the park in a comfortable sauna for four.
The climb lasts about 20 minutes. This will be enough to sweat well. This gondola sauna is part of a range of services, including massage, spa treatments at the foot of the ski hill. There is also a sauna on the ground at the other end of the climb. All this pleasure costs 1350 euros for 2 hours. During this time, 12 people can “ride” in a suspended sauna. Compared to the prices in Finland for ordinary private saunas, this is a very good option.
2
Sauna Skybox arena (Helsinki, Finland)
Whereas in Brazil, television shows are second in occupation after football, in Finland, after sauna, hockey is in second place. So the Finns decided to combine these two pleasures into one.
At the Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, you can rent one of several skyboxes with installed saunas. The largest in size is the 408 skybox. Although it holds 72 people, you cannot gather as many people in it at the same time. In these boxes you can always see a lot of hot and sweaty fans who literally and figuratively watch the game with enthusiasm.
By the way, there is a very interesting article on the most beautiful Finnish girls on our site most-beauty.ru.
3
Homemade raft sauna (Joensuu, Finland)
In many Finnish (and not only) lakes you can find floating saunas. They are even on the Baltic Sea near Helsinki. In addition to standard pleasures, saunas on the water offer an additional option - to plunge immediately after a run after a steam room in the lake. No need to go barefoot and naked naked somewhere - a cool little water right outside the door.
Among all the saunas on the water, one can distinguish Saunalautta. This is a makeshift bunk raft that was built by a group of enthusiastic friends. On the upper tier there is an observation deck and a diving board. If the depth of the water allows, then you can freshen up after the sauna, having risen from a height into the water.
4
Wheel Sauna (San Francisco, CA)
Nick Klein and his friends built a mobile sauna on wheels for the Left Coast Sauna. They saw such saunas many times in Northern Europe and wanted to bring this idea to their native places. So they built a cedar barrel sauna for six people and put it on wheels. At first they planned to rent it out for special events, and the rest of the time the sauna would be idle.
But seeing a great interest in their mobile sauna, the team decided to ride around the neighborhood next to San Francisco. They drove everywhere: from the grassy fields of the Marin County to the San Francisco residential neighborhoods of Know Valley, just parking near public areas. For the first session, they did not take money, and for subsequent sessions they already asked for a fee. By the way, customers almost always stayed in such an unusual sauna.
Searching the Internet, we found a lot more photos of bathhouses and saunas on wheels. Especially a lot of them in the open spaces of the former Soviet Union.
5
Cold Surf Sauna (Portsmouth, New Hampshire)
Surfers in the northeastern United States take the idea of a mobile sauna to a new level. Their constant problem was subzero air temperature and snow-covered land. How to fly on the waves in such conditions? Wear multi-layer wetsuits, after which you look like a little man with a Michelin tire advertisement? Very uncomfortable.
Together with sailors and craftsmen, local surfers created the Surf Sauna, in which they warmed up between breaks on the waves. It is made of red cedar, also has a barrel-shaped shape and can be rolled directly to the shore or any other place. Cool idea for "ice" surfing!
6
Cliff Sauna (Westwagoy, Norway)
This sauna has a very unusual design. She sprawled on the shore of one of the Norwegian islands right on the rocks, like origami from paper. It was developed by students from the Oslo School of Architecture and Design. The complex was built in a former fishing village near abandoned houses and buildings that were previously used by residents for salting cod and producing fish oil.
The idea of the project is to turn this area into a center of art, design and culture, and the Bands sauna (as it is called) will become its main element. The spacious sauna has an area of 15 square meters, a hydromassage bathtub, an outdoor picnic loggia, as well as constant access to cold water, where you can refresh yourself after the steam room.
7
Raised Sauna (Colroy-la-Roche, France)
It seems that the hills drowning in forests stretch endlessly in this region of France near the Rhine River and the German border. The owners of Hostellerie La Cheneaudière & Spa wanted their guests to enjoy beautiful views of nature even while relaxing in the sauna, so they built a sauna at an altitude. Under the sauna there is nothing but supports.
After mountain biking or skiing, guests can relax by the pool, climb the stairs to the sauna and enjoy the beautiful views.
8
Sauna Tower (Bochum, Germany)
This unusual design sauna is built from prefabricated reinforced concrete structures in the industrial wasteland of the former coal-mining region of Germany.
These blocks were previously used for the construction of coal mines. Now, instead of going down the mine, you need to climb up. On the first level there is a small pool, on the second - a sauna, and on the third highest - a relaxation room overlooking the sky.
The name of this architectural absurdity is “Sauna of one person”, because only one person will feel comfortable there. The idea is to create a space for calm and relaxation, and also show on the other hand an industrial ghost town in which there is nothing more to do.
By the way, about the coolest bars located underground, most-beauty.ru recently published an interesting article.
9
Bath-night club (Liquidrom, Germany)
As you can see, in Germany, too, would not mind to bask in the sauna. They also like to hang out in night clubs and listen to music. In the city Liquidrom made a hybrid of a club and a sauna. The complex includes a dry and wet steam room, salt cave, massage rooms, a terrace with sun loungers and ... a night club.
In a separate room with a pool, twilight reigns and disco lights sparkle. Fashionable music plays and artists perform. Musical speakers play even underwater.
10
Mirror Sauna (USA)
The last unusual sauna on our list from most-beauty.ru is located in a dense forest near the Saranas gorge in the state of New York. It was developed by designer Dan Hiesel, calling his creation "Cadyville". One side of the sauna is adjacent to the rock, and the remaining external walls are covered with mirrors. The path leading to it is laid at such an angle that the walking person does not reflect and does not notice his reflection. Finding a sauna in the forest becomes a real quest for tourists. You can stand nearby or look directly at her and not notice anything. Only the wooden border of a small window seems to soar in the air.
By the way, about the best places in the USA for tourism, read our very informative article on our website.
Finally
It was only a small part of those unusual baths and saunas that give joy and pleasure to their visitors. And what unusual saunas do you know? Please write the answers in the comments.