New retreats at 7132 to celebrate 25 years of iconic thermal baths

7132, a wellness retreat located in the village of Vals in the Swiss Alps, has launched a new programme of nature-forward wellbeing experiences in honour of the 25th anniversary of its iconic thermal baths.

Offering long-lasting health and wellness benefits, the new experiences are designed to be ‘deeply restorative’ and feature unique elements, such as arts and crafts, literature and an in-spa art-house cinema screening, as well as more traditional elements such as healing treatments, nature and night swimming.

The first experience, called 7132 Ritual Forest Bathing Spa Treatment, aims to fully immerse guests in the resort’s  natural landscape and combines high-altitude Alpine therapy with the Japanese practice of shinrin yoku (forest bathing) and personalised massage. The treatment uses local ingredients, such as mountain herb-infused oils, and is rooted in the belief that exposure to the sights, scents and sounds of the forest can improve both physical and emotional wellbeing. 

Secondly, 7132 Swimming in Darkness was inspired by and named after the novel Swimming in Darkness by Lucas Harari. The book tells the story of Pierre, a young architecture student who becomes obsessed with 7132’s thermal baths, travelling to the resort to experience their “mysterious energy” for himself. Guests can follow in Pierre’s footsteps with a complimentary copy of the book before taking a rejuvenating nighttime dip in the baths. 

Aimed at culture enthusiasts, the 7132 Thermal Cinema experience sees guests don their swimwear to soak in the healing thermal waters of the outdoor pool while films – from art-house movies to beloved Hollywood classics – are projected onto slabs of Vals quartzite stone.  

Finally, the 7132 Once In A Lifetime Experience is aimed at couples seeking an ‘ultra-luxe, truly exclusive experience’. Guests spend an evening in the spa with private access to facilities including the thermal baths and pools. Other highlights include a trip in the 7132 helicopter to a remote glacier for a Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne tasting and a nine-course tasting menu at the two Michelin-starred 7132 Silver Restaurant.

Opened in 1997, the 7132 thermal baths were created by renowned local architect Peter Zumthor. They were designed to pay homage to the dramatic mountainous landscape of the Swiss Alps and feature more than 60,000 slabs of Vals quartzite stone and highly-mineralised waters from the nearby St. Peter’s Spring. 

“A visit to Vals is all about leaving behind drab mainstream routines and being immersed in the destination in a much more conscious and mindful way,” 7132 general manager Katrin Rüfenacht told European Spa. 

“Spending time in our iconic themed baths and enjoying our new range of nature-forward wellness experiences is a much-needed break and counterbalance to our guests’ busy day-to-day realities in a time of constant change and uncertainty.”