"The only affordable one"

Regulars fight for their sauna in Favoriten

The regulars are hoping that the sauna will continue to operate and have even collected signatures.(Bild: Reinhard Holl)

For decades, the Quellensauna in Unterlaa was a fixture for many local residents. But on May 2, it is to be closed for good. The regulars are fighting to keep it open or at least find a new location.

Rosemarie Klemisch and many others have been visiting the Quellensauna in Unterlaa in the 10th district every Thursday for decades. But on May 2, it is to be closed for good.

"We paid around 20 euros for a whole day here," she says. It's no longer just a sauna session, the regulars have already grown into a family. And: it's the only sauna that pensioners can still afford.

Fritz Scheuch also has to give up his restaurant business here.(Bild: Reinhard Holl)

"Everything is being taken away from us"
If they now have to switch to the Therme Wien, they will have to pay 37 euros for a day ticket plus 12 euros for the sauna area. "They're simply taking everything away from us," says Klemisch angrily. The whole of Unterlaa would die out, she says.

Inn also affected
The sprightly senior citizen therefore launched a petition to preserve the sauna. But that didn't bring any improvement either. Incidentally, Fritz Scheuch's pub at the complex is also affected.

District hopes for a new location
According to the office of district leader Marcus Franz (SPÖ), the lease was terminated by mutual agreement. The necessary investment would have been too high. However, Scheuch is in negotiations regarding another location. So perhaps there will be a happy ending for the sauna guests after all.