European health spa operator Ensana has recently opened a new luxury wellness and relaxation centre at its 5-star Thermia Palace Ensana Health Spa Hotel, on the spa island of Piešt’any, Slovakia.

The development, which is almost 13,000sq ft (1,200sq m), features year-round indoor and outdoor swimming pools, experience showers, a tepidarium, a large whirlpool, Finnish infrared sauna and steam room. The pools are filled with local healing thermal waters and gently warmed using heated tiles.

The new wellness and relaxation centre at Thermia Palace builds upon the Art Noveau property’s health and wellbeing facilities housed at the historic Irma Spa. Dating back to 1912, Irma Spa features a thermal pool – the so-called Mirror Pool – as well as a Mud Pool, which is heated to 39 degrees centigrade. Both the Mirror Pool and the Mud Pool are used for their ability to reduce muscular pain and tension.

Hotel guests can enjoy more than 60 different spa treatments at Irma Spa – including some of Ensana’s proprietary treatments, which fuse healing natural resources with modern medical knowledge.

Treatments involving the famous Piešt’any mud – which is certified by the European Union for its physical, chemical and biological healing qualities – are some of the most popular. The new wellness and relaxation centre connects directly to the historic Irma Spa, allowing guests to combine relaxation and natural medical treatments with ease.

“Our new and stunning wellness and relaxation centre has a modern and spacious design, which subtly compliments the Art Noveau features of the hotel,” said Andreas Schuster, cluster general manager of Ensana Health Spa Hotels Piešt’any. “Access to the centre is exclusive to our guests, and once inside, the building offers incredible and unobstructed views of our magnificent gardens.”

The new development, which cost more than €4m to develop, represents a significant investment for the Ensana group, which operates 26 spa hotels across Europe.

The group has recently rebranded its 26 spa hotels from Danubius Hotel Group, and has made a commitment to growth, innovation and the creation of new treatments, facilities and jobs.

Thermia Palace Ensana Health Spa Hotel is one of the ‘jewels in the crown’ of the Ensana portfolio. With 118 rooms, a restaurant, café, and conference rooms, the property was Slovakia’s first 5-star property.

Located on the spa island of Piešt’any, famous for its hot and healing mineral springs and mud, the area has attracted health visitors for decades.

Outside of relaxation and wellness treatments, visitors to Thermia Palace Ensana Health Spa Hotel can also enjoy a wide range of leisure activities, including a gym, tennis courts and golf course, plus walking, hiking and jogging in the gardens.