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This paper was written to mark the 175^th anniversary of birth of Arnold Rikli, famous Swiss healer, who is credited with pioneering mo­dern health tourism in Slovenia. In 1855, Rikli settled in the alpine region of Lake Bled to set up a health resort. His treatment methods which adhered to principles of natural healing exploi­ted the favourable effects of light, air and water on the human body. The Bled health resort attrac­ted rich people with various ailments who came there to be treated in special, almost »revolutio­nary« ways. Rikli’s treatment methods met with strong opposition of both local community and mainstream medicine, but some of his principles are still valid today.