Rikli was born into a wealthy Swiss family as the fourth of ten children. His father, a
dye works factory owner and politically active figure, intended his sons to inherit both his business acumen and sense of civic responsibility. Rikli married early, at the age of 21, a year before relocating to
Seebach near
Spittal,
Austria, where he and his brothers Karl and Rudolf established a
leather dyeing factory. He designed numerous walking paths of varying difficulty around Bled, including one that led to Straža Hill—an area that, until recently, operated as a winter
ski slope and, in summer, hosted a walking trail, fitness path, and a
toboggan run built along the slope itself. For many years, it was assumed that Rikli did not speak Slovene. However, researcher Vojko Zavodnik disproved this in his study
In the Footsteps of Arnold Rikli, which uncovered handwritten instructions Rikli had issued to his employees in Slovene. As most of his clientele came from German-speaking regions, Rikli predominantly used German in public communication, and signage throughout the health resort was likewise in German. Local residents referred to him as "Švajcar" (the Swiss) and "the Sun Doctor". Rikli established baths, walking and hiking paths, and housing facilities in Bled to support his therapeutic philosophy. In 1895, he constructed a villa and baths in the Swiss architectural style, along with a hospital featuring his own examination office. As word of his activities spread across
Europe, a larger swimming area with promenade was added in 1899 to accommodate growing interest. Beyond those seeking healing, Bled began attracting visitors who wished to spend their holidays in a clean and health-conscious environment. The number of arrivals increased markedly after the
railway station opened in
Lesce in 1870. In 1903, Bled was awarded a
gold medal at an
international exposition for healing destinations in
Vienna, and by 1906, it had been recognised as one of the most prominent tourist resorts in the
Austro-Hungarian Empire. Following Rikli's death in 1906, the health complex—which comprised a stately spa facility, a modest treatment salon (
Kursalon), numerous air huts, and several designated air parks—entered a period of decline. ==Arnold Rikli Award==