By 1200, public bathhouses, known as stewes, reemerged in European cities as centers for hygiene and social interaction. Despite facing closures due to fears of disease, these establishments became popular gathering places for communities. The resurgence of bathhouses reflected changing attitudes towards cleanliness and public health, playing a vital role in the cultural life of medieval Europe.

The reemergence of public bathhouses in medieval Europe around 1200 became a significant cultural phenomenon. These spaces were often depicted in medieval romances and fabliaux as sites of social interaction, humor, and bodily comedy, enriching the literary landscape.