A history of spa treatments in France
A healing water for the Celts and Romans
Water from springs has always been considered a beneficial possibility. For the Celts, they were often linked to a healing god,or even to the Mother Goddess. The water was drunk while praying to be cured. A practice continued by the first Christians who, quite often, replaced the local god, with a holy healer. We still see these sacred springs, notably in Brittany. Quite often, a few steps provide access.
Fountain in Brittany by Atonaltzin/Shutterstock.com
Many spas were founded by the Romans
The inventors of thermalism, if I dare say so, were the Romans. In fact, the word derives from "thermes", which they invented. Thermal baths were indispensable places of cleanliness for every Roman citizen and, as a result, the Romans built them all over the Empire. These same Romans, having conquered Gaul, noticed the properties of certain springs and exploited them. They even went so far as to build towns around them, as in Aquae Sextar, Aix les bains de nos jours ou encore à Vichy ou Plombières les bains dans les Vosges pour les plus anciennes "stations thermales".
Forgotten in the Middle Ages, spa towns became the stars of the 18th and 19th centuries
La marquise de Sévigné (attributed to Lefebvre)
Somewhat forgotten in the Middle Ages, healing waters made a comeback during the Renaissance. It even became chic to go "take the waters". We bathed (clothed! That's why so many spies took the waters at the same time as important personalities. Pour écouter... Le XVIIe et le XVIIIE siècle voient de nombreux "peoples" aller dans les villes d'eaux. At Plombières les bains, Madame de Sévigné, Madame de Maintenon, stars of the court of Louis XIV, posed for a moment and wrote letters there. The XIX is the great era of thermalism. Towns become magnificent and new ones are even built around newly discovered springs as in Vittel or Contrexéville at the end of the XIXth century. The springs continue to be exploited today today. New ones are even being used today, as in Nancy where Nancy Thermal is opening soon to provide access to naturally warm water and the treatments that go with it, while enjoying a brand-new complex in a conurbation of 300,000 inhabitants.
And thermalism today?
It has to be said that the spa industry is doing very well in France. There are 89 spa resorts, 109 establishments which capture 770 springs or 20 % of the European capital. These springs have become sacred once again, in a way, since everything is being done to protect them from pollution...
NDAB Creativity/Shutterstock.com
Our 5 favorite spas :
Vittel and Contrexéville
Vittel is magnificent. With an immense 400-hectare thermal spa dotted with delightful buildings, a town whose plans were designed by the architect of the Paris Opera: Charles Garnier. Also worth a visit, just next door, is Contrexéville and its thermal gallery. Fans of architecture will find their account.
+ More information about the town
+ More information on thermal baths
Plombières les bains :
It's a little forgotten, but it's one of France's oldest spa resorts, and for a long time was the place to be for the curists of yesteryear. Madame de Sévigné, Montaigne, Madame de Maintenon, Beaumarchais and Voltaire all passed through here, and in 1859 Count Cavour and Emperor Napoleon III signed the Treaty of Plombières, which confirmed the birth of Italy. Nicknamed "the city of 1,000 balconies", it is nestled in a valley and has a charm all of its own.
more information on the city
Bagnoles de l'Orne :
In Normandy. A tiny resort, but a lovely place on the edge of a lake and in the middle of the forest. The ideal place to recharge your batteries away from the noise;
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Bagnoles de L'orne by malgosia janicka/Shutterstock.com
Cambo les bains :
Close to the Atlantic Ocean, Biarritz and the mountains, Cambo les bains is the pleasant surprise in the south-east.
+ More information about the town
Cambo-les-Bains, France - October 10, 2016 Central canal with fountains in the French gardens of Villa Arnaga in Cambo-les-Bains Sasha64f.
Vichy :
Vichy is perhaps France's most beautiful spa in terms of architecture: the thermal baths, the theater, the hotels... everything is beautiful in Vichy;
+ More information about the town
Opéra de Vichy by RossHelenmalgosia janicka/Shutterstock.com
FAQ
What is the history of spa treatments in France?
Thermalism in France dates back to the Celts and then the Romans, with resorts built around curative springs that have been exploited since Antiquity.
What are the most emblematic spas in France today?
Among the most famous: Vichy, Vittel, Plombières-les-Bains, Bagnoles de l'Orne and Cambo-les-Bains.
How many spa resorts are there in France?
France currently boasts 89 spa resorts and 109 establishments operating around 770 thermal springs.
Is spa therapy still popular in France today?
Yes, the spa industry is still active, with many people taking the waters and efforts to modernize facilities and protect springs.
Why is the spa particularly linked to France?
Because France boasts an historic heritage of spa towns, a large number of springs and a strong spa tradition that is rare elsewhere.
