The Romans were bathing here 1500 years ago. Villager did their laundry in style and had underfloor heating at home in year 1332. But today, can you take a bath in the town with the most abundant thermal water of France?
Water is too hot
Located next to the Museum of Geothermal Energy and Thermalism the water gushing from Source du Par is with 82ºC indisputably the hottest in Europe. As you walk down the market you might want to get a excellent pastry at the Pâtisserie to keep your mood afloat. Just a few steps away you find the spring Place au Buerre is featuring a convenient hot-tub. But with water entering at 62ºC it would not only melt your butter if you where trying to take a dip here.
Springs without pools
There is the beautiful, recently remodeled Parc Thermal Du Moulin Juéry, it almost feels like a Japanese Zen garden. It has a public toilet and this fountain with water at an ideal bathing temperature of 44,4ºC at display. With a little courage by the municipality, this could have easily been a public Onsen garden.
It’s not allowed to bath
There are two shallows pools covered with a roof where villagers used to do their laundry back in the days. A trickle of water enters at about 41ºC. The sign says baignade interdite which was crossed out at some points with the word libre added to it with marker. Makes me think I am not the only one wanting to submerge.
Both spas are closed
We were visiting in mid January 2025 at the time we had something like -10ºC outside during the night and little more during the day. I just wanted a hot bath at this point and was willing to pay entrance to enter a pool. I know it’s not uncommon for spas to be closed for the cold season: But I will remain baffled, furious and sad. Sacre bleu.
Chaudes-Aigues, Massif Central, France: The old village is nice to look at. The water is a lot and hot. They go above and beyond to make it hard to bathe here. – bert