Are There Hot SpringsAre there hot springs in France?
Yes. France has many spa towns fed by hot springs, from the Pyrenees, with outdoor pools at Dorres and Saint-Thomas and a free spring at Mérens, to the Alps at Saint-Gervais, the Auvergne volcanoes and Dax in the south-west.
Most thermes are medical centres where people take prescribed cures of about three weeks. For a day visit, look for the public thermal spas, such as Royatonic, Les Bains du Rocher in Cauterets and Les Bains du Mont-Blanc, which are open without a prescription.
Chaudes-Aigues, in the Cantal, has one of the hottest springs in Europe, at about 82°C.
Best hot springs in France
The hot springs most visitors can enjoy for a day.
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Outdoor baths
Bains de Dorres
Dorres, OccitanieOutdoor granite pools on a sunny Pyrenean hillside, fed by a hot sulphur spring.
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Outdoor baths
Les Bains de Saint-Thomas
Fontpédrouse, OccitanieOutdoor sulphur pools in a stone amphitheatre, open all year.
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Natural
Sources Chaudes de Mérens-les-Vals
Mérens-les-Vals, OccitanieFree wild sulphur pools a short walk from a Pyrenean village.
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Spa
Les Bains du Mont-Blanc
Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, Auvergne-Rhône-AlpesAn Alpine thermal spa with indoor and outdoor pools in a wooded park.
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Thermal baths
Royatonic (Royat-Chamalières)
Royat, Auvergne-Rhône-AlpesPublic thermal baths near Clermont-Ferrand, open daily.
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Thermal baths
Les Bains du Rocher
Cauterets, OccitanieA thermal spa in a Pyrenean ski town, open without a prescription.
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Spa
Thermes de Luchon
Bagnères-de-Luchon, OccitanieA Pyrenean spa with a natural steam cave.
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Spa
Sourcéo
Saint-Paul-lès-Dax, Nouvelle-AquitaineA thermal spa with indoor and outdoor pools near Dax.
Hot springs in France map
Where each of the 29 hot springs in France is. Pin shapes show the type; open the larger map for more detail.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Famous hot springs in France
All 29 hot springs we list in France, A to Z.
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Thermal baths
Bagnères-de-Bigorre (Aquensis), France
Public thermal spa open daily, with an indoor pool and rooftop hot tubs.
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Thermal spa
Bagnoles-de-l'Orne Thermal Spa, France
Spa town in a forest in Normandy, with medical cures and a day spa.
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Outdoor baths
Bains de Dorres, France
Outdoor granite pools on a Pyrenean hillside at about 1,450 m, fed by a hot sulphur spring.
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Spa
Balnea Loudenvielle, France
Pyrenean thermal spa by a mountain lake, with several themed bathing areas.
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Thermal spa
Bourbonne-les-Bains Thermal Spa, France
Thermal spa with very hot spring water, used since Roman times.
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Thermal spa
Brides-les-Bains Thermal Spa, France
Alpine spa town known for slimming cures, with a gondola up to Méribel and the 3 Vallées.
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Thermal spa
Châtel-Guyon Thermal Spa (Aïga Resort), France
Thermal resort in the Auvergne focused on digestive health and joint cures.
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Thermal spa
Chaudes-Aigues Thermal Centre, France
Thermal spa in a Cantal village whose Par spring, at about 82°C, is among the hottest in Europe.
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Thermal spa
Digne-les-Bains Thermal Spa, France
Thermal spa in Haute-Provence with warm pools and Roman bath remains.
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Thermal spa
La Bourboule Thermal Spa, France
Thermal spa in the Auvergne volcanoes, specialising in respiratory and skin treatments.
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Thermal spa
Le Mont-Dore Thermal Spa, France
Historic spa at the foot of the Puy de Sancy, with silica-rich water and Roman remains.
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Outdoor baths
Les Bains de Llo, France
Spa near Saillagouse with outdoor and indoor sulphur pools in the Ségre gorge.
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Outdoor baths
Les Bains de Saint-Thomas, France
Outdoor sulphur pools in a stone amphitheatre at about 1,150 m, open all year.
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Spa
Les Bains du Couloubret, France
Pyrenean thermal spa with indoor and outdoor pools, saunas and a hammam.
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Spa
Les Bains du Mont-Blanc, France
Alpine spa in a wooded park with indoor and outdoor thermal pools and saunas.
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Thermal baths
Les Bains du Rocher, France
Thermal spa in central Cauterets with pools, a hammam and a sauna, open without a prescription.
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Thermal spa
Les Thermes Dax, France
Thermal centre in Dax, France's leading spa town, using hot spring water and mud.
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Spa
O'Balia Spa Thermal, France
Thermal spa on the Thau lagoon near Montpellier; it has been closed for works, so check it has reopened.
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Thermal baths
Royatonic (Royat-Chamalières), France
Public thermal baths near Clermont-Ferrand, open daily without a prescription.
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Spa
Saint-Lary-Soulan Thermal Spa, France
Pyrenean spa in a ski resort, with outdoor thermal pools and mountain views.
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Spa
Sourcéo, France
Thermal spa near Dax with indoor and outdoor pools, saunas and a river current.
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Natural
Sources Chaudes de Mérens-les-Vals, France
Free wild sulphur pools at about 1,300 m, a 20-minute walk from the village.
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Thermal spa
Thermes d'Aix-les-Bains Chevalley, France
Thermal spa above Lac du Bourget with a public thermal pool.
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Thermal spa
Thermes d'Amélie-les-Bains, France
Thermal spa near Perpignan using sulphurous water.
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Thermal spa
Thermes d'Ax-les-Thermes, France
Pyrenean thermal town in the Ariège, with public hot pools in the town centre.
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Thermal spa
Thermes de Cauterets, France
Belle Époque thermal buildings in a Pyrenean ski and spa town.
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Spa
Thermes de Luchon, France
Pyrenean spa with sulphur pools, a rooftop pool and a natural steam cave.
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Thermal spa
Thermes de Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc, France
Alpine thermal centre using Mont Blanc spring water for skin and respiratory care.
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Thermal spa
Thermes de Vichy, France
Thermal spa in Vichy, one of the UNESCO-listed Great Spa Towns of Europe.
Seasons, costs and access in France
Timing your trip
All year. Pyrenean and Alpine spas are popular after skiing in winter, and outdoor pools like Dorres and Saint-Thomas are lovely in any season.
What you will pay
Public thermal spas sell entry by the session, usually a couple of hours. Medical cures are prescribed by a doctor and run for about three weeks. Mérens-les-Vals is free.
Reaching the springs
Dorres, Llo and Saint-Thomas are in the Cerdagne, near the Spanish border. Ax-les-Thermes and Mérens are in the Ariège, Cauterets and Luchon in the central Pyrenees, and Royat is on the edge of Clermont-Ferrand.
Hot spring dos and don'ts in France
French thermal spas have a few rules that surprise visitors.
- Wear sandals and a robeMost spas provide or rent them.
- Bring a swim cap if askedSome spas require one.
- Wear close-fitting swimwearMany French pools don't allow loose swim shorts.
- Check whether you need a prescriptionMedical thermes are for cures; public spas are open to everyone.
Common questions about hot springs in France
Are there natural hot springs in France?
Yes. Mérens-les-Vals in the Pyrenees has free wild pools, and Dorres and Saint-Thomas have outdoor pools in the mountains.
Do you need a prescription for French thermal spas?
For medical cures, yes. Public thermal spas such as Royatonic and Les Bains du Rocher are open to anyone.
Which is the hottest spring in France?
The Par spring at Chaudes-Aigues, at about 82°C, one of the hottest in Europe.
Are swim shorts allowed in French pools?
Often not. Close-fitting swimwear is usually required.
Pictures of hot springs in France
Photos of Bains de Dorres, Les Bains de Saint-Thomas, Les Bains du Mont-Blanc, Royatonic (Royat-Chamalières), Les Bains du Rocher and Thermes de Luchon, all hot springs in this guide. We only use photos whose license allows reuse and credit the photographer under each one. The full credits are on our photo credits page.
Sources
Information here was checked on against the sources below.
- France.fr (Atout France) (official tourism site)
Explore more hot springs in Europe
Other countries in Europe where we list hot springs.