Several of Lorraine’s spa towns put the accent fairly and squarely on fitness but also attract visitors for their architecture. One such is Plombières-les-Bains, the “town of a thousand balconies”. In Plombières-les-Bains, the water supplied by the 27 hot springs at temperatures of between 57° C and 84° C has numerous properties - antispasmodic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, relaxing, sedative and vasodilating.
Vittel’s water treats a range of ailments including rheumatism, urinary infections and gastric disorders. In Vittel, the pump rooms were designed by Charles Garnier, the architect who designed the Opera House in Paris. César and Bluysen designed some of the luxury hotels. Contrexéville has not been left behind; it has a fully-renovated spa centre originally built in the early 20th Century in a neo-Byzantine style and an Art Nouveau casino. The enamelled lava and Carrare marble fountains in the town centre are more recent additions to the streetscape, confirming the town’s love of innovation.
The water from the Souveraine and Pavillon springs is used to treat kidney disease and liver disorders.
