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A place to treat yourself
Should you be feeling a little frazzled, a little tired and battered by life, then head for the little town of Bains-les-Bains in the Lorraine region of north-eastern France for some much needed relaxation therapy! The town, which nestles in the centre of the beautiful and densely wooded Vosges, is one of France’s hidden gems, loved by those who know it, but not spoiled by over development and tourism.
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Tranquil and pretty town
Bains-les-Bains is a tranquil and pretty town, whose architecture and planning instantly denote its origins as first a Gallo-Roman spa town, then a typical 1930’s thermal resort. There are many fascinating buildings in Bains-les-Bains, including of course the Roman Baths, and also a church with a very beautiful interior.
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Taking the waters
The spa waters of Bains-les-Bains come from no less than eleven sources or springs around the town. The quality of the water is ‘slightly mineralised, radio-active, non carbonated and silicated’! It is believed to benefit health in a number of ways, including being helpful to those suffering from heart or rheumatic conditions. The efficacy of this maybe unproven, but it is certainly beneficial to peace of mind and physical relaxation! The spa season here lasts from April until November, and you can treat yourself to thermal baths and showers in water naturally heated to temperatures between 26 to 51 degrees centigrade! Other treatments include mud baths, and underwater jet massage.
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On dry land…
Once you have finished your mud baths and thermal showers and are feeling ready for anything, you will find plenty of choice of activities and sports in and around the town. You might like to visit the remains of a mediaeval chateau, Fontenoy le Chateau, or spend some time in the Grand Parc Thermal in the centre of the town itself. Here you can take part in a number of sports including the traditional French pastime of Petanque. In high season there are various cultural events held in the Parc, and a visit to the Tourist Office in Bains-les-Bains will keep you apprised of what’s on when. Just a little outside the town there are opportunities for golf, horse-riding, walking, cycling, fishing and swimming.
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How to get there
If you wish to travel by air you can fly to Basle Mulhouse or Strasbourg with airlines including Air France and budget airline easyJet. Rail travel is also possible, as the town of Bains-les-Bains has a train station, but the situation is se to improve in the near future as the Vosges department is due to be added to the TGV network in 2007.
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Property prices and availability in and around Bains-les-Bains
Lorraine is a region of France which is yet largely undiscovered by foreign buyers, with the result that property prices remain very low in comparison with better known areas. This may begin to change with the introduction of the TGV routes into the Vosges, but at the moment the potential of the area is largely untapped. There are some lovely properties including farms and barns for conversion and typical Lorraine style town houses.
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BAINS-LES-BAINS AT A GLANCE |
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