The thermal baths of Bourbon Lancy

With Simon still recovering from his cold, we were determined to have a very restful rest day.  We headed out late morning to the boulangerie and bought a delicious cheese pastry and some pizza slices that we could heat in the oven for lunch.

We then wandered through the medieval gate of the old quarter built in the 14th century. Originally, a lookout man monitored the surrounding area from the top of the tower, but was replaced with a clock in the 16th century. The belfry also hosts the ‘Beurdin’, a colourful character, who rings the bell every hour while sticking his tongue out at passers-by.  

The street was lined with lovely half-timber buildings, wells and alcoves.  We walked along the old ramparts and back through the picturesque streets of the old quarter.  We detoured to purchase a few groceries including a ready-made veal dish for dinner and returned to our accommodation via the Sacred Heart Church.

Mid-afternoon we ventured out to the Thermal Quarter, with its baths that date back to Roman times.  Once amongst the most renowned in the Roman world, the baths are fed by four captured springs with water that includes a high content of lithium to reduce stress and anxiety as well as calcium and magnesium. The waters were reputed to relieve joint pain and said to cure female sterility and over the centuries many famous people have come to enjoy the thermal waters.

It took a bit of research to find the thermal waters that were open to the public without investing in a multi-day cure.  Celto Spa offered access to its Thermoludic spaces and we headed there with the requisite towel and (hopefully) clean pool sandals.  However, the sandals weren’t clean enough and we had to sign a waiver to be allowed to wander the facilities in bare feet. 

Once in, it was apparent that many others didn’t have clean sandals either.  We tried all the facilities, from the large pool with its various water jets, the external space with warmer water and more jets as well as a tidal circuit, the sauna and jacuzzi.  It was a very pleasant way to spend an afternoon.  We finished off with a restorative beer at the pub near the old quarter.  I made a quick trip up to watch the Beurdin ring the bell, though was disappointed not to see his tongue poke out. 

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