The Top 10 Thermal Baths in France for a Restorative Wellness Escape

France has a long tradition of bathing in mineral-rich hot springs, but today’s thermal baths blend heritage with cutting-edge design: outdoor pools, glass-fronted steam rooms and quiet spa circuits designed for gentle, restorative wellness. Whether you're after mountain scenery, a peaceful village setting or a classic Belle Époque spa town, France’s geothermal landscape offers a destination for every traveller. Here are 10 thermal baths in France not to be missed.

France's thermal baths are natural hot springs enriched with minerals such as calcium, magnesium and sulphur, heated by geothermal activity beneath the earth’s surface. France has dozens of these sources, especially in volcanic regions like the Auvergne, in the Pyrenees, throughout the Alps and across the southwest.

Historically used for balneotherapy and medical hydrotherapy, thermal baths today are just as popular with travellers seeking a short wellness break. Expect warm thermal pools, hammams, steam rooms, hydrotherapy jets, outdoor baths and relaxation lounges. While many spa resorts also offer an array of treatments, simply soaking in the mineral-rich water is the heart of the experience.

Saint-Gervais is home to one of France's standout thermal baths, known for waters that originate high in the Mont Blanc massif. The spa complex is modern, elegant and designed around floor-to-ceiling views of surrounding cliffs and forest. Inside, you’ll find thermal pools of varying temperatures, a hammam carved into the rock and a gentle hydrotherapy circuit. Outside, steaming pools look onto the valley, especially magical at dusk. The waters are famously mild on the skin thanks to their long filtration through glacial rocks. Wellness lovers in the Mont Blanc region can also try the Chamonix thermal baths, which offer striking Alpine views.

• Haute-Savoie, one hour from Geneva.
• Stay at Novotel Megève Mont-Blanc Hotel and you'll also have a spa and balneotherapy centre on site. 

One of France's most prestigious spa towns, Aix-les-Bains has long been associated with grand hotels, lakeside promenades and Belle Époque architecture. The thermal baths combine medicinal hydrotherapy with a separate wellness centre. Pair a morning soak with a walk along Lake Bourget, France’s largest natural lake, followed by lunch at one of the town's many excellent restaurants.

• Near Lake Bourget, Savoie.
• Novotel Annecy Centre makes a scenic stay, just half an hour's drive away. 

Evian is known worldwide for its mineral water, but this elegant lakeside town offers its own serene wellness spaces. While smaller than other Alpine resorts, the spa and thermal facilities feel quietly luxurious. Opt for a wellness package that includes access to thermal pools, a massage suite or a hydrotherapy session. The lakeshore paths are perfect for calm, scenic recovery strolls.

• Haute-Savoie, one hour by train from Geneva.

Nestled in the rugged eastern Pyrenees, Fontpédrouse is home to one of France’s most striking thermal baths: Les Bains de Saint-Thomas, a series of dramatic open-air pools surrounded by mountains. Steam drifts across terraces of natural stone, creating an atmospheric setting that's ideal for nature lovers. Inside, you’ll also find hammams, a Jacuzzi area and relaxation spaces.  

• Pyrénées-Orientales, near Mont-Louis.

Cauterets is one of the prettiest spa towns in the Pyrenees, with handsome 19th-century buildings lining its small centre. The Cauterets thermal baths focus on relaxation, respiratory well-being and gentle hydrotherapy. Inside you’ll find warm pools, steam rooms and quiet zones perfect for unwinding. Consider combining your spa trip with a hike to Pont d’Espagne, one of the region’s natural highlights.

• Hautes-Pyrénées, via Lourdes. 
• Novotel Pau Pyrénées makes a good base for exploring the western Pyrenees area. 

One of France’s oldest spa towns, Luchon (Bagnères-de-Luchon) is home to a unique geothermal vapour cave – a warm, misty grotto naturally heated by volcanic vapours. The town’s thermal centre also includes warm pools, hammams and treatment areas. The vapour cave alone makes Luchon worth the trip. Hiking? Combine Luchon with the atmospheric Luz-Saint-Sauveur thermal baths, set among dramatic mountains.

• Haute-Garonne, two hours from Toulouse.

Vichy is France’s most iconic spa town and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Great Spa Towns of Europe. Its thermal architecture, parks and grand pavilions create an elegant backdrop for wellness. The town’s mineral springs – long prized for their therapeutic qualities – feed modern spa facilities, hydrotherapy suites and serene bathing areas. 

• Allier, central France, an hour north of Clermont-Ferrand. 

Just outside the capital, Enghien-les-Bains is the only certified thermal spa town in the Île-de-France region. Its contemporary thermal centre sits beside a peaceful lake, offering serene wellness without leaving the Paris region. Expect warm pools, hammams, saunas and stylish relaxation zones with indulgent massage treatments – perfect for winding down after a few days of sightseeing. 

• Val-d’Oise, 15 minutes from central Paris.
• Combine your stay with a city break at Novotel Paris Saint Denis Stade Basilique. 

Famous for centuries for its therapeutic mud treatments, Dax is France’s largest thermal town and a major centre for balneotherapy alternative medicine treatments. Visitors come for the warm pools, mud-based spa rituals and laidback atmosphere of the Landes region, with its vast pine forests and long sandy beaches. Dax itself is leafy, friendly and ideal for slow-paced wellness escapes.

• Landes, near the Atlantic coast in Nouvelle-Aquitaine.

Chaudes-Aigues ('hot waters') lives up to its name. Its springs reach 82°C at their source, making this one of the most geothermally active sites in Europe. The thermal centre uses the naturally hot water in pools and relaxation areas. The village is small but charming, built around its steaming fountains and narrow lanes. 

• 25 minutes from Saint-Flour in central France.

• For mountain views: Saint-Gervais, Fontpédrouse
• For elegant heritage: Aix-les-Bains, Vichy, Cauterets
• For lakeside tranquility: Evian-les-Bains, Enghien-les-Bains, Aix-les-Bains
• For something unusual: Luchon’s vapour cave, Dax’s mud therapy, Chaudes-Aigues’ volcanic springs
• For peaceful nature escapes: Cauterets, Fontpédrouse

Thermal baths in France are generally busiest at weekends, so remember to pre-book. If you're planning a family holiday in France, bear in mind that while children are allowed in most places, some have age limits for the hammams and steam rooms.  

Expect to spend between 1.5 and three hours inside. A typical visit includes warm thermal pools, outdoor baths, hydrotherapy jets, steam rooms and hammams. Towels are usually provided, and bathrobes can be rented. Bring swimwear, flip-flops and a relaxed attitude: the whole point is to slow down and enjoy the mineral-rich water. Thermal baths are open year-round, so you can enjoy them on a winter escape or a summer mountain break.

From volcanic hot springs to lakeside sanctuaries, thermal baths in France offer endless ways to unwind in spaces that feel restorative without being overly formal. Whether you’re adding a spa day to a longer trip or planning a destination-focused retreat, these spa towns offer warmth, tranquility and a chance to truly slow down.