To regain strength, follow a thermal cure or take a moment for yourself, you have come to the right place: the pure, renowned spring water of the Grand Est has been known since ancient times for its beneficial properties! Add to this an enchanting environment, ultra-modern equipment and extremely luxurious treatments and your wellness holiday is complete, for a lasting feeling of complete relaxation.

A wonderfully gentle journey along the water, from the beautiful Moorish alleys in Vittel to the prestigious neo-Byzantine thermal baths in Contrexéville, without forgetting the smaller spas in the forests, such as Plombières-les-Bains with its spectacular stone dome, or the thermal baths in Bains-les-Bains with their light-flooded art deco spaces.

Follow in the footsteps of famous historical figures such as Montaigne or Musset, who came here to recharge their batteries in these generous waters and grandiose buildings. A true source of eternal youth, a blessing for body and mind!

Celtic and Wattwiller are two natural spring waters from the Vosges mountains. This naturally pure water is served in the most famous restaurants in France and Europe.
Wattwiller, Lisbeth, Carola, Celtic, Valon, Contrexéville and Vittel, there is no shortage of springs. Some were already used by the Romans. The exceptional mineral balance and extreme purity make the water a natural source of well-being in every sense. The Soultzmatt, Carola and Wattwiller springs are labelled Valeurs Parc for their local importance and their commitment to the preservation of biodiversity and natural heritage.

The Vosges Spa Tour starts in Contrexéville and ends in Wattwiller.
The spa town of Contrexéville has a history, as evidenced by the excavated tumuli and Merovingian objects. The 18th century Duke of Lorraine, Stanislas Leszaynski, asked his first physician to investigate the springs of Contrexéville. An open-air bath was the result. Louis XVI's doctor also investigated the water and his conclusion led to the first bathhouse. Contrexéville became known as a spa town. A popular place too, because the writer Edmond de Haroncourt wrote the immortal words 'Partir, c'est mourir un peu' (to leave is to die a little) when he left Contrexéville. Since the 19th century, the entire population has become professionally dependent on the spa industry. The best-known spring, the Source Pavillon (11° C), is the only one that also fills the bottles with Contrex mineral water. The town has two spa buildings; a cure would guarantee the loss of excess weight and have a positive effect on the functioning of the nervous system. The water is also used against infections of the urinary tract. A complete cure can be followed in three weeks. There are also mini-cures of a weekend. And as a tip: Taste Contrex water directly from the source at the public taps in the city.

Vittel, about 5 km away, is the most famous source of Lorraine, and in fact of all of Northern France. The Romans built thermal baths there. The foundations were found close to the sources. After the Roman Empire was wiped out by the barbarians, only the people from the region enjoyed the healing water; until Louis Boulomié rediscovered the water of Vittel in 1852. The water extraction started in 1854 from the Grande Source. The sale of mineral water and the importance of Vittel as a spa centre increased. Nowadays, about a billion bottles are bottled as Vittel each year. All kinds of architects have contributed to the rise of Vittel as a spa resort. Garnier built the thermal bath complex, the galleries and tasteful villas. After the Moorish style of the turn of the century, many houses were built in the Norman style (craftsman style). The green heart of Vittel, the Pare Thermal, illustrates the wealth and luxury of Vittel with its shady lanes and colossal trees. From the 1920s onwards, the architect Bluysen added his buildings, recognisable by their sleek lines and white facades. The Casino is one of Bluysen's most beautiful creations. Anyone who is curious about the high-level cures will be amazed by the Grand Hotel. The water of Vittel contains sulphates and is rich in lime and magnesium. Visit the Bron Hépar, known for its magnesium-rich water.

Bains-les-Bains, 55km away, situated in 140 hectares of mature forest (oak, beech and pine), has had its ups and downs in history. Roman soldiers already used the hot spring water. After the Gallo-Roman period, it became quiet around the springs. Development started again during the reign of Stanislas. The entire court liked to take a cure in
Bains-les-Bains. During the French Revolution (1789), the thermal baths were confiscated. The current Bain Romain, built in Art Deco style, is now the symbol of Bains-les-Bains' hope to attract spa-goers again. The water, some 600,000 litres, is there 24 hours a day, between 33 and 53 °C. The sources also supply water to a second spa building, the Bain de la Promenade. In the Grand Pare you can take a health course and in addition to a regular cure, there is also the opportunity for mini-cures. Thermes Napoléon is a modern spa with Roman bathing culture.
More to see: La Manufacture Royale is an old ironworks from the 18th century. More to do: Take a short walk along the Canal des Vosges, a picturesque canal.

After about 35 km you will arrive at the coquettish spa resort of Plombières-les-Bains. It is a town that nestles in a narrow valley at the foot of the Vosges. Given its altitude (1450 m) and the oxygen-producing forests, Plombières has a reputation as a health resort.
But that's not all. Because since the Renaissance, doctors have been investigating why the spring water here was so healing. Much later, 11 microcuries per liter were measured, an impressive radioactivity that would have a very stimulating effect on the human organism. The paper and steel town is therefore a small but first-class health resort.
The three thermal baths 'lock' their clients in water boxes, while of course the head remains free. You can also end up in carved rock niches. The last cure method dates back to Roman times. Plombières is famous for its rejuvenating water. Every day, around 1 million litres with an average temperature of 62° C leave the ground under Plombières.

The next section takes you through the unparalleled heights of the Vosges. You follow part of the Route des Crêtes, along the mountain top of Le Grand-Ballon with magnificent views of mountain lakes and valleys. Heavy fighting took place at the Hartmannswillerkopf mountain top during the First World War. The battle between the German and French armies resulted in trench warfare. Remnants of these trenches and fortifications can still be seen at this location. At the site of the fighting there is a memorial chapel, a military cemetery and further to the east the positions can be seen.
Finally you arrive in Wattwiller, the town with the mineral spring water that you often see on the table and that you can literally drink here along the side of the road. There is a tap at the Wattwiller bottling plant. A little further on your ride ends in Uffholtz, where you can find an opportunity to take a breather.