Etablissement thermal

English translation

The text above is the record as published by the Ministère de la Culture, in French. The English below is a machine translation made by TreeAlive, not by the Ministère de la Culture; it has not been checked by a person. Where the two differ, the original is the record. Report a translation error: privacy@treealive.com

History

These springs were already frequented in the Roman period. At the Revolution, the sale of the lands permitted the exploitation of the different springs: the Bath of the Poor fitted out with bathing pools carved in the rock; the Saint-Mart establishment used between 1733 and 1828 then destroyed in 1835 by a flood; the Caesar spring discovered in 1822. The works undertaken by the municipality in 1843 made it possible to uncover the great spring, first exploited with the medieval swimming pool, the hexagonal basin and wooden cabins. The success of the baths and the insalubrity of the installations led to the construction of a more substantial establishment. The plans were drawn up by Agis Ledru. The works extended from 1852 to 1856. The façade is inspired by the Basilica of Constantine with three round-arch openings separated by Ionic columns surmounted by statues. The architect wished to temper the antique influence by a reference to Auvergnat Romanesque. Inside, modern installations with 48 bathing cabins, sprayed shower rooms, carbon dioxide shower rooms and aspiration rooms, swimming pool... In 1857, enlargement of the establishment with the construction of an annex for laundry and additional cabins. Later, addition of the south building. Development of the park with the construction of a refreshment pavilion probably around 1900, the erection of a casino and a theatre between 1884 and 1890. The thermal establishment, built at the heart of the park, adjoins the Gallo-Roman installations. It comprises a central avant-corps housing the vessel of the entrance hall, and two low side wings closed at the ends by gables in return. These wings house the first-class treatment cabins and are served by a higher central gallery. The decoration is carried out with joinery, polychrome tilework, stained glass, stencilled painting. The great entrance hall is vaulted with groins whose voussoirs are painted with stencil. The lateral galleries are also groined vaults, marked in bays by doublets resting on pilasters. The cabins with twin entrances are adorned with mosaic. A grand staircase with double parallel flights and ironwork with torch-holders permits access to a back landing lit by secondary light from a coloured skylight.