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Press pack
eternal
Midi-Pyrénées
GELÈS-GAZOST I AULUS-LES-BAINS I AX-LES-THERMES EUROTHERMES I LES GRANDS THERMES BAGNÈRESHERMES DE LUCHON I BARBOTAN-LES-THERMES CHAÎNE THERMALE DU SOLEIL I LES THERMES DE BARÈGESRMES DE BEAUCENS I CAPVERN-LES-BAINS I LES THERMES DE CASTERA-VERDUZAN I LES THERMES DE
SAC-LES-THERMES CHAÎNE THERMALE DU SOLEIL I LES THERMES DE LECTOURE VALVITAL I LUZÉA LUZ-SAINTMES DE SALIES-DU-SALAT I LES THERMES DE SAINT-LARY-SOULAN I USSAT-LES-BAINS I BALNÉA LOUDENVIELLE
beneficial
M I D I - P Y R É N É E S , WAT E R F O R L I F E
M I D I - P Y R É N É E S , WAT E R F O R L I F E
Contents
THE REGION: IN FULL FLOW
P.4
OUR IDENTITY
P.5
- Relieving neurological disorders: neurology
- Treatments for women: gynaecology
- Treatments for children:
developmental disorders
HEALTHCARE DESTINATION
P.6
OVERVIEW
P.14
MIDI-PYRÉNÉES,
WELL-BEING DESTINATION
P.16
- Preventing and overcoming
venous pathologies: phlebology
- Reducing pain: rheumatology
- Treating allergies and asthma:
respiratory tract disorders
- Restoring the balance: urinary system,
digestive system, oral cavity mucous
membrane disorders
- Combating anxiety and stress:
psychosomatic disorders
P.7
P.8
P.10
P.11
P.12
- Recreational spas,
a Midi-Pyrénées speciality
- 3 well-being centres out in the country
- 4 more well-being centres:
an à-la-carte spa experience
Press pack 2
P.13
P.14
P.15
P.15
P.15
P.22
M I D I - P Y R É N É E S , WAT E R F O R L I F E
editorial
WELL-BEING AND HEALTHCARE:
DESTINATION MIDI-PYRÉNÉES
W
ith today's hectic, stressful lifestyles, both healthcare prevention
and the desire for well-being and relaxation are becoming ever
more important.
The spas and thermal baths of Midi-Pyrénées are perfectly positioned to
provide what today's consumers are demanding. Cauterets, Bagnères de Bigorre, Barèges, Argelès-Gazost, Luchon, Aulus-les-bains, Ax-les-Thermes…, each
town is different to the others, offering natural mineral waters with unique
properties in attractive and comfortable surroundings and constantly striving for quality.
Midi-Pyrénées is France's fourth spa region, with 17 spa resorts and 20 thermal spas backed up by a thousand-year-old tradition, recognised by healthcare professionals and popular with patients.
In the last ten years, the Region has been working hard to equip the majority
of its spas with the latest facilities. We have invested nearly €18 million in the
spa industry, a sector that accounts for 4,000 jobs in Midi-Pyrénées, 2,100 of
them directly in the industry, with investment totalling €110 million in all. With
10 recreational spas that are among Europe's very finest, Midi-Pyrénées now
boasts France's most extensive recreational spa offering.
But today we are doing more. We are pooling our resources to invest in the
spa industry, which is a boon to our tourist economy. This industry has the
potential to be a major driving force behind the region's appeal, through an
initiative similar to what we have done for our Great Tourist Sites.
We are proposing that the Region and all the players in the spa and wellbeing industry in Midi-Pyrénées join forces to promote our offering. Together, we have drawn up a regional promotion strategy.
This press pack is the start of things to come, presenting everything that
our region's spa centres are proud to offer.
Happy reading!
See you soon in Midi-Pyrénées.
Martin Malvy
Former Minister
President of the Conseil Régional
Midi-Pyrénées
Press pack 3
M I D I - P Y R É N É E S , WAT E R F O R L I F E
The Region:
in full flow
France's
4th
spa region
Midi-Pyrénées has
17
The industry generates
of which
2,100
spa resorts
4,000
jobs,
are direct
12
therapeutic fields are attributed
to mineral waters
10
Treatments in
in Midi-Pyrénées
therapeutic fields are available
10
With
recreational spas, Midi-Pyrénées is home
to France's biggest collection
18
days: the standard duration of a treatment
programme under the French social security system
5
départements in Midi-Pyrénées have spa resorts
(Hautes Pyrénées is the France's leading
département, with 8 resorts)
1
vaporarium unique Europe-wide:
Les Thermes de Luchon boasts a natural steam
bath formed by 150 metres of underground
tunnels dug into the mountainside
Number of spa patients: more than
795,000
68,000
Over
one-day well-being
treatments are provided at recreational spas
© Thinkstock / Goodshoot
THE SPA INDUSTRY IN 12 FIGURES
Nestling in Pyrenean valleys and the countryside of
Gers and Aveyron, the 17 spa resorts of Midi-Pyrénées offer patients the unique properties of their
mineral water, their tried and tested expertise and
their innovative facilities and treatments, all in wonderful surroundings. Midi-Pyrénées is a well-being and
healthcare destination with one of Europe's most extensive ranges of treatment spa and recreational
spa offerings.
Five million euros: this is the annual budget allocated
to the spa industry by
the Midi-Pyrénées Region
since 1998. A budget that
speaks volumes about the
Region's commitment to
partnering this growth industry in order not only
to satisfy the changing
needs of our customers
but also to comply with
the industry's exacting
health standards. The modernisation process that
is now in full flow and bearing fruit has been widely
initiated and encouraged
by the Regional Council,
well aware of the economic and tourism benefits
that go hand in hand with
the emergence of the
21st century spa industry,
an industry rooted in
long-standing practices
that are now part of a
process of local and regional development. At
the same time, Midi-Pyrénées has taken the
plunge with the recreational spa industry. In the last
ten years it has invested huge sums of money in encouraging this booming trend. The gamble has paid
off since the public have voted with their feet, with
numbers of visitors to the recreational spas of MidiPyrénées – which between the 10 destinations make
up a collection unrivalled anywhere in France – growing year on year. They are popular because they
are responding to a need for well-being, relaxation
and pleasure, but also because great care has been
taken to provide top facilities, high-quality services
and carefully designed architecture and in ensuring
they blend in with the stunning countryside around
them, with the Pyrenees as their backdrop.
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M I D I - P Y R É N É E S , WAT E R F O R L I F E
Our identity
WHAT MAKES MIDI-PYRÉNÉES
DIFFERENT
Situated in South West France, between the Atlantic and Mediterranean, the Midi-Pyrénées region draws its wealth of interest and incredibly
diverse heritage and countryside from 8 départements full of character. Together, Ariège, Aveyron, Haute Garonne, Hautes Pyrénées, Gers, Lot,
Tarn and Tarn et Garonne form the largest region in France. Famous for its enthusiastic combination of heritage and quality of life, Midi-Pyrénées
is a region full of vitality and bursting with ideas
and innovations: Toulouse, France's second university city and Europe's aerospace capital, is home
to the vast assembly plants of Airbus, the world's
leading aircraft manufacturer.
The Great Outdoors
One of France's sunniest regions (with an average
of 2,000 hours of sunshine every year), Midi-Pyrénées offers vast areas of countryside and an endless range of spectacular scenery such as the
Tarn Gorge, the Aveyron Gorge, the Lot Valley, the
Dordogne Valley, the high peaks of the Pyrenees,
and more… With 28,000 km of waymarked footpaths, the Pyrenees National Park and 4 Regional
Nature Parks, Midi-Pyrénées is the perfect destination for hiking, cycling, horse riding, white water
sports, river tourism on the Canal du Midi and
other waterways, plus skiing and snowsports in
the Pyrenees.
The Great Tourist Sites in Midi-Pyrénées
Midi-Pyrénées owes its fame to 25 Great Tourist
Sites famous all over the world, including Millau Viaduct, the Pic du Midi with its astronomical observatory, the Cirque de Gavarnie (a UNESCO World
Heritage Site), the great Catholic pilgrimage site
of Lourdes, Albi and the Musée Toulouse-Lautrec,
Cahors and the Pont Valentré, but also Conques,
Rocamadour, Moissac, and a host of others…
Midi-Pyrénées is also famous for its gastronomy,
its heritage and its great diversity of countryside
and atmospheres, from St James's Way to the
slopes of its ski resorts.
Lifestyle
The home of Roquefort, foie gras, the Quercy
black truffle, saffron and some hundred other
quality-certified products, Midi-Pyrénées is also a
land of vineyards that boasts 8 AOCs and a tradition of quality craftsmanship. What's more, MidiPyrénées hosts around a hundred festivals, some
of which have an international reputation, such as
the Jazz in Marciac festival, the Country Music
Festival in Mirande, the Sylvanès Festival of Religious Music, Piano aux Jacobins, the Toulouse les
Orgues festival of organ music, and more…
KEY FACTS AND FIGURES
Population:
nearly
2.9
million.
8
departments :
Ariège, Aveyron, Gers, HauteGaronne, Hautes-Pyrénées, Lot,
Tarn, Tarn-et-Garonne.
15.2
million
visitors.
Capital: Toulouse
and conurbation, with
Surface area:
45,348
Km2,
making it France's biggest region.
3rd
The
most important
non-coastal tourist region on the
national market, after Rhône-Alpes
and Ile de France.
872,000
inhabitants.
(450,000 in the city of Toulouse).
83.2
million
bed-nights.
GREAT TOURIST SITES MIDI-PYRÉNÉES:
Toulouse, Canal des Deux Mers, Luchon, Saint Bertrand de Comminges –
Valcabrère, The Ariège Collection (Niaux Caves, Mas d’Azil Caves, Saint Lizier,
Foix, Montségur, Mirepoix), Rodez, Millau Viaduct, Conques, Villefranche de
Rouergue – Najac, Auch, Marciac, Flaran-Baïse-Armagnac, Pic du Midi, Cauterets
-Pont d’Espagne, Cirque de Gavarnie, Lourdes, Cahors, Rocamadour, Saint
Cirq Lapopie – Pech Merle, Figeac, Dordogne Valley, Sorèze – Revel-Saint
Ferréol, the source of the Canal du Midi, Albi, Cordes-sur-Ciel and Moissac..
Press pack 5
6th
The
most important
tourist region on the
international market, with 4.3%
of the market share.
44,000
salaried
jobs generated by tourism.
M I D I - P Y R É N É E S , WAT E R F O R L I F E
Midi-Pyrénées,
healthcare destination
With 17 spa resorts fed by mineral springs in the Pyrenees, Gers and Aveyron, Midi-Pyrénées offers a wide variety of spa centres and services and
a vast range of treatments. Of the 12 therapeutic fields approved under
the French national healthcare system (oral cavity mucous membrane disorders, digestive disorders, psychosomatic disorders, urinary system disorders, dermatological problems, gynaecological issues, cardiovascular
diseases, neurological complaints, venous pathologies, rheumatic conditions,
developmental disorders in children, and respiratory tract disorders), 10
are treated in Midi-Pyrénées. This wealth of expertise makes Midi-Pyrénées
France's fourth spa region and puts it at the heart of the issues that future medical practice is dealing with. Spa treatments may be traditional
and in some cases age-old, but they have undergone a modernisation process and remain as relevant as ever. Providing a gentle, drug-free form
of treatment associated with healthy living and patient-centred medicine,
the spa industry is innovating, enabling it to satisfy the most rigorous
scientific criteria and demonstrate its efficacy.
A medical process that must be prescribed and monitored by a doctor,
spa treatment programmes under the French national health system
are reimbursed by health insurance bodies for a duration of 18 days of
compulsory treatments.
Mini-programmes
A more flexible alternative to the compulsory 18-day treatment programmes available under the French
healthcare system, mini-programmes
lasting for 8, 10 or 12 days are now
also available at spa centres.
Like unregulated spa treatment programmes, which are arranged by patients independently, these
mini-programmes are not prescribed
by a doctor or paid for by the French
social security system.
© HPTE
17 SPA RESORTS
A skilled industry that takes its
source from history
It was the Romans who first made use of
the thermal springs discovered on the
mountainsides of the Pyrenees. Caesar's
armies came to treat their injuries at Barèges, whose waters were reputed for
their healing properties. By the Middle
Ages, and later during the Renaissance,
when Marguerite de Navarre and Catherine de Medici travelled to Cauterets, the
spa industry was here to stay in the valleys of the Pyrenees. In the 18th century
the royal intendant Baron d'Etigny transformed the town of Luchon into a modern
spa resort; ambitious new amenities
were built, making it a destination frequented by the great and the good.
In 1859, Napoleon III and Empress Eugénie came to take the waters at Luz-Saint
Sauveur, ordering a number of major building projects including the famous Pont
Napoléon near Luz. Monumental thermal
baths, luxury hotels, casinos and landscaped parks gradually grew up, giving a
new look to resorts like Barèges, LuzSaint Sauveur, Cauterets and Bagnères
de Bigorre, which became popular holiday
destinations for the rich.
Press pack 6
ARIÈGE-PYRÉNÉES
www.ariegepyrenees.com
1- Aulus-les-Bains
2- Ax-les-Thermes
3- Ussat les Bains
AVEYRON
www.tourisme-aveyron.com
4- Cransac-les-Thermes
HAUTE-GARONNE,
http://tourisme.haute-garonne.fr/
5- Bagnères-de-Luchon
6- Salies-du-Salat
GERS
www.tourisme-gers.com
7- Barbotan les Thermes
8- Castéra-Verduzan
9- Lectoure
HAUTES-PYRÉNÉES
www.tourisme-hautes-pyrenees.com
10- Argelès-Gazost
11- Bagnères-de-Bigorre
12- Barèges-Barzun
13- Beaucens
14- Capvern-les-Bains
15- Cauterets
16- Luz-Saint-Sauveur
17- Saint-Lary-Soulan
M I D I - P Y R É N É E S , WAT E R F O R L I F E
RESORTS
1
An industry that is innovating and diversifying
The spa resorts of Midi-Pyrénées are actively taking
part in government-funded research and are investing
in new facilities to ensure they keep abreast of the latest technological advances. This readiness to innovate
led to the opening of the first recreational spa centres
in the region in the first decade of the new millennium.
6
7
10
11
12
13
14
15
2
3
4
5
8
9
The benefits of spa waters
- Sulphurous water: contains high levels of sulphur which
are useful in treating diseases of the respiratory tract.
- Sulphate water: indicated in the treatment of renal disorders and in some metabolic diseases.
- Chloride water: containing a high concentration of sodium chloride, this water stimulates growth and is indicated in the treatment of developmental disorders and
enuresis.
- Bicarbonate water: this facilitates the treatment of
some gastrointestinal disorders, regulates the motility of
the alimentary canal and has an anti-inflammatory, soothing and healing effect used to treat dermatological
conditions.
- Oligomineral water: rich in copper, iron and also arsenic.
- Hydrothermal gases: used mainly to treat chronic respiratory tract diseases, cardiovascular diseases and venous pathologies.
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16
17
1 ©Didier BANQUET / 2 ©Alain Baschenis / 3 ©Florence Durand/Sipa Press / 4 ©Corentin Mossière - Chaîne Thermale du Soleil / 5 ©Luchon /Thermes de Luchon. / 6 ©D. Viet / 7 ©Chaîne Thermale du Soleil / 8 © JF Talivez /
9 ©Alain Bouaut / 10 © Vincent Groc / 11 ©D. VIET / 12 ©HPTE / LAUGIER/OVNI / 13 ©HPTE / BIELLE / 14 ©VIaCommunication / 15 © Arnaud Spani / 16 ©Jacques Sierpinski / 17 ©Office de Tourisme de St Lary
17
SPA
M I D I - P Y R É N É E S , WAT E R F O R L I F E
Spa treatments
Preventing and overcoming venous pathologies:
phlebology
Spas offering these treatments: Argelès-Gazost (Hautes-Pyrénées),
Barbotan-les-Thermes (Gers), Luz-Saint-Sauveur (Hautes-Pyrénées)
Lymphoedema is a swelling of the body which mainly affects the
limbs. It is caused by a malfunction of the lymphatic system, generally following a trauma (often surgery or radiotherapy to treat
breast cancer). To improve treatment methods, based on a combination of treatments aimed at reducing the increase in volume and
facilitating the mobilisation of the
limb concerned, the spas at Luz-Saint
Sauveur and Argelès-Gazost are inSpa resorts at the heart of
troducing a number of innovations.
important medical research:
Developed by Luz-Saint Sauveur spa,
National multi-centre study
which works at the cutting edge of
of lymphoedema
this field, in collaboration with the
In 2013, the resorts of Luz-Saint SauMidi-Pyrénées
Region,
Lymphoveur and Argelès-Gazost are participathermes® is the first treatment
ting in the study group led by
programme designed specifically for
Professor Carpentier which aims to
lymphoedema. A combination of spa
draft a protocol for a national multitreatments and therapeutic educacentre study funded by AFRETH (the
tion sessions, this programme aims
Association Française pour la Reboth to treat the lymphoedema, recherche Thermale) which aims to
ducing the swelling, and to enable the
prove the efficacy of the lymphoedema
patient to be more autonomous in
spa treatment.
managing the condition. Developed as part of the programme, Thalaxion
Bras is a completely new spa hydromassage apparatus now being used in
the spas in Luz-Saint Sauveur and Argelès-Gazost. A first in France, this initiative is being managed by the
economic development agency Midi-Pyrénées Innovation and involves the doctors and directors at three
specialist phlebology spas in Midi-Pyrénées (Argelès-Gazost, Barbotan and Luz-Saint Sauveur), Rangueil University Hospital for the methodology of the medical research and the company Stas-Doyer, the manufacturer of the special bath tub used. The Thalaxion is an apparatus used to immerse the arms and legs
for draining sessions using temperature- and pressure-adjustable jets of spa water.
NEW
Nordic walking course
at Luz-Saint Sauveur
A new nordic walking activity was introduced in
2013 for patients receiving lymphology and phlebology treatments,
making use of a specially
built therapeutic course.
Sessions are supervised
by a qualified instructor.
Press pack 8
© X. Boymont
LYMPHOEDEMA, INNOVATION IN THE REGION
M I D I - P Y R É N É E S , WAT E R F O R L I F E
Reducing pain:
rheumatology
Spas offering these treatments: Ax-les-Thermes (Ariège), Bagnères-deBigorre (Hautes-Pyrénées), Barbotan-les-Thermes (Gers), Barèges-Barzun
(Hautes-Pyrénées), Beaucens-les-Bains (Hautes-Pyrénées), Capvern
(Hautes-Pyrénées), Cauterets (Hautes-Pyrénées), Cransac-les-Thermes
(Aveyron), Lectoure (Gers), Luchon (Haute-Garonne), Saint-Lary (HautesPyrénées), Salies-du-Salat (Haute-Garonne)
RENOWNED SPA RESORTS
© D. Viet
Among other things, the spa resorts of Midi-Pyrénées are renowned for
the efficacy in treating rheumatic disorders (two resorts, Lectoure and
Beaucens, treat solely rheumatic conditions). Pain, joint stiffness, back
ache: these are all pathologies that have an adverse effect on quality of
life on a daily basis and which can be successfully treated by spa medicine.
The treatments provided in the spa centres of Midi-Pyrénées are aimed
at providing an effective improvement in mobility and reducing pain for
patients.
Fibromyalgia: returning to gentle exercise with the Fibro’Therm®
complementary
programme at Barèges-Barzun
and Bagnères de Bigorre.
Characterised by general muscle and joint pain associated
with intense tiredness, fibromyalgia has numerous consequences for daily life and is
particularly disruptive of sleep
in patients with the condition.
A spa treatment programme is
effective in treating the pain
suffered and can also teach
the patient how to cope better
with this pathology.
To improve treatment efficacy,
the spa centres at BarègesBarzun and Les Grands Thermes
de Bagnères-de-Bigorre have developed the Fibro’Therm® complementary programme based on the wideranging treatment of patients by a medical team (psychologist,
sophrologist, nurse and physiotherapist) who are trained to look after
these patients. This programme aims to help patients better understand
and manage their pain on a day-to-day basis and to provide them with the
confidence to return to some gentle physical activity. At the same time,
the spas at Barèges-Barzun and Bagnères de Bigorre have been involved
with developing the design of a special bath tub for treatments.
Gona’Thermes: pain relief through the Gona’Thermes programme at
Capvern-les-Bains and Cauterets
On the basis of the results of the Thermarthrose study, in 2012 Capvernles-Bains and Cauterets set up the Gona’Thermes programme designed
specifically to treat osteoarthritis of the knee. This programme is designed to optimise the beneficial effects of a rheumatology spa treatment programme which provides pain relief, improves the functional
capacity of the joints and reduces consumption of anti-inflammatories.
Press pack 9
NEW
Innovation at Cransac
Unique in Europe in treating
rheumatism with hot natural
gases, Cransac recently launched an evening treatment programme designed especially for
working people. It runs every evening from 5.30 to 9pm to enable
patients to benefit from a
treatment programme after
work or daytime activities. Other
new treatments include two miniprogrammes (for back ache and
for neck osteoarthritis and neck
pain) and a new thermal spa
added in 2012 to complement the
range of available treatments.
New spa at Salies du Salat
The spa in Salies du Salat recently
opened a new facility, Salinea Spa,
which is putting the emphasis on
personalisation, creating a treatment programme tailored to individual patients.
Innovation at Barbotan
Developed in close collaboration
with vascular specialists, Veinotour® is a series of water treatments designed to reduce
venous stasis and improve venous
return, in which the patient is
treated in a pool with currents
directed at the body, combined
with therapeutic workshops.
In addition, next spring Barboton
will be launching a special Rheumatology and Sport programme to
aid recovery from sports-related
conditions in a spa environment.
M I D I - P Y R É N É E S , WAT E R F O R L I F E
Treating allergies and asthma:
respiratory tract disorders
Spas offering these treatments: Argelès-Gazost (Hautes-Pyrénées), Ax-les-Thermes (Ariège), Bagnères-deBigorre (Hautes-Pyrénées), Barèges-Barzun (Hautes-Pyrénées), Cauterets (Hautes-Pyrénées), Luchon
(Haute-Garonne), Luz-Saint-Sauveur (Hautes-Pyrénées) and Saint-Lary (Hautes-Pyrénées)
NEW
Osteopathy and spa
treatments at Luchon
The spa at Luchon is offering a brand new service with its new
programme of osteopathy treatments to complement its ENT
treatment programme.
Luchon spa is the first –
and only – spa to offer
this personalised service.
THE PYRENEES, DESTINATION OF CHOICE
It is not by chance that Luchon is one of the first spa resorts in France to
offer treatments for respiratory tract disorders. This is partly due to
the fresh mountain air of course, but also the quality of the water, which
strengthens the immune system, and the altitude, which means there is
less pollution, fewer mites and a lower pollen count, making the Pyrenees a
destination of choice in this field. The flagship spa treatment destination
for respiratory tract conditions, the departement of Hautes Pyrénées is
home to no fewer than six resorts providing spa treatment programmes
to overcome respiratory problems in adults, teenagers and children from
the age of 3: Argelès-Gazost, Barèges-Barzun, Bagnères de Bigorre, Cauterets, Luz-Saint Sauveur and Saint Lary-Soulan. Ax-les-Thermes in Ariège and
Luchon in Haute Garonne, the first resort in Midi-Pyrénées to have a spa
building listed as a historical site, which also features a unique vaporarium
( Europe's only natural steam bath), complete the range of options available.
Restoring the balance: urinary system
+ digestive system + oral cavity mucous
membrane disorders
Spas offering these treatments: urinary system: Aulus (Ariège) and Capvern-les-Bains (Hautes Pyrénées),
digestive system: Castéra-Verduzan (Gers) and Capvern-les-Bains, plus Castéra-Verduzan for oral cavity
mucous membrane disorders.
© M. Mesplié
Aulus, specialising in metabolic diseases
This spa resort in stunning surroundings in the
heart of the Pyrénées Ariégeoises Regional Nature Park is regarded as the best resort for
treating metabolic diseases, cholesterol-related
diseases and diseases of the urinary system. Its
four mineral springs have recognised benefits
in the treatment of metabolic disorders (metabolic syndrome, obesity and excess weight, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia and hypertension). These
benefits have been proved medically since in 1992
a scientific study showed objectively that the
spa treatment programme at Aulus had a beneficial effect on blood levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose.
Thanks to the therapeutic properties of the
thermal water, and also to the sensible habits
adopted by patients during the treatment
programme and therapeutic supervision they
are given, the spa treatment programme available at Aulus constitutes a relevant response
to these pathologies.
Press pack 10
M I D I - P Y R É N É E S , WAT E R F O R L I F E
Capvern and Castéra-Verduzan,
2 centres helping patients
The properties of the sulphate-,
calcium- and magnesium-rich water
of Capvern-les-Bains have been
confirmed in a number of studies,
particularly regarding its action on
renal function.
Capvern is one of the few spa resorts in France to provide homebased drinking treatment programmes: the spa water is freshly
bottled each morning and delivered directly to patients who live
locally.
Situated right in the middle of the
Gers département, the CastéraVerduzan spa centre has spa
water that is recommended in
the treatment of oral cavity disorders and digestive and metabolic disorders. The centre also
boasts a spa and offers a number of different activities.
Castéra-Verduzan, the only
spa resort in Midi-Pyrénées
specialising in the treatment
of oral cavity mucous membrane disorders
Known for restoring the balance of the
oral cavity ecosystem and reducing
oral acidity, the spa water at CastéraVerduzan is both soothing and anti-inflammatory; it is also exceptionally rich
in sulphate, magnesium and calcium.
It also has a mineral-restoring, haemostatic and healing action on the oral
cavity mucous membrane, which explains why Castéra-Verduzan spa specialises in treating oral cavity mucous
membrane disorders and parodontopathy (diseases of the gum tissues). The
Castéra-Verduzan spa centre is the
only one in France that is state-registered for the treatment of both oral
and digestive pathologies.
© JF. Talivez
Combating anxiety and stress:
psychosomatic disorders
Spas offering these treatments: Bagnères-de-Bigorre (Hautes-Pyrénées), Ussat-les-Bains (Ariège)
TWO CARING RESORTS
The psychosomatic disorders spa treatment programme at Bagnères de
Bigorre is a sensitive programme designed to treat various conditions (neuroses, depression, asthenia, insomnia, cephalalgia, anxiety and stress)
through a combination of calming balneotherapy treatments, physiotherapy sessions, massages under spa water and pool sessions. Here, great
care is taken to listen to patients, particularly during the therapeutic education workshops, individual interviews with the resident psychologist and
group sessions run by clinical psychologists.
Spa resorts at the heart of
Ussat-les-Bains spa, also approved for the
medical research: the STOPTAG
treatment of psychosomatic disorders, ofstudy at Ussat
fers various programmes including one for
In 2007 the STOPTAG study showed that
patients who have difficulty controlling
spa treatments could be an alternative
their consumption of tranquillising and hypform of therapy for anxiety disorders.
notic drugs.
This national prospective study, endorsed
A programme of medical supervision proviby the French scientific body the Haute
ded by a specially trained team under the
Autorité de Santé, was carried out jointly
authority of the spa doctor, complements
in 4 spas including Ussat-les-Bains and
the effects of the treatment programme:
involved 237 patients with generalised
individual interviews, informative talks, reanxiety disorders or GADs (TAGs in
laxation training, followed-up by regular teFrench). The study showed that a spa
lephone contact after the end of the
treatment programme was significantly
programme designed to help wean the pamore effective than the standard drug
tient off the drug(s).
treatment in treating this pathology.
Press pack 11
NEW
Innovation at Bagnères de Bigorre
Designed to meet the specific
needs of patients suffering from
overwork, anxiety and burn-out, the
spa's new 'N’Eau Stress' programme is designed to complement
the spa treatment programme
there. It comprises group sessions,
individual interviews and appropriate spa treatments.
To provide complete stress relief
for people suffering from stress
who are not able to spare three
weeks for a spa treatment programme, the Grands Thermes de
Bagnères-de-Bigorre has also recently introduced a five-day 'AntiStress' package of spa treatments
under medical supervision.
.
M I D I - P Y R É N É E S , WAT E R F O R L I F E
Relieving neurological disorders:
neurology
Spa offering these treatments: Ussat-les-Bains (Ariège)
Midi-Pyrénées is home to one of France's very few spa resorts that registered with the national healthcare system for the treatment of neurological disorders. Indeed, only three spa resorts in France have
this status. Ussat-les-Bains in Ariège is one of them, owing to its water, which has antispasmodic, sedative,
balance- and mineral-restoring and healing properties. Pain relief is the
first benefit targeted by a treatment programme of this type, enabling
the patient to remain mobile and maintain his or her balance.
Ussat-les-Bains has developed a specific programme for Parkinson's disease
which has now been going for more than ten years, putting the resort in
the vanguard of therapeutic provision for patients with this disease. Designed in collaboration with the Neurology Department at Toulouse-Purpan
University Hospital, it treats patients in a three-week programme featuring daily activities designed to educate them about the disease and enable
them to manage it more successfully. The full programme consists of appropriate physical activity, sophrology and discussion groups, information
provided by a neurologist, tailored sightseeing trips, and sessions designed
to improve memory.
The cost of the programme is not covered by the French healthcare system but patients' top-up health insurance policies will often reimburse part
of the cost through their preventive medicine initiatives.
Treatments for women: gynaecology
Spas offering these treatments: Luz-Saint-Sauveur (Hautes-Pyrénées), Ussat-les-Bains (Ariège), Salies-duSalat (Haute-Garonne)
3 SPECIALIST CENTRES
Three centres in Midi-Pyrénées specialise in treating gynaecological disorders, offering viable therapeutic alternatives
in the treatment of certain pathologies. Luz-Saint Sauveur,
Ussat-les-Bains and Salies du Salat treat female patients in
these special programmes.
The spa water at Salies du Salat, which derives its therapeutic properties from its high levels of sodium chloride, has
been shown to be effective in treating painful and congestive conditions of the minor pelvis, uterine statics problems
and problems of amenorrhoea and dysmenorrhoea.
At Ussat-les-Bains treatments are available for disorders
connected with puberty, premenopausal and menopausal
problems, pruritus, pelvic pain and menstrual cycle disorders.
Because the water there contains high levels of sulphur,
which has an antispasmodic action, and Barégine, a naturally
present powerful healing and anti-inflammatory agent, the
gynaecology spa treatment programme at Luz-Saint Sauveur provides a solution for women with chronic,
painful and debilitating conditions, particularly those that develop following overly invasive cervical cancer
surgery.
Press pack 12
© J. Sierpinski
© F. Durand / Sipa Press
A MIDI-PYRÉNÉES SPECIALITY: ONLY 3 SPA RESORTS IN FRANCE OFFER
TREATMENTS FOR NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS
M I D I - P Y R É N É E S , WAT E R F O R L I F E
Salies du Salat is registered for the treatment of developmental disorders in children.
Children as young as 3 months old can benefit from a spa
treatment programme. Respiratory diseases, dermatological conditions, developmental disorders and enuresis are all
conditions that can be treated with a spa waters.
Salies du Salat, which has a brine source with the highest mineral content in Europe, takes young patients for the treatment of developmental disorders.
It is the only spa resort in Midi-Pyrénées to be registered
with the French national health system for this type of
condition.
NEW
Family treatment programmes
With the 'Cure Tribu' at Bagnères de Bigorre and a miniprogramme for seniors and grandchildren at ArgelèsGazost, spa resorts are coming up with new ways of
attracting families. Providing treatments in the same
programme for joint pain in the grandparents, stress in
busy parents and allergies for their children is now a
possibility with the 'Cure Tribu' treatment programme
for all the family at Bagnères de Bigorre. With communicating apartments sleeping up to 8 people, the Résidence des Thermes offers families the choice of
staying together during their treatment programme.
And the spa at Argelès-Gazost is offering seniors and
their grandchildren a big breath of fresh air that is
both fun and relaxing. Each guest can benefit from an
individually tailored week-long programme of 3 spa
treatments each morning. In the afternoon the two generations can enjoy various activities together.
Press pack 13
© Thermes de Luchon
Spa offering these treatments: Salies-du-Salat (Haute-Garonne)
Luchon, junior treatment programmes
Luchon is one of the very first spa resorts in France to
specialise in ENT, respiratory tract and rheumatology, and
is hailed as France's second spa resort for the treatment
of ENT and respiratory tract conditions in children.
Thanks to the quality of its sulphurous water, it is also the
leading spa resort in Midi-Pyrénées. Every year the spa
water at Luchon is used to treat over 2,000 children in
special programmes. For some an 18-day treatment programme is too demanding, so the spa offers children and
adolescents aged under 16 programmes lasting 6 to 10
days, with 6 treatments per day.
© HPTE
Treatments for children:
developmental disorders
M I D I - P Y R É N É E S , WAT E R F O R L I F E
Overview
Spa resorts
Recreational spas
BAGNÈRES-DE-BIGORRE
www.thermes-bagneres.fr
Rheumatology
Respiratory tract
Psychosomatic disorders
AQUENSIS
IN BAGNÈRES-DE-BIGORRE
www.aquensis.fr
BEAUCENS
thermes.beaucens.free.fr
Rheumatology
CAPVERN-LES-BAINS
www.thermesdecapvern.com
Rheumatology
Urinary system
Digestive system
L’EDENVIK
IN CAPVERN-LES-BAINS
www.ledenvik.com
ARGELES-GAZOST
www.thermes-argeles.fr
Phlebology
Respiratory tract
LE JARDIN DES BAINS
IN ARGELÈS-GAZOST
www.lejardindesbains.com
CAUTERETS
www.thermesdecauterets.com
Rheumatology
Respiratory tract
LES BAINS DU ROCHER
IN CAUTERETS
www.bains-rocher.fr
BARÈGES-BARZUN
www.cieleo-bareges.com
Rheumatology
Respiratory tract
CIELÉO IN BARÈGES
www.cieleo-bareges.com
Lourdes
LUZ-SAINT-SAUVEUR
thermes.luz.org
Phlebology
Respiratory tract
Gynaecology
LUZÉA
IN LUZ-SAINT-SAUVEUR
thermes.luz.org
Press pack 14
BALNÉA
IN GÉNOS-LOUDENVIELLE
www.balnea.fr
M I D I - P Y R É N É E S , WAT E R F O R L I F E
CRANSAC-LES-THERMES
www.chainethermale.fr/
cransac-les-thermes.html
Rheumatology
BARBOTAN LES THERMES
www.chainethermale.fr/stations/
barbotan-les-thermes.html
Phlebology
Rheumatology
LECTOURE
www.valvital.fr/stationsthermales/lectoure/accueillectoure.html
Rheumatology
CASTERA-VERDUZAN
www.thermes-gers.com
Digestive system
Oral cavity mucous membrane
disorders
SALIES-DU-SALAT
www.saliesdusalat.com
Rheumatology
Gynaecology
Developmental disorders
in children
USSAT LES BAINS
www.thermes-ussat.com
Psychosomatic disorders
Neurology
Gynaecology
AULUS-LES-BAINS
www.thermes-aulus.fr
Urinary system
SAINT-LARY-SOULAN
www.mercuresensoria.com
Rheumatology
Respiratory tract
SENSORIA IN SAINT-LARY
www.mercuresensoria.com
BAGNÈRES-DE-LUCHON
www.thermes-luchon.fr
Rheumatology
Respiratory tract
LUCHON FORME ET BIEN-ÊTRE
IN BAGNÈRES-DE-LUCHON
www.luchon-bien-etre.fr
Press pack 15
AX-LES-THERMES
www.thermes-ax.com
Rheumatology
Respiratory tract
LES BAINS DU COULOUBRET
IN AX-LES-THERMES
www.bains-couloubret.com
© Thinkstock / Istockphoto
M I D I - P Y R É N É E S , WAT E R F O R L I F E
Midi-Pyrénées,
well-being destination
RECREATIONAL SPAS,
A MIDI-PYRÉNÉES SPECIALITY
Encouraged by the thriving spa industry, a host of spa resorts and recreaPP
tional spas have sprung up around the region and particularly in the Pyrenees, where they enjoy magnificent natural surroundings in keeping with their
growing popularity. In the last 10 years, considerable investment has been
made across the region to encourage a boom in the recreational spa industry.
Full details at:
www.tourism-midi-pyrenees.co.uk
Well being page
P
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What is a recreational spa?
A recreational spa is an establishment that uses mineral water from a thermal spring for non-therapeutic
recreational and well-being purposes. Such establishments include facilities such as jacuzzis, hydromassage
baths, steam baths, saunas and bubble beds, enabling guests to enjoy the pleasures of thermal water at
their leisure for recreation.
On the site of the ancient Roman baths: Les Bains du Couloubret, Ax-les-Thermes (Ariège)
Ax-les-Thermes is the Ariège Pyrenees' top spa resort. People
have been making use of the thermal water here since Roman
times, and even more so since the 12th century. The latest
chapter in the long history of Ax is the opening of Les Bains du
Couloubret, a vast spa with an ancient feel devoted to recreation and relaxation in thermal water. A haven of peace and
quiet, Ax-les-Themes boasts the hottest thermal water in the
whole of the Pyrenees. The peaceful and warmly welcoming wellbeing centre treats guests to a wonderful experience thanks
to the different treatments on offer, such as the cherry blossom and rice powder scrub and the body ritual featuring perfumed containers heated and mixed into a granular
preparation of warm butter in a Southeast Asian ritual. A marvellously exotic treatment redolent with the scent of the East.
www.bains-couloubret.com
Press pack 16
© A. Baschenis
THE PYRENEES, SPECIALISING IN YOUR WELL-BEING:
10 RECREATIONAL SPAS IN THE PYRENEES
Starry, starry sky: Cieléo, Barèges (Hautes-Pyrénées)
In 2009, the spa village of Barèges in Hautes Pyrénées opened its
own recreational & treatment spa. Cieléo, an extension of the thermal baths in Barèges which were built in the reign of Napoleon III,
has a surface area of 2,500 m2 and includes a pool with water features, jets, geysers, jacuzzi, steam bath and solarium and incorporates a unique star-themed concept that ties in with Barèges' local
surroundings. This is because the valley where Barèges lies is at the
foot of the Pic du Midi de Bigorre, home to an international astronomical observatory. The many treatments available here offer
guests a complete break dedicated to well-being, which take both
body and mind on a journey of discovery. These include special mumto-be treatments featuring natural products free of essential
oils. Men too are entitled to some pampering, with a range of boosting detox treatments that combine relaxation and effectiveness,
strengthening the skin and restoring a healthy glow.
www.cieleo-bareges.com
Press pack 17
© HPTE / Cuvelier
A 'grand canyon' experience: Sensoria, Saint Lary (Hautes-Pyrénées)
This is the perfect recreational spa for families to enjoy fun and
relaxation together. Indeed, Sensoria Rio, the recreational spa extension to Saint Lary thermal baths, nestling in landscaped
grounds of 3 hectares, is open to children as young as 3 months.
Fed by a natural water source at 32 °C, all of the facilities at Sensoria Rio are arranged among a décor of ochre and orange-coloured rocks, designed to recreate the amazing atmosphere of a
natural canyon. The spa provides lots of facilities and thoughtful
touches for younger children, with shallow pools (maximum depth
1.3 metres) and a fun water games area, and swimming armbands
and disposable bathing costumes are also available.
So while their little ones are having a whale of a time among the
eddy pools and waterfalls in the water games area, parents can
make the most of the bubble beds and jacuzzi, soaking up the amazing panorama of the Pyrenees through the picture windows. And
the family-friendly facilities don't stop there: the centre boasts a
number of spacious and functional family suites. Sensoria also offers a selection of treatments for restoring the body's balance,
rehydrating, for sensitive skin and for firming and toning the body.
www.mercuresensoria.com
© D. Banquet
Experience Europe's only natural steam bath: Luchon Forme et
Bien-Être, Bagnères de Luchon (Haute Garonne)
The Luchon Forme et Bien-Être spa features two little wonders: a
magnificent round relaxation pool combined with a natural steam
bath, a vaporarium of a type found nowhere else in Europe, full of
underground galleries. The galleries were dug in the 1960s and refurbished in 2010. Sulphurous thermal water from the depths of the
Earth filters through the rocky walls and gives off steam at a temperature of between 38°C and 42°C. The centre's two health and wellbeing spas are just as suited to guests looking for a quiet place to
relax and unwind as they are to energetic visitors wanting to recover
after physical exertion. The spa offers a range of treatments, with
something to please everyone, from a gentle relaxation package
through to an energising package, and including stress-busting
treatments. A number of complementary treatments are also on
offer. Massages, sculpting massages and exotic body rituals are all
a great way of letting go and indulging in total relaxation. Packages
featuring any combination of treatments are available.
www.luchon-bien-etre.fr
© D. Viet
M I D I - P Y R É N É E S , WAT E R F O R L I F E
© D. Viet
M I D I - P Y R É N É E S , WAT E R F O R L I F E
Treatments from all over the world: Balnéa, Génos-Loudenvielle (Hautes Pyrénées)
Located on the shore of the Lac de Génos-Loudenvielle, Balnéa takes you on a journey through the traditions
of spas around the world. Roman baths, the Amerindian climate, the harmonious atmosphere of Tibet, the serenity of Japan: these different worlds are behind Balnéa's originality, a place where guests can enjoy the
peace and the pleasures of naturally warm water. The Amerindian baths are in keeping with the established
décor of stone and wood, while the Roman baths offer a blend of sophistication and raw beauty. The innovative
Onsen Spa (opened in summer 2011) features 3 outdoor panoramic pools with slate surrounds and a Japanese
garden integrated into the contemporary architecture of the surroundings. The water in the first pool is at
33°C, in the second it's 37°C and in the third it's 40°C. When it comes to treatments, the Tibetan Zone serves up
a harmonious mix of light, materials and essences.
It's a place totally dedicated to letting go, with all treatments delivered by professionals.
New treatments include sensory sophrology, inspired by techniques such as yoga, in which guests experience a
relaxation session featuring a 3D effect. Balnéa takes women to a paradise island on a quest for pleasure with
the Vahiné ritual, a sensual scented journey designed to revive the skin's radiance. This island ritual features a
rose crystal scrub and a shea butter and vanilla wrap. And men are taken to sacred ground in New Zealand
with an age-old treatment (a powdered lava and lemon scrub and a fortifying peppermint wrap).
www.balnea.fr
© A. Spani
The pleasures of an open-air lagoon: Les Bains du
Rocher, Cauterets (Hautes-Pyrénées)
Les Bains du Rocher opened in Cauterets in 2010.
This vast 2,500m2 spa is dedicated to relaxation in
thermal water, next door to the renowned Thermes
César and the cable car up to the ski resort of
Cauterets. Les Bains du Rocher also opens on to a
200m2 open-air lagoon, a feature found nowhere
else in Hautes-Pyrénées. It has a flagstone surround with loungers, from where guests can gaze
at the magnificent mountain scenery. In addition to
conventional treatments, the spa offers a range
of Aquasformules, a combination of a sport and a
treatment, the perfect way to recharge your batteries after exercise. The Aquanature package
consists of a walk along the footpaths at the Lac
de Gaube, rounded off with a two-hour pass at the
Bains du Rocher. Skiing, golf, mountain biking and
cross-country skiing packages are also available. In
the gym guests can also enjoy various activities
such as aquabiking and yoga.
www.bains-rocher.fr
Press pack 18
Invitation on a journey: Le Jardin des Bains, Argelès-Gazost
(Hautes-Pyrénées)
Located in the beautiful 19th century building that is home to Argelès-Gazost's thermal baths, next door to the Parc Thermal, Le Jardin
des Bains takes you on a journey through its different gardens.
From the dazzling waterfalls of the Emerald Forest to the calming
atmosphere of the steam baths of Babylon, in the two main pavilions
you'll discover all the pleasures on offer in the aquatic gardens, the
aqua walk, the fragranced baths and the mysterious Inca Well. The
architecture plays on transparency and the interaction between
the interior and exterior spaces, with the windows enabling guests
to soak up a range of different vegetal, floral and mineral ambiances. The Emerald Forest, a vast rotunda featuring a décor of
Inca-style sculptures, evokes the atmosphere of ancient ruins hidden
in the heart of virgin forest, creating a wonderfully exotic ambiance.
When it comes to treatments, the spa institute is the perfect complement to the balneotherapy offering. In surroundings dedicated
entirely to relaxation and pleasure, the sculpting massages, scrubs
and wraps on offer mainly feature Sultane de Saba products.
www.lejardindesbains.com
© ViaCommunication
Relax in a Viking Lodge: L’Edenvik, Capvern-les-Bains (Hautes-Pyrénées)
L'Edenvik is the new recreational & treatment spa in Capvern-lesBains dedicated entirely to creating a harmony of the senses. Here,
as in other parts of the Pyrenees, it was the Romans who were the
first to exploit the thermal springs at Capvern-les-Bains, which were
later to be lauded by Renaissance philosopher and politician Montaigne. Today, L'Edenvik is offering an original experience in its Viking
Lodge. For a day, a weekend or a week, guests can enjoy the unique
surroundings of carved wood, recharge their batteries in the whirlpool baths and cleanse themselves in the Scandinavian-style steam
bath. Fortified and relaxed, your body will be recharged with energy.
Lastly, a range of options is available: sculpting massage, aquagym
and slimming packages, with something for everyone.
www.ledenvik.com
Press pack 19
© V. Groc
M I D I - P Y R É N É E S , WAT E R F O R L I F E
M I D I - P Y R É N É E S , WAT E R F O R L I F E
© J. Sierpinski
Massages from the four corners of the world:
Luzéa, Luz-Saint Sauveur (Hautes Pyrénées)
In stunning pastoral surroundings just a stone's throw
from the famous Pont Napoléon, Luzéa looks as if it is
suspended halfway up the mountainside. Luzéa is a relaxation and well-being spa open to everyone, brought
to you by the expertise of Luz Spa and featuring an
unusually inventive approach. Built on a terrace overlooking the Luz-Saint Sauveur Valley, Luz spa harks back
to a time when the rich and famous of the 19th century came here to take the waters, in particular Emperor Napoléon III and Empress Eugénie. The
family-friendly balneotherapy centre is open both summer and winter, enabling everyone to make the most
of all the facilities dedicated to well-being: swimming
pool, Oriental steam bath and even heated marble
benches.
When it comes to treatments, beautifying the body becomes a journey of the senses thanks to a selection of
natural products from all over the world: manual chocolate massage, scrubs prepared in a shaker with a
fragrance of your choice, massage on a bed of water,
or perhaps a slimming treatment with spices to give
your body a boost before the summer. The session
starts off with a two-pepper scrub, continues with a
sculpting massage with cassia and cypress oils and finishes with a guarana and ginger serum slimming wrap.
thermes.luz.org
© J. Arno
An imposing cathedral dedicated to well-being: Aquensis, Bagnères de Bigorre (Hautes Pyrénées)
Once known as 'the Athens of the Pyrenees', the little spa town of Bagnères de Bigorre is the home of a
recreational & treatment spa in the 19th century wing of the Casino building. The generous thermal springs
have long forged Bagnères' reputation as the ultimate 'health & well-being' destination. The superb roof
terrace with open-air jacuzzis and views of the Pyrenees is particularly tempting.
In 2010, Aquensis was extended with the addition of the 'Chic & Spa' centre, which features treatment cu-
Press pack 20
M I D I - P Y R É N É E S , WAT E R F O R L I F E
bicles and rest areas bathed in natural light. In sophisticated surroundings with a wood décor, the wellbeing centre boasts a unique view of the spa's incredible natural timber vaulted ceiling. The range of innovative 'Made in Pyrénées' treatments available at Aquensis features typically Pyrenean natural products:
massages and sculpting massages with organic essential oils, a hydromassage bath in thermal water, and
marble pebbles: the perfect way to escape and relax. The latest new treatment from Aquensis is the skinsoftening heather-honey and walnut-shell scrub. The spa's range of packages has been designed to provide
the perfect treatment for every kind of guest.
The Golf & Spa option combines a round of golf at Bigorre golf club with a health & fitness package. For
the more adventurous, Pic & Bulles consists of a trip up to the terraces on the summit of the Pic du Midi,
rounded off in gentle style with the beneficial effects of spa waters.
www.aquensis.fr
3 WELL-BEING CENTRES OUT IN THE COUNTRY
Just like its recreational spas, the region's wellbeing centres feature spa water treatments,
but tend to have a smaller capacity.
These are recreational facilities inside spa centres, enabling guests to enjoy the benefits of
the water as they see fit. The spas at Lectoure
(Gers), Barbotan (Gers) and Aulus-les-Bains
(Ariège) invest all their expertise in providing
well-being facilities in warmly welcoming surroundings.
© D. Viet
Aulus-les-Bains (Ariège)
This spa is perfect for anyone looking to take
a 'well-being' break for non-therapeutic reasons
and who just want to enjoy the aqua-recreation
facilities, which include a pool with massage jets
heated to 32°C, a jacuzzi and individual treatments.
http://thermes-aulus.fr
© CDT Gers
Lectoure (Gers)
In the heart of the Gers countryside, this thermal spa dedicated to body and facial treatments makes use of the beneficial properties
of the thermal water here. The thermal water
that emerges at 32°C feeds a leisure pool with
various water features, a jacuzzi, steam bath
and sauna.
www.valvital.fr/stations-thermales/lectoure
© Chaîne Thermale du Soleil
Barbotan (Gers)
To complement the various treatment programmes available at the Thermes de Barbotan, there is now a 400m2 thermal spa in
soothing surroundings with a golden-stone
décor. The spa provides body and facial beauty
and well-being treatments. Twenty beauty and
relaxation rituals complement the spa's jacuzzi
pool, steam bath and treatment cubicles.
www.chainethermale.fr/barbotan-lesthermes.html
Press pack 21
M I D I - P Y R É N É E S , WAT E R F O R L I F E
4 MORE WELL-BEING CENTRES:
AN À-LA-CARTE SPA EXPERIENCE
Ussat-les-Bains (Ariège)
If you want to take care of yourself and treat yourself to a well-being
break, the Ussat Spa offers various 'à la carte' packages and ways of
putting together your very own personalised programme. Sculpting massages, aquagym classes and jet-spray shower sessions are all available
on request.
www.thermes-ussat.com
© JF. Talivez
© Thinkstock / Jupiterimages
ski and spa
The perfect way to enjoy a winter holiday to the full: soaking up the pleasures
of the spa after a great day out on the
piste. A number of Pyrenean resorts
offer this kind of package during the
winter season. In summer, recreational
spas are the perfect place to relax after
a long walk, in a region packed full of
natural attractions.
© C. Mossière / Chaîne Thermale du Soleil
Castéra-Verduzan (Gers)
The spa recreation centre in Castéra-Verduzan boasts hydromassage
beds, swan neck jets, whirlpool baths, a spa, steam bath, sauna and
more… All with the beneficial effects of spa water thrown in!
www.thermes-gers.com
© J. F. Talivez
Cransac (Aveyron)
Cransac Thermal Spa offers packages and treatments suitable for everyone: spa packages (half-day relaxation and treatment options) and a
range of à-la-carte spa treatments.
www.chainethermale.fr/cransac-les-thermes.html
Salinea-Spa in Salies-du-Salat (Haute-Garonne))
Famous for their highly salinated waters, the Thermal Baths at Salies du
Salat recently opened a new spa combining four treatment cubicles with an
aqua centre featuring a steam bath, jacuzzi and sauna. In calm and luxurious
surroundings and looked after by the centre's attentive staff, guests can
compile their own personalised beauty treatment programme (facials, body
treatments, sculpting massages, hand and foot beauty treatments, etc.).
www.salinea-spa.com
Press pack 22
M I D I - P Y R É N É E S , WAT E R F O R L I F E
10
CENTRES
THERMOLUDIQUES
2
1
1
Les Bains du Couloubret, Ax-les-Thermes (Ariège-Pyrénées) :
www.bains-couloubret.com
2
Luchon Forme et Bien-Être, Bagnères-de-Luchon (Haute-Garonne) :
www.luchon-bien-etre.fr
3
Sensoria, Saint-Lary (Hautes-Pyrénées) :
www.mercuresensoria.com
4
Cieléo, Barèges (Hautes-Pyrénées) :
www.cieleo-bareges.com
3
4
5
6
5
Balnéa, Génos-Loudenvielle
(Hautes-Pyrénées) :
www.balnea.fr
6
Les Bains du Rocher,
Cauterets
(Hautes-Pyrénées) :
www.bains-rocher.fr
7
7
8
10
9
Press pack 23
Le Jardin des Bains,
Argelès-Gazost
(Hautes-Pyrénées) :
www.lejardindesbains.com
8
L’Edenvik,
Capvern-les-Bains
(Hautes-Pyrénées) :
www.ledenvik.com
9
Luzéa, Luz-Saint-Sauveur
(Hautes-Pyrénées) :
thermes.luz.org
10
Aquensis, Bagnères-deBigorre (Hautes-Pyrénées) :
www.aquensis.fr
Great Britain: Solenne ODON
Tel. : +33 (0)5 61 13 55 19 - +33 (0)6 82 82 62 30
[email protected]
United States & Canada: Birgitte REIMERS
Tel. : +33 (0)5 61 13 55 14 - +33 (0)6 10 30 86 52
[email protected]
Comité Régional du Tourisme
15 rue Rivals - CS 78543
31685 Toulouse cedex 6
www.tourism-midi-pyrenees.co.uk
© CRT Midi-Pyrénées - D. VIET / Musée Soulages / Office du Tourisme de Toulouse / © Luc Jennepin / © A. Piechta
Contacts