Montbrun Les Bains it’s Spa Time in Provence

Relaxing in Provence

Sometimes it takes me a while to get round to doing something and this week I finally decided I would go and try out the Spa at Montbrun Les Bains. I say finally as our lovely neighbour had mentioned it to me three (3) years ago, just after we bought the house, saying it was a really nice way to pass an afternoon. So after three years of procrastination, I got my act into gear, packed my swimming cossie, a book and a pair of flip flops and headed across to the town. Continue reading here for the details about Julie’s relaxing afternoon at the spa. A contributor blog post by Vaucluse Dreamer.

Montbrun Les Bains

There is a lot to like about this village, which is located in the Drôme Provencal. Montbrun-les-Bains is situated at 600m above sea level so during the real heat of the summer months is just a little cooler than villages at lower altitudes. Nestled into a hillside the town is sheltered from the worst gusts of a fierce mistral wind. Near to Mont Ventoux, Sault and surrounded by rolling hills Montbrun-les-Bains deserves it’s ranking as one of the 100 most beautiful villages in France.

Spa Time

The thermal water sources in Montbrun-les-Bains were discovered as far back as Roman times. These warm, mineral waters were used by those who could afford such luxuries until the French Revolution. In 1865, Marquis de Suarez d’Aulan established a curative, thermal spa centre in the town. He based the idea on the Baden-Baden healing waters in Germany. The Marquis was a descendant of the family who built the 12th-century castle (le château d’Aulan) that dominates the village of Aulan today.

The town enjoyed a period of spa-tourism fueled by the thermal waters until the first World War. It was not until 1987 that the spa complete with thermal baths reopened to the public. Today the Thermes de Montbrun-les-Bains offers a full range of spa services, esthetics, aquagym classes and longer-stay medical cures.

When you Visit

Thermes de Montbrun-les-Bains (website)
Route de Ferrassières
26570 Montbrun-les-Bains
Telephone for reservations: +33 (0)4 75 28 80 75
Email: montbrun@valvital.fr

Le Château d’Aulan is a private home. However, there are guided visits from April through October.

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Julie Whitmarsh

Julie and her husband Andy started visiting the Vaucluse area 25 years ago & over the years have increased the amount of time they spend there with their growing family. She has a deep affection for the area, finding it is a great place to visit, where the whole family can relax and enjoy time together.

She longs for the day when she can ‘up-sticks’ from her home on Dartmoor & relocate to the Luberon and spend her days cycling, walking, visiting markets & brocante fairs and of course enjoying the local food and drink.

Her blog VaucluseDreamer gives her a space to highlight some of her favourite things about the area from places to visit to particular activities that she and her family all enjoy.

She hopes one day it will be a place where she can share the process of renovating a house in France, but at the moment that will have to wait.