The theme of water will be omnipresent throughout your trip to Luchon, with its central Pyrenees location. Water from snow, water from the streams coursing down the mountainside, water from thermal baths renowned since Antiquity and water from Luchon’s Fitness and Well-being Centre, which offers you a guaranteed relaxation experience. Luchon sees the world in blue, the colour of its waters, which will not fail to enchant visitors to this small and pretty spa and sporting town.
Luchon, an authentic mountain town in the Pyrenees at the southernmostpoint of the Haute-Garonne Department, stands at the heart of a majesticmountain setting, where the Pyrenees work their magic. It is surroundedby the mountain range’s 13 most famous peaks, including Aneto, which isthe highest peak in the Pyrenees (3,404m). This lively holidaydestination attracts hikers, spa-goers, skiers, white water sportsenthusiasts, mountain-bikers and bicycle tourists throughout the year.
The town centre is built around the Allées d’Etigny, an area packed with restaurants, bars and shops. This promenade was named after the Baron d’Etigny, the man who put Luchon on the map and developed the town in the 1760s, and leads to the thermal baths district, which stretches out across the centenary Quinconces Park.
Luchon was already renowned for its baths in the Gallo-Roman period and became a very popular destination among high society from the 18th century onwards. The town has played host to a long list of distinguished guests, ranging from Richelieu to Napoleon III, and including Alexandre Dumas, Gustave Flaubert and Sacha Guitry, the famous French actor.
The thermal baths are a must, with their ultra-modern fitness and well-being centre. Their main attraction is the vaporarium, a huge natural steam bath, the only one of its kind in Europe!
Luchon has retained the elegant Belle Epoque architecture that gives the town its charm from its golden age as a high-society spa resort. The "Queen of the Pyrenees" offers views of fine or picturesque holiday homes such as Edmond Rostand's villa or the famous "Russian Chalets", Neo-Palladian mansions and smart hotels, as well as the Italian-style theatre, the 19th century casino and several museums, including one dedicated to the history of aeronautics.
Luchon's culture and festival calendar features two highlights: the International Film & Television Festival in February and the Flower Festival in August. Luchon is nonetheless an ideal destination at any time of year, offering a happy compromise between culture, heritage, relaxation and leisure activities in the great outdoors.
Keys to discovery
> Luchon's vaporarium consists of a network of underground galleries, which were developed at the end of the 1960s and renovated in 2010. The thermal water comes from the depths of the mountains, filtering through the rock walls and releasing steam at a temperature of between 38°C and 40°C. The galleries lead to a warm thermal water pool where the temperature 30°C.
> Do you fancy a massage, a sculpting massage, a jet shower, a thermal bath or a mud bath ? Try out the services and facilities at the Luchon Fitness and Well-being Centre, which has undergone a state-of-the-art renovation.
> Luchon is right at the foot of the ski slopes and an eight-minute ride in a gondola lift will take you from the town centre to the Superbagnères ski resort. At an altitude of 1,860m, this sun-drenched resort opens up over a breathtaking panoramic view of the Pyrenees mountain range.
> The Luchon Flower Festival was founded in 1888 and is one of the most important events in the Haute-Garonne. In August Luchon bathes in the perfume of natural flowers for the five-day festival, which features floral floats, live concerts, shows and balls.
> A must-see: the Hospice de France, south of Luchon. The Hospice de France stands at an altitude of 1,380m amidst a grandiose setting of waterfalls, meadows and forests, and is redolent of the history of Spain and France, from the Saint James of Compostela pilgrim routes to the more recent Retirada, when half a million Spanish refugees crossed into France. The Hospice de France has been fully renovated and features a restaurant, tourist accommodation and a museum.
> Luchon is a good starting point for exploring the Pique Valley, the Lys Valley with its “Waterfall of Hell” and the Oueil Valley, or even for climbing up to Lake Oô, one of the most beautiful high-altitude lakes in the Central Pyrenees, which features impressive waterfalls.
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