Leading Pyrenean spa town with its own ski resort, Bagnères-de-Luchon is huddled at the foot of the 15 highest peaks in the range, nicknamed the "3000s". The popularity of its spas among aristocrats and well-known artists over the past 100 years has earned the town its nickname of "Queen of the Pyrenees". Nowadays, Bagnères-de-Luchon is the sixth-ranking spa town in France, attracting over 30,000 patients per year. In addition to the spa and fitness programmes, they can benefit from a broad spectrum of festivities during the summer months, including the famous Flower Festival.

The charming bandstand in the park		An ambitious investment policy has made the town even more attractive: a cable car now links the town centre to the ski slopes of Superbagnères, and a mineral water bottling plant has been constructed to market water from the Lapadée springs.

Historical highlights

Antiquity: In 25 B.C. , a Roman consul had 3 swimming pools dug out, thus inaugurating 600 years of the first "spa era" in Bagnères-de-Luchon. Barbaric invasions destroyed this development. Modern times: XVIIIth century: A major investment programme transformed the small village into a leading spa town. 1867 : The visits of the imperial prince -son of Napoleon III and the empress Eugénie- established the town's popular name of "Queen of the Pyrenees".

Garonne valley and spring

Timber was floated down the rough waters of the Garonne	The Garonne river springs from the Spanish glaciers on the Aneto, one of the most famous peaks overlooking Bagnères-de-Luchon. Spain and France both claimed that it sprang from within their borders. The matter was settled in 1931 by caver Norbert Casteret. He dyed the water in the Toro hole, located in the Maladeta, and the dyed water reappeared -after an underground journey- in the Val d'Aran, Spain. The river flows through this valley into France, continuing its journey towards Saint Gaudens then Toulouse.

	Practical tips