Bagnoles de l’Orne

Built beside a lake, hidden in the middle of the forest, this charming spa town nestles in the Normandie-Maine Regional Natural Park. With an elegant casino and racecourse as well as its renovated thermal spa centre, Bagnoles-de-l’Orne makes for a relaxing break.

A walk through the narrow streets of the Belle Epoque quarter or along the famous lake will give you a taste of the town’s gentle way of life. This is the only spa town in the North West of France. We’ll take you for a stroll…

The spirit of Bagnoles

The Belle Epoque district, with its long boulevards lined with sumptuous villas, is the soul of Bagnoles. Conceived and designed by Albert Christophle, an avant-garde politician, the district experienced a fabulous boom when a railway line was built at the end of the 19th century. Discover the details of the facades of these family residences, a real open-air museum!

A town by the lake

The resort gradually grew up around the lake, welcoming upper middle class spa visitors. The Grand Hotel, the town’s first luxury hotel, opened in 1898. It had two hundred rooms with telephones and bathrooms, and electricity too! The crowned heads of Europe met there. At that time, Bagnoles was made up of three communes. It was not until 1913 that it became an independent town.

The only spa town in north-west France

Here in Bagnoles, a hot spring (24.3°C) rises from deep in the rock and is used to treat rheumatism, venous and gynaecological problems. Recent theories suggest that the water infiltrates deep down and then rises through fissures after a journey that can last thousands of years. This is known as ‘meteoric’ water. Its benefits have long been the stuff of legend. It is said that the Lord of Tessé and his horse, returning from war, bathed there and emerged rejuvenated. It is also said that a Capuchin monk, invigorated by the waters, defiantly jumped between the two rocky spires overlooking the town, now known as ‘le saut du capucin’. The spa of Bagnoles dates back to the 17th century, but it flourished in the 20th century with the construction of the Pavillon Central and the Hôtel de Thermes. Today, the B’O Resort offers accredited spa treatments and health prevention, as well as relaxing breaks. Treat yourself to the Bagnoles ritual with active ingredients from Normandy apples! The Beryl Spa also offers a range of treatments for a relaxing break.

A land of legends…

Do you like legends? Then you’ve come to the right place! Enter the forest of the Andaines, which surrounds Bagnoles. Legend has it that this is the home of the fairies named Andaine and Gione. The Roc au Chien cliff is also linked to a mystery, that of a lord who was punished for his cruelty and turned into a dog-headed monster before being petrified in the rock. Could the devil be involved? The site of the Pierres Plates is where he would come to milk his cows at nightfall, leaving traces of buckets and hooves. In fact, this geological site is exceptional and bears witness to an ancient sandy seabed.

Hedonism and leisure activities

Originally known as a forge where hundreds of workers processed iron ore and wood, Bagnoles became a leisure capital between 1780 and 1811. The casino, built in 1927 by American billionaire Frank Jay Gould, is the heart of the resort and offers a wide range of outdoor activities: archery, tennis, golf, horse riding and more. When it’s not time for festivals or concerts, you can look out over the lake!