Thermes Lédonia

Thermes Lédonia is the thermal establishment of Lons-le-Saunier, the prefecture of the Jura, run by the ValVital group in the town's Parc des Bains. The name comes from the captation that supplies it, itself named after Ledo Salinarius, the Roman salt town on the site. Lons-le-Saunier is a salt town in a wine district, and its thermal water reflects that: chloride-sodium and magnesian, mineralised and rich in trace elements, emerging from the Lédonia captation at 17 degrees Celsius. The operator credits it with strengthening bone formation and with abrasive, bactericidal and anti-allergic action.

The public bathing part of the establishment is the Spa Thermal Lédonia. Its centrepiece is an indoor pool of thermal water heated to 32 degrees, with a panoramic outlook over the surrounding park; a hammam, a dry sauna and an outdoor terrace complete the aqua-détente area, and an institute alongside sells massages, facials and treatment rituals. Capacity is capped at 45 people, so admission can be refused when the area is full, and the pools are cleared half an hour before the spa closes. Entry is from age fourteen, with treatments from sixteen, and minors must be accompanied by an adult.

The spa is open all year: Monday to Friday 10:00 to 19:00, Saturday 09:00 to 19:00, and Sunday and public holidays 09:00 to 13:00. A single adult admission to the aqua-détente area is 17 euros, dropping to 11 euros for late weekday entry from 17:30 and for bathers aged 14 to 20 and students; bundles with towel and bathrobe cost 19 and 22 euros, and a ten-entry card is 143 euros against 590 euros for an annual card. Water classes - aquabike, aquagym, aqua fitness, an aqua-training circuit - and qi gong or tai chi sessions are charged separately.

The establishment's larger business is the French conventionné cure. Lons-le-Saunier holds two therapeutic orientations, rheumatology and childhood developmental disorders, and runs eighteen-day prescribed cures alongside shorter two-to-six-day mini-cures and themed programmes. Treatment combines thermal steam applications, muds, underwater massage, plain and hydrojet baths and pools. Cure patients receive a discount on the spa menu, and a premium option adds two aqua-détente entries and unrestricted use of a walking corridor. The postal address is Établissement Thermal, Parc des Bains, 39005 Lons-le-Saunier Cedex.