Les Bains de Lavey

Les Bains de Lavey is the thermal bath of Lavey-les-Bains, in the canton of Vaud, at the point where the Rhône valley narrows below the Dents du Midi. It is the hottest spring in Switzerland and the bath spreads over 1,600 m².

The water

The water is captured at 600 metres and arrives at 65 °C — the hottest in the country — after what the venue describes as a journey of some 8,000 years underground, emerging pure and rich in minerals. Calcium and sulphur are among its dominant constituents. It was found in 1831 by a fisherman beside the Rhône. According to the venue the water is used for musculoskeletal, rheumatic, circulatory and skin complaints.

Pools

One indoor and two outdoor basins are all held between 33 and 36 °C, cooled down from the source. A separate polar pool stands at 10 °C for contrast bathing.

Saunas

The sauna area holds a tropical sauna with salt air, several Nordic saunas — one of them naturist — and a bio sauna at gentler heat. Aufguss ceremonies run in the large naturist sauna four times a day, at 11:00, 14:00, 16:30 and 19:00.

Age limits

Admission is from the age of four, on proof, and visitors under 16 must be accompanied by an adult of 18 or over. The saunas and the hammam are open only from 16.

Visiting

The bath opens 09:00 to 21:00 from Sunday to Thursday and until 22:00 on Fridays and Saturdays; last entry is an hour before closing and the pools have to be left 20 minutes before.