Source chaude de Camou (Lamina ziloa, « le trou du Lamina »)

Camou-Cihigue

On the edge of the Arbailles massif, in Soule, two springs emerge one metre apart at the foot of a small cliff. One is cold, coming from the limestones. The other is hot, very salty, and rises from a great depth: the Académie de Bordeaux estimates at least 900 metres, and thinks that the water touched salty marls of the Triassic. The place is called Lamina ziloa, ‘the hole of the Lamina’. In the Basque tales collected by José Miguel de Barandiaran, the lamiak are spirits, often female, placed in caves. According to the exhibition ‘Médecines populaires en Soule’ (association Ikerzaleak, 2008), people bathed there ‘since time immemorial’ and many tales circulated, including that of the golden comb; I did not find its text. At the beginning of the 20th century, the owners of the Aguer house made it into a small thermal establishment: the hot water was brought by a pipe, then reheated, for four bathtubs and a shower. Baths of 5 to 20 minutes were taken, for 9 to 21 days, against rheumatism, stunted growth in children or gynaecological ailments. The patients came mainly from Soule and Béarn. An analysis of 1926 (taken up by the BRGM in 1985) classes the water among the sodium chloride, sulphated and bromide waters. The establishment has disappeared; the spring still flows.

Académie de Bordeaux — Lamina ziloa, source chaude de Camou ↗

Getting there: Free but tolerated access: the spring and the land belong to the Aguer family, who leave them open. The path starts to the left of the restaurant Aguerria, near the pelota court. Dogs forbidden, no smoking, take litter away. The sources differ on the walk (350 m, about 5 minutes according to a blog dated 2026; 10 minutes there and back according to the Académie de Bordeaux). The blog describes a small basin where one bathes (5 to 7 people); the Académie de Bordeaux writes that the hot-water outlet cannot be reached from the bank. Bathing not confirmed by a sign or a decree: enquire on the spot. Coordinates: hot spring in OpenStreetMap, consistent with the Académie de Bordeaux page (within about 20 m).

Opening times and access details are given as a guide only: check before you set out.

Ambient sound