Source du Par et eaux chaudes de Chaudes-Aigues

Chaudes-Aigues

At Chaudes-Aigues, in the Cantal, the ground steams among the houses. The village has about thirty hot springs, from 50 to 82 °C. The most famous, the source du Par, emerges at 82 °C: several tourism websites call it the hottest in Europe, a record that I could not verify. Its name comes, according to local tradition, from the verb ‘parer’: pigs were scalded there to prepare them, and washerwomen washed linen and wool there. The best-known fact dates from the 14th century: archives of 1332 already describe hot water passing under the houses, with a free branch for each household that maintains its pipes. The accounts differ on the scale: about forty dwellings for some, only three houses or three neighbours for others, and a network already cited ‘as early as 1330’ for a last one. In the 19th century the network is said to have served about 150 houses; a recent synthesis speaks of four springs and 5 km of pine pipes. The first baths appeared between 1820 and 1830, and Dr Abrial obtained the concession of the waters around 1889. Several websites say that the Romans knew these waters, but I found neither remains nor a precise text. Today, according to the tourist office, about forty houses are still heated in this way.

Office de tourisme des Pays de Saint-Flour — Chaudes-Aigues, cité thermale ↗

Getting there: The source du Par is in the Par quarter, rue de la Source du Par, in an alley above the place du Marché. According to two sheets from the Pays de Saint-Flour tourist office (one updated on 13 October 2026), access is free, every day of the year; a forum post of 2020 says only that one sees just a small part of the flow, and that the hot wash-houses are closed to bathing. At 82 °C the water is not meant for bathing. The Géothermia museum (5 quartier du Par) explains this history: in 2024 it was open every day from 6 April to 24 November (€5 full price); 2026 hours and prices not checked. Coordinates: ‘Source du Par’ node in OpenStreetMap (consulted on 22/10/2026), within 100 m of the position given by the tourist office.

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

Ambient sound