Thermes antiques et sources du Mont-Dore (le « Panthéon » gallo-romain, sources César et Madeleine)

Le Mont-Dore

At Le Mont-Dore, at the foot of the Sancy, hot springs of 38 to 44 °C rise where the Gallo-Romans built a large thermal complex and a temple, called the Panthéon. According to the Sancy tourist office, the Gauls then the Romans used these waters, and their exploitation resumed only in the 18th century; a tourism website adds that a basin of fir planks, earlier than the Romans, is said to have been found under the ancient baths. In the Middle Ages opinions differ: a website on historic spa towns speaks of neglected springs, a tourism website of a thermal use that remained free and much frequented. In 1809 the prefect Ramond and the inspecting physician Michel Bertrand wanted to rebuild the old baths. The works of 1817 brought to light the remains of an ancient temple and baths, and the architect Ledru's project was reworked. The final building was finished in 1824; Camut extended it until 1894. The ancient remains were listed as a Monument historique in 1989, with the gallery and the source César. The resort has thirteen springs, of which eight are exploited; the hottest, the Chanteurs, reaches 44 °C. According to a press article of 2026, a team is studying the blocks of the temple in order to reconstruct it in 3D.

Getting there: The thermal establishment is at 1 place du Panthéon. The Mérimée entry has listed the ancient remains of plot AC 427 since 6 October 1989. According to the Sancy tourist office, the Thermes are open from 2 April to 4 November 2026, with a compulsory guided tour (from April to the end of October, Monday to Friday except public holidays; tickets at the tourist office); I did not check whether the ancient remains are shown during this tour. Stone remains are also gathered in the town park, along the Dordogne (Historic Thermal Towns, Wikipedia EN), with no indication of access. Coordinates: ‘Thermes du Mont-Dore’ node in OpenStreetMap (consulted on 22/10/2026), which indicates the building, not the springs themselves.

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

Ambient sound