Source Choussy-Perrière et Roche des Fées de La Bourboule

La Bourboule

At La Bourboule, in the Sancy, the source Choussy rises at the foot of a granite rock, the Roche des Fées. According to the legend, the inhabitants begged the fairies, who lived on this summit of 945 m, to make land and water appear: with a wave of a wand, the Dordogne traced its course and the spring rose below. The name of the town would come from Borvo, the Celtic god of springs, or from an old French verb, ‘borboler’. The tourist office says that thermal use dates back to the Gallo-Roman period; around 1830 excavations are said to have brought out a wooden bathtub, perhaps from a pool of that period. Before the middle of the 14th century the place was only a hamlet called the Bains de Murat-le-Quaire, and around 1450 a first Maison des Bains, with wooden bathtubs, was set up at the foot of the Roche des Fées. In the 19th century the Choussy family bought the establishment in 1828. In 1854 the discovery of the properties of the waters triggered a ‘war of the wells’ between the Choussy and Mabru families, each wanting its own spring. The Grands Thermes opened in 1877. Among the visitors, the tourist office cites the Queen of Romania, Buster Keaton, King Farouk and Sacha Guitry. The hottest spring of the resort reaches 58 °C.

Getting there: The Choussy-Perrière catchment is signposted in place Guillaume-Lacoste, in the parc Fenestre; a tourist page lists it as a site to see in the Choussy quarter (no details of access or visit). Access to the water and opening hours not verified. The Roche des Fées, a viewpoint, is about 200 m away (chemin des Fées). Coordinates: ‘Captage Source Choussy-Perrière’ node in OpenStreetMap (consulted on 22/10/2026).

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

Ambient sound