The Roman hot spring-water spa baths of Dorres

The roman baths of Dorres in the summer At the Roman Baths of Dorres, enjoy bathing in the summer and in the winter in the outdoor pools. The largest pool is complemented by an old public washtub which was carved in granite in 1841 by a stonemason who lived in the next-door house: Bonaventura Mitjaville. Two bathtubs shaped in a block of granite are attributed to the Romans but probably date from the Middle Ages. A south-facing hillside offers a magnificent view over the mountains.
The two outdoor pools are fed by the natural hot water source at 40 °C. This water is similar to the Sulphurous thermal water of the cure centre of Les Escaldes (pulmonology and respiratory rehabilitation, physical medicine) at the near village.
Roman Baths of Dorres are open all year from 9 :00 am to 7:30 pm, except during some days in November.
Entry fee in 2020: 5 €.
The roman baths springYou will be able to reach the Roman Baths of Dorres after a few minutes walk from the gîte Navarre. The source provides a thermal water well known to relieve skin disease, osteoarthritis and respiratory problems.After hiking or after skiing, the athletes come to care their muscle aches which disappear while contemplating the mountain or listening to the birdsongs.
A few thousands of years ago, the site was already visited as evidenced by the stone axes found at Dorres. Did prehistoric man already enjoy a hot bath after the hunt?
In summer, you will also visit the Granite Museum or the medieval church. It tells the story of the stonecutters and shows photos of ancient times. One can also see tools for stone cutting and mining: splitters, hammers, wedges, crowbar, stubborn… The story of the stonecutters Dorres begins in the early 19th century with Étienne Marti (mentioned in 1802).We observe the economic expansion of the Cerdanya between 1870 and 1920. The Dorres granite was used to build many structures: Séjourné Bridge and the Gisclard Railway Bridge for the Yellow Train, Bouillouses dam, Puymorens tunnel, Lourdes Cathedral… To benefit from this influx of labour, the Dorres masons converted to the stonework.


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