Balneari de la Font Pudosa, Balneari de Banyoles
The Balneari de la Font Pudosa is a spa building with eclectic architecture built in 1862 in Banyoles, originally comprising two sections: a residential area and a longer bathing wing with symmetrical design. The structure features rectangular windows, doors with rounded arches, and a low balustrade running along its top edge.
The mineral water of Font Pudosa was known since the 1400s, and by the 1700s people came seeking treatment for skin, bone, and breathing problems. After the new building opened in 1862, the place became a popular destination that drew hundreds of visitors yearly through the early 1900s.
The name Font Pudosa means 'Fountain of the Puddle,' referring to the mineral spring that has drawn people for centuries. The building served as a social gathering place where visitors bathed together and spent time with friends and family in a shared space for relaxation.
The site is located at Paseo de la Puda in Banyoles and remains accessible today, though the building itself is in ruins. The spring still flows directly in front of the structure and can be viewed, allowing visitors to explore the historic location and its water source.
A local group called Els amics de la Puda has worked since 2014 to restore and promote the site, even as the building remains abandoned. They organize events like literary festivals and rebuild old walking paths around the spring to keep the place's history alive.
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