Aix-les-Bains, Thermal spa town in Savoie, France
Aix-les-Bains is a commune in the Savoie department, located between Mont Revard and Lac du Bourget, known for its thermal facilities. The town spreads from the lakeshore to the wooded slopes, featuring spa districts, green spaces, and a marina on France's largest natural lake.
The Romans founded a bathing complex here in the first century AD, called Aquae Gratianae, to use the sulfur-rich springs. In the 19th century, the town grew into a fashionable spa resort visited by European aristocracy and wealthy guests.
The name comes from the Latin Aquae, referring to the thermal springs that still shape daily life in town. Visitors notice the Belle Époque architecture along the promenades, where locals and guests gather in cafés overlooking the lake.
Trains run regularly to Chambéry and Annecy, making arrival without a car straightforward. Most thermal districts and lakeside promenades are walkable, with public transport offering connections to higher elevations.
Between May and July, the Musilac festival turns the lakeshore into a music stage drawing artists from around the world. Some thermal springs reach temperatures up to 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) and have fed the town's baths since antiquity.
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