Vals-les-Bains

Vals-les-Bains' history is old, its origins go back to the 17th century. A fisherman named Pierre Brun discovered the water of Vals in 1602. He was cured of his gallstones after drinking the water from one of the springs in Vals. Claude Expilly, an advisor to the Grenoble parliament, was also cured.
Since the discovery of the virtues of the waters in Vals, which has 145 natural springs, its renown became international. For a few centuries now, the spa town has developed a tradition of hospitality in all seasons.
Nestling in a 3-hectare park that constitutes the town's green lung, the spa of Vals-les-Bains enjoys a temperate climate with substantial rain throughout the year. Surrounded by mountains, the urban setting has been renovated with a respect for style, brightened up by many fountains and murals. The town had once once an industrial city with many mills and a mineral water bottling company.
Between the spa neighbourhood and the old town, you can visit the Champanhet House, which opens its doors to you and invites you to discover the living and modern memory of the heritage and the life of the people of Ardéche. The Champanhet family had been the first to exploit the mineral waters of Vals-les-Bains.
The town offers many pleasures, from the splendour of the architecture, the Gothic Revival church and its remarkable stained glass and walnut wood organ, a way of the cross enamelled in black and white... to an extraordinary choice of regional products such as the chestnuts, nougat, blueberries, chestnut beer, the lozenges from the Pastillerie des Thermes, to be found in all their authenticity at the Thursday and Sunday markets.
But most of all take the time to rejuvenate yourself at the Spa, with its thermal cures, wellness and fitness breaks. The spa specialize in the treatment of diabetes, liver, stomach and intestinal diseases and obesity.
A corner of paradise for regenerating, touring and discovering Ardèche.

To see, to do
Champanhet House
The water circuit, the natural spring circuit, the art circuit
The Bourganel brewery
The Pastillerie des Thermes

In the area around Vals-les-Bains

Aubenas:
Its 14th century castle
The Gargoyle House
The Saint-Benoit Dome
The Cordeliers Chapel
The 19th century Saint-Laurent Church
The weekly market on Saturday morning

Antraigues-sur-Volane: a medieval village with a lot of character
The Saint-Roch Chapel