The Romans were well known for using natural spring water in medical treatments, harnessing water from deep below the earth’s crust to cure all manner of joint, skin and respiratory conditions.
Two thousand years later, French residents can still – on doctor’s orders – take a threeweek cure at specialised medical spas all over the country. But many of these spas – or thermes as they are known in French – also have separate wellbeing centres where local residents and visitors can enjoy relaxation and beauty treatments.
Of the four medical spa towns in Poitou-Charentes, three are to be found in the coastal area – Rochefort, Saujon and Jonzac – whilst the delightful small town of La Roche-Posay lies on the eastern border of the region near Châtellerault. The healing properties of the water at La Roche-Posay were used in Roman times, but official recognition came in 1573 when Henry IV appointed his own physician as ‘first quartermaster of the thermal springs’. Today it’s the top European resort for thermal dermatology, treating conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, as well as burns and scars.

The Spa Mélusine wellbeing centre is set in a shady park just a short walk from the medical spa and restaurant facilities, and offers a full range of skin treatments including antiageing and facials. Book a single treatment or try a package with a choice of accommodation styles and prices, from studios to luxury hotel. The high selenium content of the water here has also made La Roche-Posay internationally famous for its range of cosmetic and beauty products, available at pharmacies throughout France as well as in the UK.
Take time out too to discover the town’s other delights including a racetrack and casino, 18-hole golf course, medieval quarter and some tranquil riverside walks beside the confluence of the Creuse and Gartempe rivers.

Wellbeing treatments are becoming so popular that it’s now possible to enjoy them at a number of independent spas and hotels all over the Poitou-Charentes region. And what better way to relax after a day on the beach, a country walk or sightseeing trip?
Enjoy skincare treatments with products from La Route des Plantes range by Clarins at Le Clos Saint Martin on the Ile de Ré. Natural botanical extracts combine with the healing power of expert hands at the Clarins Spa, a new addition to this luxurious hotel resort complex at Saint-Martin-de-Ré.
Or try one of the oriental treatments available in the cosy spa at Le Normandoux, a chateau hotel at Tercé near Poitiers, which is open to non-residents as well as offering a range of residential packages that include wellbeing treatments. Products by Cinq Mondes feature in the spa’s signature treatments which
include Coffee Cream Massage, Papaya Purée body scrub, and Bali Flowers facial.
It’s not only hotel customers who want to enjoy relaxation treatments either. The Spa Les Gros Joncs on the Ile d’Oléron is attached to a spacious campsite, set on the edge of a forest behind a broad, sandy bay–pitch your own tent or rent a well-equipped cottage or chalet. The modern spa offers balneotherapy, body and beauty treatments, whether you want to unwind in the hamman or get active in the fitness room, relax over a facial or chill out with a massage.