Thermal tourism and SPA. Hot hydrogen sulfide baths in the open air. Les Bains de Llo, East Pyrenees, France

Llo is a commune located in the southwest of the Pyrénées-Orientales department, in the Occitania region (Pyrenees, France).

Historically and culturally, the commune is in the Cerdanya, a high plain at an average altitude of 1,200 m above sea level, which extends from east to west for around forty kilometers between Mont-Louis and Bourg-Madam.

Exposed to a mountain climate, it is drained by the Segre and various other small rivers. Included in the Catalan Pyrenees regional natural park, the town has a remarkable natural heritage: two Natura 2000 sites (the “Puigmal massif” and “Puigmal-Carança”) and four natural areas of ecological, fauna and flora interest.

Llo is a rural commune which has 161 inhabitants in 2021, after having experienced a population peak of 449 inhabitants in 1861. Its inhabitants are called Llotois or Llotoises.

Since 2016, it has hosted the Ello solar power plant.

SPA resort

The thermal springs of Llo are located in Cerdanya, in the Eastern Pyrenees (Department N66), in the picturesque French village of Llo on the edge of the gorge of Segré. They are rich in hydrogen sulfide which activates the enzymes and hormones, accelerates blood circulation, prevents blood clots in vessels and also normalizes blood sugar, activates metabolic processes, improves metabolism in the heart muscle, increases oxygen consumption by organs and tissues, improves ventilation of the lungs and normalizes blood pressure.

The thermal springs of Llo are located in Cerdanya, in the East Pyrenees (Department N66), in the picturesque French village of Llo on the edge of the gorge of Segré.

Benefits:

Before using hydrogen sulfide baths there is a long list of precautions to take into account. Be sure to take into account the concentration of hydrogen sulfide, water temperature, duration of the procedure, the possibility of combining with other types of treatment, the number of baths per course and general health, especially the activity of the pathological process which is the main indication for the purpose of treatment.

Llo thermal waters are also rich in minerals that help relax the body and relieve rheumatic or muscle pain and are recommended for skin and hair care.

Recommendations

  • Skin diseases: dermatitis, dermatosis, psoriasis, eczema, neurodermatitis, scleroderma, scaly deprive;
  • Gynecological diseases: inflammatory chronic processes, obstruction of the fallopian tubes, insufficiency of ovarian function, menstrual disorders;
  • Urological diseases: chronic prostatitis;
  • Cardiovascular pathologies: hypertension, circulatory disorders, heart defects;
  • Diseases of bones and joints: arthritis, arthrosis, osteochondrosis, slow healing of bones after a fracture;
  • Endocrine pathologies: diabetes;
  • Neurological diseases: neuralgia, sciatica, post-traumatic conditions, paralysis and paresis of the spinal cord;
  • Conditions after suffering flu, tonsillitis;
  • Pediatrics: Cerebral Palsy, Condition After Birth Injuries.

Llo France

Contraindications

  • Hyperthermia;
  • The exacerbation of chronic pathology and the acute period of any disease;
  • Pregnancy;
  • Myoma, uterine fibroma and other gynecological diseases on the background of hyperestrogenism;
  • Tuberculosis;
  • Chronic diseases of the liver and biliary tract;
  • All kidney diseases;
  • Blood disorders;
  • Repeated myocardial infarction in history;
  • Bronchial asthma;
  • Tendency towards having allergic reactions.

Llo Baths include three open and two indoor pools, a hammam, a sauna, an ice shower and a relaxation room.

Llo Baths include three open and two indoor pools, a hammam, a sauna, an ice shower and a relaxation room.

Visiting hours

Sulfur Hot Tubs: From 10:00 to 19:30. From 10:00 to 20:00 – mid-July, August and Christmas school holidays.

Spa treatments: from 09:30 to 12:30 and from 14:00 to 18:30

In 2019, the baths will be closed from May 13 to 17, inclusive.

Attractions around

The Roman baths of Dorres and the baths of Llo (30 minutes by D618, D30, N116, D33) are a great addition for hiking lovers, mountain bike lovers and cyclists: here you can find a huge selection of routes.

The mountain lakes in the Carlit massif is a great place for fishing.

In the district you can find well-preserved Romanesque churches.

It’s also interesting to visit the largest solar furnace in Font-Romeu.

Mont-Louis (Mont-Louis, 30 minutes by D618, D29, N116) – a city surrounded by the highest wall in France – is one of the 14 main sites of Vauban (Sébastien Le Prestre, marquis de Vauban – an outstanding military engineer, Marshal France, a writer. The fortresses built by him was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site).

The nearest train stations, from where you can take a fascinating journey on the tourist “Yellow Train” (Train Jaune), are Latour-de-Carol-Enveigt (7 km), Ur-les-Escaldes (5 km), Bourg-Madame (7 km) . In summer, open wagons are especially popular.

Llívia is a municipality in Baixa Cerdanya (Girona provinceCataloniaSpain), although geographically it belongs to Alta Cerdanya. It has the particularity of being an enclave within France (Upper Cerdanya – North Catalonia), as a result of the terms of the Treaty of the Pyrenees (1659), the later Conference of Ceret (1660) and the Treaty of Llívia (1660).

Llo France

How to get to?

From Paris: 9 hr 19 min (857 km) via A20

From Toulouse: 2 hr 31 min (181 km) via N20

From Andorra: 1 hr 20 min (80.2 km) via Eix Pirinenc/N-260

From Barcelona: 2 hr 11 min (167 km) via C-16

From Madrid: 7 hr 31 min (681 km) via A-2

From Monaco: 6 hr 37 min (584 km) via A8 and A9

From Moscow: 39 hr (3,509 km) via E30/M1

From Belgrade: 21 hr 8 min (1,906 km) via E70

From Istanbul: 30 hr (2,838 km) via E70

From Bern: 9 hr 1 min (842 km) via A9

See here Pyrenees travel guide

See here France travel guide

See here Spain travel guide

Read more: Interesting places in the Pyrenees and around with Jane Cautch ...