FRANCE | FRANCE |
région: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | |
département: 63, Puy-de-Dôme |
La Bourboule is situated at an elevation of 1,020 m at the upper Dordogne river and its tributary, the Vendeix, about 50 km southwest of Clermont-Ferrand. The municipality has a population of about 1,800 (2018); it is part of the communauté de communes du Massif du Sancy (seat at Mont-Dore).
The history of La Bourboule as a spa is old: the 'balanea' were mentioned as early as the beginning of the 15th century. It became a popular and famous spa in the 19th century; the first modern spa facility opened in 1821. La Bourboule obtained the status of an autonomous municipality in 1875. This date was the starting point for its expansion and prosperity. Several bath facilities, such as the Choussy thermal baths and the Grand thermes were established at that time. Two casinos were built between 1890 and 1892. The spa park also dates from that period. In the first half of the 20th century it was one of the most important spas of the Massif Central, second only to Vichy, but also the first paediatric health resort in Europe. Today's spa facilities are located at the banks of the two rivers. Two thermal springs with low contents of arsenic are used for the therapy of dermal and respiratory diseases. The Choussy-Perrière spring has a temperature of 60°C, the Fenêstre spring has a temperature of 20°C.
The picture on glass no. 4134 [left] is labeled Le Grand Établissement des Thermes et Avenue de la Gare.
The
The church of Saint-Joseph [background left] was built in Romanesque revival style in 1885–1888.
Glass no. 4134 is marked on the bottom Importé de Czechoslovakie, i.e. it must date from after 1918.
[https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Bourboule, https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Bourboule,
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communaut%C3%A9_de_communes_du_Massif_du_Sancy;
http://www.fallingrain.com/world/FR/98/La_Bourboule.html]