Grayness on the shores of Lake Geneva, freshness in the air… and yet, in front of the Valvital thermal baths in Thonon-les-Bains, we saw dozens of visitors flocking to exchange umbrellas and signs for bathrobes and flip-flops. While some pounded the pavement, others chose total immersion in hot water.
These two days were part of the National Thermal Immersion Days, orchestrated by the National Council of Thermal Establishments (CNETh) in some 109 French resorts. In Thonon, nearly 200 people came forward to test thermal medicine for free and finally ask all the questions that they did not necessarily dare to ask in the office.
A national weekend to rejuvenate the image of hydrotherapy in Thonon-les-Bains
Across France, more than a hundred resorts opened their doors the same weekend, with a clear objective: to show that hydrotherapy is not only aimed at retirees, but also at active people, young chronic patients, and caregivers. With nearly 500,000 spa guests each year, the spa industry seeks to promote its treatments provided within a strict medical framework.
In Thonon, the atmosphere was very concrete: guided tours of the facilities, discussions with the teams, test treatments. Many regular spa guests have come, like Angèle, for an annual treatment in the resort: confides the septuagenarian, quoted by “Le Dauphiné Libéré”. And then there were also residents who had never crossed the threshold of the thermal baths.
Two days of immersion at the Valvital thermal baths: program, treatments and water from Versoie
The Thonnais meeting was held on Saturday October 24 and Sunday October 25, 2026, from 1:15 p.m. to 6 p.m., at the Valvital thermal baths, on the heights of the city. The event was free, upon registration, with two thermal treatments offered per person within the limit of available slots. Visitors discovered the technical platforms, the mobilization pools, the bathing or shower cabins while interacting with the caregivers.
This short program gave an overview of Thonon’s real cures, focused on rheumatology, digestive conditions and metabolic diseases and urinary conditions. Simple or hydrojet baths, showers, mud, thermal water massages, but also drinking treatment with Versoie water make up the therapeutic arsenal. This natural mineral water, from the Alpine subsoil, rich in magnesium and bicarbonates, is renowned for its diuretic effects and its interest in rheumatology.
The concrete benefits of hydrotherapy in Thonon-les-Bains, beyond discovery
On the joint side, the rheumatology treatment targets spinal or knee osteoarthritis, inflammatory rheumatism such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, fibromyalgia or even the after-effects of trauma. Treatments repeated over 18 days affect pain, mobility and quality of life; a THERMARTHROSE type clinical trial showed a lasting benefit several months after the treatment in osteoarthritis of the knee.
For the digestive tract and metabolism, the cures target type 2 diabetes, overweight, obesity or irritable bowel syndrome, relying on thermal water and health and diet support. On the urinary system side, Thonon treats hyperuricemia, lithiasis and repeated urinary infections thanks to the “cleansing” action of the drinking treatment. These two days of immersion do not replace an approved treatment, but they offer a first experience before asking your doctor for a prescription, in single or double orientation.
Who can participate in the National Thermal Immersion Days in Thonon-les-Bains?
The event is aimed at everyone: regular spa visitors, curious locals, people suffering from pain or digestive disorders, with no age limit.
Are the immersion days at the Valvital thermal baths really free?
Yes, participation is free, upon prior registration, with two thermal treatments offered per person depending on slot availability.
What pathologies are treated in thermal treatment in Thonon-les-Bains?
The station treats rheumatism (osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, etc.), digestive and metabolic conditions (type 2 diabetes, excess weight, irritable bowel) and urinary conditions (lithiasis, recurrent infections, hyperuricemia).
