The holiday season is well underway, friends with second homes returning to the village along with the swifts and swallows.
Life is busy and unpredictable so it is hard to have any kind of routine or plan time off. But the more guests I have the less I realise I know about this wonderful place where I live. This year I am determined to behave like a tourist and discover more about it for myself.
I began with a birthday trip to the spa at Royat. What an unexpected treat!
Set in the chain of volcanoes, the little town nestled deep in a valley is dominated by elaborate Belle Epoque buildings.
It dates back to medieval times and there are traces of ancient thermal baths. There is an ornate drinking spa where you can taste the mineral rich water in this quirky building.
in the late 19th Century the railway brought the wealthy and some royalty to enjoy the benefits of this amazing place.
But the highlight of my trip was the new spa baths Royatonic with indoor and outdoor pools filled with water from volcanic springs that is heated naturally to 35° Centigrade. The large pools are filled with a huge variety massage jets and jacuzzis, designed so that not a single muscle, nook or cranny escapes 'the treatment'. Then there are smaller secluded pools at different temperatures, some of them perfumed, with Hammam, Sauna and exotic showers to try as well. You can wind down in a quiet room, with dimmed lights and heated recliners.
When I left the building I was so relaxed I could hardly walk, I felt as if I needed someone to hold my hand and help me reconnect with the World. In the end had to make do with sitting outside coffee and a patisserie.
This whole area is scattered with thermal spas, the hottest being Chaudes Aigues where the water is 86°. Some of them are in the original buildings, temples to "bien être". I would like to visit them all, but Royatonic is going to be hard to beat.
Between guests I have been scooting off to Brocantes at sunrise and have lots of lovely things to list for you over the next few weeks.
Life is busy and unpredictable so it is hard to have any kind of routine or plan time off. But the more guests I have the less I realise I know about this wonderful place where I live. This year I am determined to behave like a tourist and discover more about it for myself.
I began with a birthday trip to the spa at Royat. What an unexpected treat!
Set in the chain of volcanoes, the little town nestled deep in a valley is dominated by elaborate Belle Epoque buildings.
But the highlight of my trip was the new spa baths Royatonic with indoor and outdoor pools filled with water from volcanic springs that is heated naturally to 35° Centigrade. The large pools are filled with a huge variety massage jets and jacuzzis, designed so that not a single muscle, nook or cranny escapes 'the treatment'. Then there are smaller secluded pools at different temperatures, some of them perfumed, with Hammam, Sauna and exotic showers to try as well. You can wind down in a quiet room, with dimmed lights and heated recliners.
When I left the building I was so relaxed I could hardly walk, I felt as if I needed someone to hold my hand and help me reconnect with the World. In the end had to make do with sitting outside coffee and a patisserie.
This whole area is scattered with thermal spas, the hottest being Chaudes Aigues where the water is 86°. Some of them are in the original buildings, temples to "bien être". I would like to visit them all, but Royatonic is going to be hard to beat.
Between guests I have been scooting off to Brocantes at sunrise and have lots of lovely things to list for you over the next few weeks.
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