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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Temperate Bath of Plombières-les-Bains is a thermal establishment built following a devastating flood that struck the city on the night of 25-26 July 1770. Under the impetus of Louis XV, a special tax was lifted on the province of Lorraine and Barrois to finance its construction, as well as that of houses on Rue Stanislas. The building, designed by architect Jean-Louis Deklier Dellile between 1771 and 1772, replaced two houses destroyed and was originally named Bain Neuf or Bain Royal. It was organized around a central swimming pool surrounded by cabins, typical of the thermal establishments of the time.

In the 19th century, the state acquired the first floor in 1821 and entrusted its restoration to architect Nicolas Grilllot in 1823. The latter completely rebuilds the high parts to build living rooms, replacing the 18th-century floor with a square floor. These changes reflected the evolution of thermal uses, from a purely curative space to a place of worldly sociability, characteristic of spas under the Restoration and Second Empire.

A major restructuring took place in 1932 under the direction of architect Robert Danis. The swimming pools were filled, the floors unified between the Temperate Bath and the Capuchin Bath, and an outside staircase was added to serve the floor. Although the Mansart uphill project did not succeed, Danis modernized the whole while preserving historical elements, such as the 19th century corridor. Further work in 1988-1989 and 1996-1998, including the addition of a glass window, completed contemporary developments.

The building, made of multicolored Vosges sandstone, is distinguished by its rectangular architecture and large covered bays decorated with sculptures. Ranked historic monument in 2001 for its facades, roofs and large vaulted room (excluding plastic floor and mosaic of 1933), it illustrates the evolution of thermal practices, from a unique swimming pool to multiple pools, then to a mixed seaside and thermal use. Its history also reflects the links between royal power, state and urban development in Plombières-les-Bains.

Today, the Temperate Bath bears witness to almost three centuries of thermal history, from its foundation under Louis XV to its modern adaptations. Its integration into a wider thermal complex, including the Bain des Capucins and the National Bath, underscores its central role in the architectural and cultural heritage of the Vosges and the Grand Est region.

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