Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The National Bath of Plumbières-les-Bains, originally called Royal Bath, New Bath or Imperial Bath, was built at the site of the former convent of Capuchins Sainte-Barbe, founded in 1649 by François du Chesne and disappeared in 1791 during the Revolution. Conventual buildings, sold as national property in 1794, were transformed into distilleries and destroyed in 1811. The state acquired the site and in 1810 entrusted the architect Nicolas Grilllot with the construction of a new thermal establishment, whose works ranged from 1812 to 1819. Extensions and a terraced garden were added during the 19th century, while the house called Lorette, an outbuilding of the Imperial Bath, was rebuilt between 1820 and 1822.

In 1930, in the face of competition from other spa towns and user criticisms, architect Robert Danis proposed a major reconstruction of the building, keeping only the main façade. The work, carried out from 1932 to 1935, completely modernized the interior. In 1931, mineral water captures revealed Gallo-Roman hydraulic arrangements, highlighting the former thermal vocation of the site. A final renovation was carried out in 1998-1999, mainly for cabin tiles. The classical facade, roofs and mosaics of the pump room were classified as historical monuments in 2001.

The establishment illustrates the architectural evolution of the thermal baths, combining neo-classical heritage and functional adaptations to the needs of the twentieth century. Its history also reflects the economic and social stakes of spas, marked by rivalry between cities and adaptation to the expectations of curists. Gallo-Roman discoveries also recall the long thermal tradition of Plumbières, dating back to antiquity.

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