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Origin and history

The national thermal baths of Aix-les-Bains, located in the Savoy department, originate from thermal springs that have been used since ancient times. The first buildings dated by archaeologists date back to the late first century and early second century C.E. Abandoned in the fifth century, Roman baths were reused summarily until the 18th century, when the Duke of Chablais's arrival in 1772 launched a royal project. The Royal Bains Building, commissioned in 1776 by Victor-Amédée III and completed in 1783 under the direction of the engineers Nicoli de Robilant and Capellini, marked the beginning of a series of extensions and modernizations.

The rise of thermalism in the 19th century led to several phases of enlargement. A first annex was built in 1832 during the reign of Charles Albert, followed by a new thermal establishment designed by architect Jules Pellegrini between 1855 and 1862. Annexes Revel (1881) and Lecoeur (1899) completed the whole. In the 20th century, the Petrol thermal baths, built between 1930 and 1934, considerably expanded the site, with Art Deco decorations still visible today. A final construction phase, between 1971 and 1974, added a seven-storey administrative tower under the direction of architect Mabileau.

In 2012, the city of Aix-les-Bains became the owner of the thermal baths, bought from the state for 1.2 million euros with the help of the departmental council. Since then, a rehabilitation project is underway, including a citizen consultation in 2019 to choose the future use of the building. The thermal treatments were transferred to the new high Chevalley thermal baths, releasing space for major restructuring. The site, partially classified as a historical monument since 1986 and labeled "Twentieth Century Heritage" in 2003, now houses municipal services and an aesthetic school.

The national thermal baths preserve traces of their rich history, from Roman foundations to modern extensions. Their architecture reflects stylistic evolutions, from 18th-century neoclassicism to 1930s Art Deco. Despite accidents, such as the fatal fall of a visitor in 2007, the site remains a symbol of Savoyard thermal heritage, waiting for a new vocation after decades of transformation and varied uses.

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