The mountain resort of Serre Chevalier in The French Alps is made up of three major villages stretching along the Guisane valley and the town ofBriançon.
At the top end of the valley is Le Monêtier-les-Bains which has been famous since Roman times for it's natural spa.
Round the back of the village of Le Monêtier-les-Bains we discovered "La Rotonde" which dates from the beginning of the 18th century.
This "Pavillon des Buveurs" rotonde which has 13 sides, is the second of two sources of hot water, the other being the mineral baths.
The natural properties of these waters were discovered as long ago as during the Roman Empire.
The village of Monêtier is built on a limestone bedrock deposited by these waters which circulate to a depth of 1000m before gushing out.
From 1715 onwards the military, the ill and the Italians, all came here to cure ailments such as skin conditions and rheumatism.
In 1820, a water inspector wrote in the Turin library of it being a cure for the mobility of a leg following a fracture.
Towards the 1860's the "rotonde" was frequented by the bourgeoisie of Briançon who took advantage of these sulphur and calcium 38 degree waters.
Once upon a time the waters in the canal were used to wash the sheep's wool and on the 1st January each year up until 1960, people used to come in procession to the "rotonde" to bless the waters.
"La Rotonde" was renovated in 1993.
At the top end of the valley is Le Monêtier-les-Bains which has been famous since Roman times for it's natural spa.
Round the back of the village of Le Monêtier-les-Bains we discovered "La Rotonde" which dates from the beginning of the 18th century.
This "Pavillon des Buveurs" rotonde which has 13 sides, is the second of two sources of hot water, the other being the mineral baths.
The natural properties of these waters were discovered as long ago as during the Roman Empire.
The village of Monêtier is built on a limestone bedrock deposited by these waters which circulate to a depth of 1000m before gushing out.
From 1715 onwards the military, the ill and the Italians, all came here to cure ailments such as skin conditions and rheumatism.
In 1820, a water inspector wrote in the Turin library of it being a cure for the mobility of a leg following a fracture.
Towards the 1860's the "rotonde" was frequented by the bourgeoisie of Briançon who took advantage of these sulphur and calcium 38 degree waters.
Once upon a time the waters in the canal were used to wash the sheep's wool and on the 1st January each year up until 1960, people used to come in procession to the "rotonde" to bless the waters.
"La Rotonde" was renovated in 1993.