Bagnols-the-Baths

Geography

Located on the northern side of the Mount Lozere, the thermal spa of Bagnols-the-Baths stages above the Lot its solids houses of character, with the doors of the Gorges of the Tarn and near the National park of the Cevennes.

History

Between 390 and 230 before J.C.

Three Celtic tribes: the Cadurques, the Rutènes and the Gabales leaving Franconie and the edges of the Hand would have come to be fixed at the South of the Solid mass-Exchange. Gabales settled in the Cévenol country. The word “Gabales” would come from a Celte root, meaning “invaders” or “conquerors with horse”.

In the high valley of the Batch, the ground fertile and rich in ores attracted the man and allowed him to develop agriculture, the breeding, and later, the raw material for the metallurgy of copper, bronze and iron.

At the time Roman

According to historical documents, the inhabitants of the the Cevennes were of Gabales whose tribe depended on Arvernes. Gabales gave their name to the Gévaudan. When Jules César had definitively overcome Vercingétorix, the Cévenol country was, with the remainder of Gévaudan, incorporated in Aquitaine and subjected to the authority of the prefect (50 av J.C.). The agglomeration of Anderitum (Javols) which took the name of Gabalum, remained the capital of the Gabale country.

If Gabalum were an administrative city, `Benassac' was an industrial city, `Cadoule' vacation village, and Bagnols a town of water.

With the Middle Ages

In the chart of Konrad Peutinger (1465-1547) known as “Tabula itineria ex illustri Peutingorum bibliotheca…” which is a medieval copy of the chart of the ways of the Romain Empire of IIIième and IVième centuries, beside Anderitum and on left bank of the river (Batch) of the Roman baths are noted “Aquis Calidis” (in the singular Aqua Calida), which one can regard as being the baths of Bagnols. One allots to Domitius proconsul de Jules César, the construction of the Roman baths with Bagnols, after the victory of the Romans over Allobrognes, year 628 of Rome.

And now…

Since 1978, the modern thermal spa, fulfills the current requirements of a cure at a watering-place. The effects of an hot source (41,5°), sulphuretted and bicarbonated, are combined with those of a cold source (9,5°), to look after the rheumatic affections, asthma and the respiratory allergies.

The station profits from very old guarantees: it existed at the time Roman, as known as above (of the excavations exhumed the original source and its square basin) and Sidoine, bishop of Clermont, in Ve century, praised already the healing virtues of water of Bagnols, in a letter addressed to a friend…

One found the trace formal of the passage of the Romans during the important work carried out in the Thermal baths in 1764 by the Count de Morangiès, Seigneur and owner of Bagnols, and in 1837 per Mr. Marius Richard. One indeed discovered a considerable quantity of Roman bricks, stone fragments of size decorated with sheets of acanthus, sepulchral ballot boxes, old vases, currencies and the vestiges of old swimming pools built out of concrete of a great beauty.

It is on November 23rd, 1857, which the thermal spa of BAGNOLS the BATHS became the first in France, with being recognized of public utility by imperial decree.

A decree of August 10th, 1934, sets up the commune of Bagnols-the-Baths in mineral-water and climatic station and creates in this station room of a thermal and climatic industry.

The legend of Holy Énimie

Holy Énimie, girl of Clotaire II and sister of the Good Roy Dagobert, came in Gévaudan the source which was to cure it Lèpre. According to the legend, arrived in Gévaudan, the procession does not manage to find Burle, and, by asking for the way of sources which can cure, a woman indicates one of them to him. However an angel indicating to Énimie that the source in which it bathes is not that required. She were then with Bagnols-the-Baths where “God makes powerful things there, for those who come to seek health”.

In remembering its passage, Bagnols chose Sainte Énimie like Sainte Owner.

Heraldic

The name of the city

At the time of the Romans: `Aqua Calida' `Balneum'
In VIIe century: `Baïols,' `Balneolum,' `Bays'
In 1219, mentioned as `Baet'
In XIVe century `Balnolea'
In 1607, mentioned `Balnea'
Into 1607,1677,1688, mentioned `Bagnols'
In 1776, mentioned `Balneola'
Of XIXe at the XXe century, `Baths of Bagnols', `Bagnols (Lozere)' and even `Bagnols-the-Baths'
the commune of Bagnols takes the official name of `Bagnols-the-Baths' by decree of February 27th, 1961.

Administration

Demography

Tourist monuments and places

Castle of Tournel
Mausoleum Romain de Lanuéjols

Remarkable buildings and public places

Religious buildings

Romance Church St-Julien
Holy-Enimie Church of Bagnols the Baths

Museums

Others

the Small valley of Villaret " Park of Découverte"
the Water level Mount Lozere
Dams Villefort and Naussac
National forest of 1.000 ha of Loubière

See too

Common of Lozere

External bonds

Bagnols Baths in Lozere.

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