Chaudes-Aigues
Encyclopedia
Chaudes-Aigues is a commune
in the Cantal
department in south-central France
. It is a spa town
, famous for its hot spring waters.
in Aubrac
. Its inhabitants are called the Caldaguès, from the Latin
meaning 'hot waters', or in French, eaux chaudes; hence the name of the commune, Chaudes-Aigues
As its name suggests, there are thirty natural hot water sources with temperatures ranging from 45° to more than 80°. The most famous is the source of the Par river with a water temperature of 82° - the hottest in Europe - with a flow in the region of 450,000 litres a day. The odds are that the source so-named because a pig was dressed (paré) or jointed thanks to the hot water. The waters are used all year round. In winter, they provide heat for houses and the church; from spring the waters are channeled to the spa for the treatment of rheumatics.
The Remontalou stream crosses the commune.
is a ruined castle
, dating back to the 15th century, situated in the commune.
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the Cantal
Cantal
Cantal is a department in south-central France. It is named after the Cantal mountain range, a group of extinct, eroded volcanic peaks, which covers much of the department. Residents are known as Cantaliens or Cantalous....
department in south-central France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. It is a spa town
Spa town
A spa town is a town situated around a mineral spa . Patrons resorted to spas to "take the waters" for their purported health benefits. The word comes from the Belgian town Spa. In continental Europe a spa was known as a ville d'eau...
, famous for its hot spring waters.
Geography
The commune is situated in the Massif CentralMassif Central
The Massif Central is an elevated region in south-central France, consisting of mountains and plateaux....
in Aubrac
Aubrac
Aubrac is a town in the southern Massif Central of France. The name is also applied to the surrounding landscape, which is properly called L'Aubrac in French. The Aubrac region has been a member of the Natura 2000 network since August 2006...
. Its inhabitants are called the Caldaguès, from the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
meaning 'hot waters', or in French, eaux chaudes; hence the name of the commune, Chaudes-Aigues
As its name suggests, there are thirty natural hot water sources with temperatures ranging from 45° to more than 80°. The most famous is the source of the Par river with a water temperature of 82° - the hottest in Europe - with a flow in the region of 450,000 litres a day. The odds are that the source so-named because a pig was dressed (paré) or jointed thanks to the hot water. The waters are used all year round. In winter, they provide heat for houses and the church; from spring the waters are channeled to the spa for the treatment of rheumatics.
The Remontalou stream crosses the commune.
Population
Sites
The Château de CouffourChâteau de Couffour
The Château de Couffour is a ruined castle situated in the French commune of Chaudes-Aigues in the Cantal département.The original 15th century castle, with seven towers with conical roof, was witness to the importance of this place during the Hundred Years War. The present remains consist of a...
is a ruined castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
, dating back to the 15th century, situated in the commune.