Saillon

On the holiday road in the valley where the Rhone River flows, a land of almond trees and figs, Saillon is a town steeped in history, as may be seen from the Vieux-Bourg perched high up on the hill-top. Benefiting not only from the first grape vines they planted, the Romans must also have taken advantage of the qualities of the hot water springs that gushed close to Saillon. The ultramodern thermal centre was built in 1983, both as a health resort for locomotor and rheumatic complaints and also for general care. Four thermal baths (heated to between 28 and 34 degrees centigrade) are available to those there for a health cure and to other visitors. There is an area dedicated simply to general well-being “Carpe Diem” where the various care programmes available have been given Latin titles: laconicum, caldarium, trepidarium – a care centre which offers, for example, massages and treatments using sea-weed. There is a fitness and aerobic area and a summer toboggan run.