La Bourboule: Park, Panoramas and Thermal Spa Culture

La Bourboule combines scenery, hiking and spa history. Parc Fenestre is home to a large landscaped garden, rare plants, two-hundred-year-old sequoias and a river winding through the park. La Roche des Fées offers views over the Dordogne Valley; a hike takes you through green surroundings along the Dordogne and in the Massif du Sancy. Thermal spa architecture and the Belle Époque add the history of this spa town to its scenic highlights. You can tailor your stay to the themes that interest you most.

Parkland and views

Parc Fenestre covers more than 12 hectares and includes a landscaped garden dating back to 1874. Rare plant species, two-hundred-year-old sequoias and a river winding through the park shape the grounds. The La Roche des Fées viewpoint is at an altitude of 930 m and offers views of La Bourboule in the Dordogne Valley. Banne d’Ordanche, Tenon and Puy Gros rise above the town.

Hiking to the Plateau de Charlannes

A hike from La Bourboule takes you through green surroundings along the Dordogne and in the Massif du Sancy to Belle Époque architecture, the Plateau de Charlannes and panoramic views over the Dordogne Valley and La Bourboule. From the town centre, the La Bonsière trail leads to the plateau; the walking time is around 1 hour and 15 minutes. The route is about 3 km long and has an elevation gain of 275 metres. The walking time is an estimate, and conditions may vary.

Trails approximately 5 km long connect the Plateau de Charlannes with La Stèle and provide access to other hiking trails. The information highlights different aspects: for the route from the town centre to the plateau, walking time and elevation gain are given; for the trails to La Stèle, the approximate length and connections to other hiking trails are the focus.

Hiking trail and mountain bike loops

The GR® 30 starts between Le Mont-Dore and La Bourboule and is accessible from the former SNCF railway stations in La Bourboule or Le Mont-Dore. Seasonal and weather-related restrictions may apply. The La Bourboule area of Espace Sancy VTT-FFC has mountain bike loops through wooded terrain, with varying levels of difficulty. Conditions may vary by season.

Thermal spa architecture and the Belle Époque

A free self-guided route explores thermal spa architecture and the Belle Époque in La Bourboule. You can find it on the back of the town map, available from the tourist office. The guided tour “La Bourboule, reine de l'arsenic” covers the spa town’s springs and thermal facilities; availability may vary. The route and the tour focus on different aspects: architecture and the Belle Époque on the one hand, and springs and thermal facilities on the other.

The wellness area at the Grands Thermes de La Bourboule offers two balneotherapy packages using thermal water. As services may change, check in advance which packages are currently available.

Exhibition at Minéralexpo

Minéralexpo in La Bourboule displays antique scientific instruments, minerals, fossils, fine stones, jewellery, mining objects, curiosities and handicrafts. Some of these objects are also available for purchase. The exhibition brings together a range of subjects, from science and nature to jewellery, mining objects and handicrafts.

Discover more destinations: Mareugheol, Champs, Saint-Gervais-Dʼauvergne, Saint-Rémy-de-Blot, Vollore-Ville, Corent, Chaumont-Le-Bourg, Sainte-Agathe

Return to the regional travel overview: Puy-De-Dôme.