Contrexéville: Thermal Baths, Theater and Trails

When planning a stay in Contrexéville, culture, thermal baths and outdoor activities offer different ways to shape your visit. The casino and its theater, the Église Saint-Epvre and the Orthodox Chapel sit alongside the Thermes de Contrexéville, as well as trails and leisure activities at the Lacs de la Folie. If you’re looking for a hotel for your trip, you can start by considering whether events and architectural history, treatments and spa facilities, or time outdoors are the main draw. The details below will help you get a sense of these different sides of the destination.

Theater and Historic Buildings

The casino includes a classical theater with 250 seats. Its architecture combines neoclassical elements with Belle Époque and Art Nouveau influences. When planning, it helps to distinguish its lasting architectural character from its changing program: the theater hosts music events, plays and other events throughout the year. Individual dates may change. If a particular performance is important to your stay, check the current program before planning your trip around it.

The Église Saint-Epvre also offers a clear connection to local history. Its present-day tower is the only surviving part of a Romanesque building from the second half of the 12th century. The church was added to the register of historic monuments in 1926. This gives you two distinct points of reference for the town’s history: the Romanesque origins of the surviving tower and the church’s later protected status.

The Orthodox Chapel adds a specific visiting condition to the cultural offering: it is occasionally open during guided town tours organized by the tourist office and for liturgies. As these openings are tied to specific occasions, check current visiting arrangements in advance.

Thermal Baths and Spa

The Thermes de Contrexéville offer hydrotherapy, beauty and slimming treatments during stays or day visits. The spa at the Thermes is a separate offering: it has heated thermal water, a sauna, a hammam and outdoor whirlpools. This makes it possible to distinguish between an interest in specific treatments and the spa facilities when planning your trip. As services and facilities may change, check what is currently available before you travel.

Trails and Leisure at the Lacs de la Folie

The Lacs de la Folie have a free, supervised outdoor swimming pool. It operates seasonally, so check the current opening conditions if you’re planning a day of swimming. Boat trips depart from a floating jetty there. As availability may change, it’s also a good idea to check in advance. The outdoor pool and boat trips are different ways to spend time at the lakes, and each should be planned according to the time of year.

The Sentier des Lacs de Contrexéville au Parc de Vittel is laid out, signposted and secured for pedestrians and cyclists. It connects the Lacs de la Folie in Contrexéville with the Parc Thermal de Vittel. There is also a cycle path from the center of Contrexéville to the Lacs de la Folie. Their different endpoints are useful for finding your way: the Sentier connects the lakes with the Parc Thermal, while the cycle path leads from the town center to the lakes. Before setting out, check the current signposting and trail conditions, as they may change.

One clear difference to bear in mind when planning your schedule is that the theater has events throughout the year, while the outdoor swimming pool operates seasonally and boat trips depend on current availability. This can help you decide which events and activities matter most for your stay in Contrexéville.

Discover more destinations: Baudricourt, Claudon, Cleurie, Martigny-Les-Bains, Luvigny, Gemmelaincourt, Aumontzey, Le Tholy.

View the regional travel overview: Vosges.