Did you know that you can get spa treatments on prescription in France? Catharine Higginson reveals all


Taking la cure


W


hen is a three- week break involving lots of rest and


relaxation, not officially a holiday? The answer? When it’s 18 days of medically prescribed spa treatments partially funded by the French state as part of the excellent healthcare system! French people have been ‘taking the water’ for hundreds of years and today, la cure is as popular as ever. The Romans were the first to


exploit the healing properties of France’s hot springs in towns such as Vichy and Dax. They


used the healing waters to treat problems like rheumatism and infertility, and the waters are still used for the same ailments today. The modern era of thermalism is generally held to have begun in 1605 when Henri IV appointed his personal doctor as the superintendent of French mineral waters, and it really took off under Napoleon Bonaparte. He spent a lot of time at Vichy, transforming the town with the addition of a casino, parks and a station. Today there are 66 spa towns


in France all offering different cures and treatments with


facilities varying widely, from the utilitarian and functional to state-of-the-art luxury. Some are well known, Aix-les- Bains and Evian-les-Bains, for example, while smaller places such as Bourbon- l’Archambault and Saujon are more of a well-kept secret. Many people choose to


The Grand Port on the eastern shore of Lac du Bourget in Aix les Bains


return to the same town and spa year after year. Other curistes prefer to use the three weeks as an opportunity to travel around France and explore the different regions. Around 600,000 people do la cure annually in France and thousands more participate in (self-funded as not reimbursed by the Sécu) short term or daily/hourly spa treatments. So what does la cure involve


© DAVID LAW Evians-les-Bains is located on the shores of Lake Geneva (Lac Léman) 74 FRENCH PROPERTY NEWS: January/February 2024


and how do you go about arranging one? You need to start with your GP or médecin traitant. He or she will decide if you fit the criteria and give you the prescription (l’ordonnance) for la cure. There are 180 recognised illnesses that mean you qualify, and these include


skin conditions, cardiac problems, rheumatism and digestive problems, as well as health issues such as anorexia, PTSD, obesity, varicose veins and even gum disease. You can check out the complete list at: location-cure.net/cure- thermale-pathologie/liste


STARTING LA CURE Once you have your prescription, you need to send it to your health cover caisse. They will then send you back a form agreeing to the treatment – this is almost always an automatic ‘yes’ – and you are then free to start thinking about where to go for your cure. People on low incomes can apply for help with food and accommodation costs, but for most curistes, the accommodation budget must be met out of their own pockets. The price of an 18-day cure


is usually around €700–€800 plus the obligatory three visits to a thermal doctor who monitors process. This is covered and refunded at the


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