The virtues of the water that would result in the village of Brides-les-Bains were already known about as far back as antiquity...

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the archbishops of Moûtiers already appreciated the thermal water of the hamlet called Bains. Amazing quantities were prescribed by doctors: 50 to 60 glasses a day !
However, at that time boardsports, on skis or other devices, were still to be discovered !

Then, in 1653 and 1774, the River Doron de Bozel overflowed, depositing sand in the springs.

1818 : A major milestone for the resort when the thermal spring first started gushing. This beneficial event was due to a natural disaster upstream of the valley.
Doctor Hybord was the first expert to analyse this water and, the following year, the first treatment cubicles were built.

1857 : The village came into being. The village of Bains, separated from another village called La Perrière,and the village of Brides, separated by the Allues, united to create a new village: Brides-les-Bains.

During the course of the 19th century, thermal water was first used to treat all sorts of diseases and illnesses before its virtues with regard to treating obesity were identified. At the end of the 1870s, the first specially-adapted diets were developed by the local hotels. The resort developed facilities and was visited by famous personalities such as Queen Elizabeth of Spain, the Countess of Montgomery and Baron Rothschild, as well as members of Russian, American and English families.

1925 : Following the lead taken by Dr Philibert, the resort, specialising in slimming, developed a reputation for attracting “elegant women”. By way of a tribute to this doctor, one of the springs of Brides-les-Bains bears his name today.

1950s : A rather novel skiing competition , “Derby de la Saulire”, led to the first downhill skiing on the Allues side of the mountains, with the finishing point in Brides, 2000 m lower down. Some customers in the brand new resort of Méribel sometimes skied all the way to the descendent village.

1992 : Chosen as an Olympic village, the resort experienced the wonderful adventure of the Albertville Winter Olympics and provided a gateway to the world’s largest ski area: les 3 Vallées. The Olympe cable car directly linked up the village with the Méribel slopes and thus enabled the village to develop even more.

2000 : The resort became part of the group called the association des 3 Vallées, along with Courchevel, la Tania, Méribel, les Menuires-St Martin and Val Thorens.

End of the 20th century : Brides-les-Bains became France’s leading spa resort for treating obesity.

2005 : Brides-les-Bains, as we know it now, showed another way of experiencing wellness in the mountains !

2005 : the Spa de Brides-les-Bains® (Spa Centre) opened to the general public, with 1500 m² set aside for treatments and well-being. New facilities combining luxury and innovation capitalising on the resort’s spa know-how.

2006 : “Brides-les-Bains, another way of experiencing les 3 Vallées and well-being in the mountains”

2008 : The Grand Spa des Alpes® was extended with an additional 600m² space comprising treatment cubicles, individual sports coaching room, solarium, and an outside beach with several summer/winter jacuzzis.