The spa village of Rennes les Bains lies in the valley of the River Salz, in the heart of Cathar country. Bathers have enjoyed the natural hot spring waters for thousands of years - they are still used today as a cure for rheumatism and certain skin problems. You can bathe outdoors under the warm shower 'le bain doux' at the site of the old Roman baths or in a large bath at ‘le bain fort’ (46° Centigrade – some like it hot). It is quite a surreal experience and both springs could win awards for ‘bathrooms with beautiful views’!

Activities
Apart from perhaps finding the long-lost treasure of Rennes le Château legend, why come to Rennes les Bains? It is an ideal centre for your holiday. The village has an outdoor heated swimming pool, indoor Turkish bath, jacuzzis, and gym. There’s tennis courts, crazy golf, table tennis, pétanque, badminton, basket ball, the river for fishing and miles of wonderful countryside.

Horse riding, walking, cycling, fishing, climbing, canoeing on the world class river Aude, white water rafting, caving and even hot air ballooning are all available nearby. However it's worth noting that many of the local facilties are subject to seasonal opening hours so if there's something particularly imporant that you want to do, just check if you're booking in the off-peak period.

The Salz river gorge running through the village

And though it's quieter in winter, the season brings its own attractions - the nearest ski resorts are only an hour and a half away and good value for money.

Taking a dip in the Bain Doux

Cycling

The village is also on a Lonely Planet guide cycling route. We' ve got three bikes that you can borrow if you're keen to have a go.
For tax free shopping, it’s less than two hours to Andorra. Mediterranean beaches are an hour away while it’s only two hours to Spain. Rennes les Bains is a perfect place from which to explore this beautiful region of France.