Bagnères-de-Luchon (Occitan: Banhèras de Luishon), also
referred to as Luchon, is a French commune and spa town in the Haute-Garonne
department in the Midi-Pyrénées region of south-western France, located on the
Spanish border.
The inhabitants of the commune are known as Luchonnais or
Luchonnaises.
The town has existed for more than 2,000 years. The presence
of a population has been attested since Neolithic times in the
Saint-Mamet Cave. The presence of Stone circles also attests to an ancient
occupation.
Thermal baths, Luchon, 1908
In 76 BC Pompey, returning from a policing expedition in
Spain (where he founded the city of Pamplona named after him), stopped in the
area and founded the new city of Lugdunum Convenarum where he brought together
the scattered Convènes tribe: this was the future Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges.
One of his soldiers who suffered from a skin disease
immersed himself in the thermal waters of Luchon and its "Onésiens"
baths where he discovered their thermal properties. After 21 days (the
traditional and still current duration of a cure) he came out completely
healed.
Aux Quinconces, 1897
After an initial decline during the last century, the
mineral baths of Luchon are gaining in popularity again. Luchon mineral water
has been marketed in recent years throughout France.
Arrival at the Luchon hospital, 1892
These vintage photographs are all from Luchon and come from
the Library of Toulouse.
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