Lavey-les-Bains

Origin of the name Lavey-les-Bains

Name origin: not explained by the sources consulted. The name combines that of Lavey, to which the locality belongs (see the Lavey page), with the thermal baths; no source consulted dates the first appearance of the form « Lavey-les-Bains ».

Founding of Lavey-les-Bains

Lavey-les-Bains is not a municipality: it is one of the four localities of the municipality of Lavey-Morcles, together with Lavey-Village, Eslex and Morcles. It owes its existence to the sulphurous thermal spring tapped in 1831 by Jean de Charpentier on the banks of the Rhône. A first bath hotel was built in 1836, and the Canton of Vaud leased the operation of the baths to several private companies in the 19th century. The locality thus developed around the thermal establishment.

History of Lavey-les-Bains

1829. According to one source, a trickle of hot water is discovered in the bed of the Rhône, the origin of spa activity at Lavey (date to be cross-checked: the other sources give 1831).

1831. The spring of Lavey-les-Bains, with sulphurous water of 62 to 69 degrees, is tapped by Jean de Charpentier; the spa itself attributes its discovery to a fisherman.

1833. The State acquires the land of the Grandes Îles and sets up temporary baths pending an architectural competition (to be cross-checked).

1836. Construction of the first hotel, a much simplified version of the design by the young architect Henri Fraisse, winner of the competition.

1842-1844. Construction of a chapel on the site of the baths.

1851. Following an earthquake, the water temperature rises.

1852. Merger of Lavey and Morcles: Lavey-les-Bains becomes one of the four localities of the municipality of Lavey-Morcles.

19th century. The Canton of Vaud leases the operation of the baths to several private companies; tourism then relies on family guesthouses (this mention concerns the whole municipality).

1883. Doctor Suchard introduces hot sand baths.

1885. Founding of the company « Bains de Lavey SA ».

1928. With the wealthy clientele gone after 1918, the facilities are taken over by the State.

1978. Opening of the first two pools, supplied thanks to a deep borehole.

1997. The 1836 building is entered in the cantonal heritage inventory.

1998-1999. The facilities are privatised again in 1998; the Eurothermes group takes over the establishment in 1999 and renovates it.

2004. Creation of a wellness area (treatments, massages, balneotherapy).

Historic sites in Lavey-les-Bains

Les Bains de Lavey. Thermal establishment supplied by the springs of Lavey, presented as the hottest thermal water in Switzerland (between 60 and 75 degrees). Taken over by the State in 1928 and privatised in 1998, it has been run by the Eurothermes group since 1999 and offers wellness baths and therapeutic cures.

Bath hotel of 1836. First bath hotel, a much simplified version of Henri Fraisse's ambitious design, entered in the cantonal heritage inventory in 1997.

Chapel of the baths. Chapel built in 1842-1844 on the site of the baths.

Sources

• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Lavey-Morcles »
• Wikipédia, « Lavey-les-Bains »
• Les Bains de Lavey, « Qui sommes-nous »
• Statistique Vaud, « Population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025 »
• geo.admin.ch, service de recherche de lieux (swisstopo)

Other villages near Lavey-les-Bains

• Morcles (VD)
• Lavey (VD)
• Bex (VD)
• Frenières-sur-Bex (VD)
• Fenalet-sur-Bex (VD)