Spa France: 

Most foreigners see France as a peaceful haven, where a certain art-de-vivre prevails in all fields. Beyond this inevitable cliché, the country comprises an authentic myriad of picturesque regions, each with its own character and set of traditions, mostly along the coastline. From Le Touquet to Menton, not an inch of the landscape recalls another, no beach is reminiscent of the previous one you visited, because of the country’s unbelievable variety of settings. France therefore boasts a natural diversity no other country can offer, from its Mediterranean creeks to the salt marshes of Britanny.
In reason of this much-praised diversity on its seaside, France has become the cradle of thalasso spa. A vivifying climate along the Channel, a toning one along the Atlantic Ocean and a soothing weather by the Mediterranean Sea ; each shore brings its benefits to your special needs. The story of thalassotherapy in France dates back to the time of sea baths during the 19th century. In those days it was a quite rudimentary practice, which simply consisted in bathing and breathing sea air.
The word “thalasso” was invented in France by 1890 but it took a long time to see this name appearing on a spa frontage. It mostly developed during the 20th century, progressively losing its curative sense to become a leisure activity.
Today, thalasso is closely associated to wellness and health tourism and has enjoyed ever-growing success. This is essentially due to people’s increasing hedonism, as well as better knowledge and increasing interest about health concerns and issues. Thalassotherapy and balneotherapy centres in France made the most of this new-found attraction for self-care, and there are about forty spa centres on the market, ready to fulfil your desires, needs and requirements.
Thalasso in France now starts to date back, and constitutes a genuine cultural legacy, as well as a peculiar specificity, which acquired its legitimacy over the past few centuries. The country’s know-how in this field was exported to other regions in the world such as Tunisia or Morocco, where other spa and thalasso institutes were built according to the French model.
With half of the thalasso centres of the world based on its territory, France has an unmatched experience in the field of thalasso cures, an asset strengthened by the diversity of its climates. Spa centres in France are subject to strict rules in order to guarantee the seriousness of this sector. Sea treatments and its by-products such as mud, algae or sand have to be provided under medical supervision. It is only under such conditions that a spa can bear the thalasso appellation.
There are groups specialized in thalasso / spa in France such as Accor Thalassa, Thalacap, Thalazur or Relais Thalasso. They offer several destinations in different regions with the same standard of quality and professionalism. There are also independent spas of high if not higher quality on the market as well. Just as in the hotel trade, a spa holiday can offer different quality standards, depending on the institutes, services and facilities. Thalasso centres tend to be commonplace when attached to 2 stars hotels; on the contrary a thalasso spa is inevitably luxurious, when part Relais & Châteaux hotel group, Leading Hotels of the World  hotel group or adjacent to other 4 and 5 star hotels. Spas and thalassos in Belle Ile en Mer, Port Crouesty, Bandol or Royal Thalasso La Baule are among the most famous centres in France.
A spa holiday in France will also give you the opportunity of exploring and discovering a region and its seaside: Normandy, Brittany, Pays de Loire, Poitou Charentes, Aquitaine, Languedoc Roussillon or Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur, and the set of breathtaking landscapes such regions imply. Indeed, thalassotherapy essentially aims at arousing your senses through the treatments it gives out, but may also tickle your interest when complemented by sport or cultural activities located in its vicinity.
Even though most hotels in the world invest in wellness and spa centres, France nonetheless remains an absolute must for a quality thalasso spa holiday. It initiated the whole trend and has unmatched experience when it comes to making the most of seawater and its beneficial virtues.