Thermalism, thalasso, balneo, aquatherapy, spa… Everyone knows that time spent in an establishment specializing in one of these disciplines will have a beneficial effect on both body and mind. But no-one has succeeded in clearly distinguishing them one from the other. For our purposes, thermalism can immediately be eliminated, as well-being is not one of its prime vocations. Therapies based on mineral waters are intended for skin disorders, ear, nose and throat complaints, rhumatology, problems with blood circulation and various kinds of traumatisms. Over the past 20 years, the 115 thermal spas in France have made real investment efforts to raise their offerings to a high level, some of them even creating amenities to cater for well-being. But the majority welcome patients rather than clients hoping to remedy the modern evil of stress and overwork.

Thalassotherapy is more appropriate, using the sea and its benefits for preventive treatments or cures. The climate, seawater, mud, seaweed and sand act jointly and positively on the organism. In these establishments, one can benefit, among other things, from seaweed therapy for its slimming virtues, the very tonic jet shower and frangotherapy, which consists of mud baths which are ideal in the battle against cellulitis and for toning up the skin. The Côte d’Azur has some worthy examples in the field. Hardly surprising : with 300 days of sunshine per year and a Mediterranean rich in iodine, zooplankton, trace elements and negative ions, the region attracts its fair share of thalasso fans. Balneotherapy proposes the same treatments but a different kind of water.

Aquatherapy is just another term for the same thing. Which leaves the spa, where one can indulge for a day or a week in an enchanting break from a frenetic life : a beneficial hiatus, cut off from the outside world. Today, there exists a real mythology around the spa : active women keep in shape, men at the peak of their years discover a second youth, the future or young Mum finds a way of coping with the changes occurring in her body, and fans of sport use well-being to complement their strenuous physical activities.

From the Latin sanitas per aqua – health through water -, the anglo-saxon version of the spa groups together within the same concept a fitness centre, beauty institute and jacuzzi. The whirlpool is the centrepiece : muscles relax, toxins disappear and the blood begins to circulate. Other recurring features of a spa are hammams, saunas and massages. These temples of well-being can be found in hotels with a certain level of prestige or in town  centres. They have recently adopted a more aggressive marketing stance, whence the need to ascertain each one’s real worth and effectiveness.

A diversified choice
A typical weekend on the Côte d’Azur : a round of golf, a restaurant which manages to meet the demands of both gastronomy and well-balanced nourishment, and a few hours at a spa or thalassotherapy centre… The most elegant address is renowned throughout Europe : Les Thermes Marins de Monte-Carlo. With its holistic approach to cures and treatments, this spa of 6,600 m2 overhanging the Med is entirely dedicated to marine therapies and relaxation. Fans appreciate the spearhead techniques (Taoist massages, for example) but also the sublime pool, cardio-training, solarium and the approach towards beauty. Also in the Principality one finds the Monte-Carlo Spa Mirabeau, where clients benefit from the expertise of the Thermes Marins in an intimate setting of oriental inspiration.

Well worth investigating, the top-quality massages : “Monte-Carlo”, administered with a sarong covering the entire body and ensuring real relaxation ; “Californien”, which achieves the same result by alternating pressure with a lighter massage ; “Sportif”, an in-depth massage which uses kneading, stretching and palpation to stimulate blood circulation ; and “Etoile”, which focusses on the extremities (head, hands and feet) to re-establish the balance of energy and stimulate the reflex zones. The Principality’s most recent address is the Monte-Carlo Spa Beach, whose originality lies in the treatment tents right on the beach.

Set back from the bustle of the coastal strip but with a plunging view of the deep blue sea, Thalazur Antibes underwent total refurbishment in 2002. It positions itself as a specialist in slimming and well-being through thalassotherapy, an excellent way of combating stress and improving the circulation of the blood, notably by means of hydrotherapy. Thalazur is also recommended for back complaints and problems that confront young Mums.

A bonus offered by hotels
Often part of a hotel complex, usually associated with a brand of cosmetics, the spa is an amenity which adds to the hotel’s success. This is true of the Mas Candille in Mougins. In keeping with Japanese tradition, Shiseido products and methods are used to focus on the body’s energy.

Hot towels and various fragrances help restore equilibrium between body and mind. Shiatsu pressure points are used to stimulate specific zones, oshibori (warm, damp strips of woven cotton) are applied, and aromacology helps regulate the flows of energy. Very Zen, the four treatment rooms benefit from a Japanese garden. Situated close to the greens, the Mas Candille proposes packages for golfers and is especially fond of the sport - as witnessed by a trophy and tournament of the same name, to be held in collaboration with the Mougins Country Club on the weekend of April 8th, 2006.

Energy control is also evoked at the centre at the Miramar Beach Hotel, situated on the Bay of Cannes facing the Lérins Islands. While this address owes its reputation to the excellent chef at the Etoile des Mers, Stéphane Raimbault, the spa comes well up to scratch. Ying yang philosophy is observed here, together with the importance of the five elements – wood, fire, earth, metal and water -, essential guides to the classification of esthetic problems. The products used come from the Swiss Phytobiodermie range, based on natural essences and essential oils.

Everyone’s heard of the spa at the Martinez. This illustrious hotel on the Croisette has treated itself to an elegant Espace Givenchy. A manufacturer of cosmetics which has long since won its stripes, Givenchy shares the limelight with the spa’s intelligent layout and the quality of the treatments that are dispensed. On the top floor of the hotel, sheltered by wooden screens, the solarium welcomes clients to its languourous atmosphere. In a setting designed in the same spirit as ZPlage, one can benefit from massages including Ylang-Ylang, a technique administered by four hands.

Hydromassage baths are also proposed, as well as access to the sauna and a comprehensive range of beauty treatments.
Le Mas de Pierre at Saint-Paul benefits from an enchanting site in the pure tradition of Provence. Well-being comes in the form of an immense, heated and musical pool, as well as a sauna and massages. Special mention must be made of the hammam with its Roman columns, bluish ambiance and star-studded sky, and the tastefully decorated treatment rooms.

Then off we go to Saint-Endréol, at the heart of one of the region’s most prestigious golf-courses, between Provence and the Côte d’Azur. After a round of 18 holes along the Endre at the foot of the Rock of Roquebrune, relaxation takes the shape of a magnificent spa of 2,000 m2. On the programme : a “bio” swimming channel, perfect for relaxing the muscles, a sauna with a view of the lovely site through big picture-windows, and the vaulted and illuminated hammam.

Between institute and spa
Slightly different from the addresses described above, the more intimate Centre Croisette in Cannes goes beyond the vocation of a simple beauty institute. You go along for several hours, the ideal opportunity to enjoy a hammam, among other things. While the steam bath dates back to the age of antiquity, its development really got underway in the 6th century A.D. when it was adopted by the prophet Mohammed. At the Centre Croisette, the treatment takes place in situ : black soap, bodyscrub with a kassa glove, a remarkable exfoliant, then a massage with perfumed oils.

Tea concludes this oriental experience, a real session of cocooning. By combining heat and humidity, the hammam stimulates blood circulation, relaxes the muscles and helps eliminate toxins. Its temperature rises to 40-50° whereas the sauna with its dry heat soars to 90°. The 2000 year-old sauna originated in Finland, and should in fact be alternated with a cold shower. In perfect accord with modern principles, the spa can be experienced “à la carte”, doesn’t require a great length of time and advocates natural virtues… Long reserved for an elite, it is now evolving to meet everyone’s needs.

ADDRESSES

Les Thermes Marins de Monte Carlo
Le Monte-Carlo Spa Mirabeau
Le Monte-Carlo Spa Beach
Contact: la Société des Bains de Mer  00 377 98 06 25 25.

Thalazur Antibes
La Fontonne, 770 chemin des Moyennes Bréguières,
06600 Antibes Juan-les-Pins
04 92 91 82 00.

Spa Givenchy - Hôtel Martinez
73 La Croisette, 06400 Cannes.
04 92 98 73 00.

Spa Shiseido - Mas Candille
4 boulevard Clément-Rebuffel 06250 Mougins.
04 92 28 43 43.

Miramar Beach Hôtel
47 avenue de Miramar, 06590 Théoule-sur-Mer.
04 93 75 01 28.

Le Mas de Pierre
Route des Serres
06570 Saint-Paul-de-Vence.
04 93 59 00 10.

Les Domaines de Saint-Endréol Golf & Spa Resort
Route de Bagnols-en-Forêt 83920 La Motte-en-Provence.
04 94 51 89 93.

Le Centre
25 rue des Etats-Unis 06400 Cannes
04 93 38 21 10.