Contrexéville offers several distinct highlights for your stay: thermal experiences, the Lacs de la Folie, routes for walkers and cyclists, and theaters and churches. Before you go, consider whether you’d prefer to spend your time at the thermal baths, enjoying activities on the water, exploring the routes or discovering the local culture. This will help you choose the activities that best suit your interests.

Thermal baths and activities on the water

The Thermes de Contrexéville offers hydrotherapy, beauty and slimming treatments for both stays and day visits. The Thermes spa features heated thermal water, a sauna, a hammam and outdoor whirlpools. When planning your visit, it’s worth considering treatments and spa facilities as separate offerings. Check the current availability of services and facilities before you arrive.

At the Lacs de la Folie, there is a free, supervised outdoor swimming area, open seasonally. Boat trips depart from a floating jetty. These are two distinct water-based activities: swimming in the outdoor pool and taking a boat trip. Check the current opening conditions for the swimming area and the availability of boat trips before your visit.

Routes between Contrexéville and Vittel

The Sentier des Lacs de Contrexéville au Parc de Vittel is secured, signposted and designed for walkers and cyclists. It connects the Lacs de la Folie in Contrexéville with the Parc Thermal de Vittel. A cycle path also leads from Contrexéville town center to the Lacs de la Folie. The stated endpoints can help you find your way: the cycle path connects the town center and the Lacs, while the Sentier connects the Lacs and the Parc Thermal de Vittel. This makes it easy to tell which of the two routes described is relevant to your plans, without assuming they share a route. Signposting and conditions may change, so check them before setting out.

Theater and church architecture

The casino houses a classical theater with 250 seats, whose design combines Neoclassical, Belle Époque and Art Nouveau elements. The theater hosts music events, plays and other events throughout the year. Individual dates may change. If a particular performance is important to your stay, check the current program.

Two historical details about Église Saint-Epvre are worth distinguishing: the present-day tower is the only surviving part of a Romanesque building dating from the second half of the 12th century. The church was added to the register of historic monuments in 1926. The surviving structure and its later historic designation therefore represent different chapters in its history.

The Orthodox Chapel is occasionally open during guided town tours organized by the tourist office and for liturgies. If you’d like to plan a visit, check the dates of these tours or liturgies and current visitor access in advance.

The activities also differ by season: the theater hosts events year-round, while the outdoor swimming area at the Lacs de la Folie is seasonal. If you’re visiting on specific dates, it’s worth checking the theater program and the swimming area’s opening conditions.

Discover more destinations: Martigny-Les-Bains, Vittel, Granges-Sur-Vologne, Domrémy-la-Pucelle, Saint-Dié-Des-Vosges, Sanchey, Taintrux, Lamarche.

For the broader travel guide: Vosges.