Besançon-les-Bains

Besançon-les-BainsThe name Besançon-les-Bains was not an official toponym (so the town was still officially called Besançon). was a former thermal establishment in Besançon during the 19th century. The term "Besançon-les-Bains" is also employed to denote a period during which Besançon was economically oriented towards tourism and thermal spa activities, which enjoyed considerable popularity during the nineteenth century.

In 1891, the ''Compagnie des Bains salins de la Mouillère'' was established, marking the beginning of tourism development around the ''Besançon-les-Bains'' attraction. This led to the construction of several notable establishments, including a thermal spa, the Hôtel des Bains, a casino, the , and the opening of a tourist office in May 1896.

From Miserey to Besançon

The Franche-Comté region's unique hydrographic and geological history make it an ideal setting for the discovery of elements that can be harnessed for the development of thermal spa treatments, particularly salt deposits. Approximately 200 million years ago, a vast body of water covered an extensive area that spanned from Switzerland to Burgundy and from the Saône Valley to the Rhône Valley. This region is historically and geographically significant, and is often referred to as the " Salt Route." As a result of global warming, the sea evaporated, leaving behind a thick layer of rock salt. This salt was subsequently penetrated by underground streams through geological folds, resulting in the production of resurgent waters enriched with trace elements, which are beneficial for the body. These waters were first exploited during antiquity but were subsequently forgotten. However, they regained interest in Europe during the Belle Époque, a period characterized by a fashionable inclination towards "taking the waters", or indulging in the benefits of thermal treatments.

During the summer of 1866, mining engineer Boyer and his successor Résal were engaged in a routine survey of the village of Miserey near Besançon when they observed a collection of plants in the vicinity of a spring that exhibited a distinctive morphology, not characteristic of the surrounding flora. These plants bore a striking resemblance to seaweed. The two men proceeded to conduct analyses and drilling operations to ascertain the saline properties of the water and its potential suitability for the establishment of a thermal spa business, a popular enterprise at the time. However, following unsuccessful results and due to the reluctance of the landowner where the spring was located, who refused to sell his property, Boyer and Résal were compelled to search for alternative locations in the village that might meet their criteria. In 1868, two years after the initial investigations, they identified a site 250 meters from the spring containing a 55-meter-thick salt deposit, whose owner was more amenable.

The Miserey area proved to be an exceptional deposit, containing a vast salt layer that gave rise to strong chlorinated sodium saline waters and iodo-brominated waters, among the best in Europe. These waters are 27 times more active than seawater and contain 291 grams of sodium chloride per liter of water, as well as approximately 323 grams of saline elements per liter of water, including 2.25 grams of bromide and potassium. These characteristics rival the waters of Germany, Austria, or Switzerland, which are known to be the best on the continent. The city of Besançon, situated a mere six kilometers from the village, offers the tranquility of a medium-sized town, coupled with an exceptional climate, architectural heritage, and quality of life. Furthermore, the region boasts above-average medical care, with one practitioner serving approximately 744 inhabitants, as well as numerous pharmacists and dentists. The location and timing appear optimal for the establishment of a thermal spa in the capital of the Franche-Comté region. A new figure has emerged. Achille Vialatte, a Parisian who claims to have previously served as a director of a thermal spa and who maintains cordial relations with the municipal authorities of Besançon, is motivated by the prospect of financial gain. This represents a significant opportunity for him, as well as for Boyer and Résal, to reach an agreement regarding the establishment of a thermal spa company in Besançon.

From project to conception

The three men undertook the task of identifying a suitable location for the construction of new facilities to accommodate the future Besançon-les-Bains thermal establishment. The land close to the was unsuitable for construction purposes, as it was under the ownership of the military, who were reluctant to relinquish it. The historic center was swiftly eliminated as an option due to its limited spatial capacity. The Montrapon-Fontaine-Écu area was deemed unsuitable due to its distance from the city center. Chamars was similarly excluded due to its proximity to slaughterhouses and a dynamite factory. The Mouillère site, however, proved to be the subject of considerable interest. On August 24, 1890, Vialatte delivered an impassioned discourse on the merits of the proposed site. "Beyond the road, the verdant meadows and majestic trees of Micaud, the meandering currents of the Doubs and the elevated grounds of the Roman citadel, with its rugged cliffs and the elevated grounds of Bregille with its pure and beneficial spring, its vineyards, its alluring villas, its watercress beds; to the right, the verdant expanses of Chaprais speckled with crimson rooftops, and the shady woodlands of the glacis, a true English park."

Subsequently, a collective of men conceptualized the establishment of a thermal facility, a gaming venue, and a lodging establishment, collectively encompassing a two-hectare area, with the integration of verdant gardens. However, by November 1890, the project underwent a significant reduction in scope. On December 10 of the same year, Achille Vialatte was subjected to a series of attacks. "The challenge of procuring the requisite parcels for the project compels him to adopt a more pragmatic approach in conceptualizing the future spa." Concurrently, the projected costs escalated dramatically, from an initial estimate of one million francs in August 1890 to nearly two million in September of the same year. The cost of materials and construction services exhibited considerable variability, with estimates varying by up to 300% from one another. In February 1892, the total cost of the thermal complex was established at 1,623,354 gold francs. Vialatte employed a variety of strategies to limit costs, including securing the donation of the inaugural source of thermal water from the commune of Miserey, obtaining a 150,000 franc subsidy from the city of Besançon, and negotiating the provision of free fresh water for ten years.

In return, Achille Vialatte consented to the appointment of local architects for the construction of the buildings, the reservation of at least six cabins for indigent individuals, the inclusion of a medical office within the establishment, and the donation of ten percent of the profits to the city's welfare office. In November 1890, 1,800 shares were made available for purchase, and on December 23 of the same year, the subscription period concluded with the sale of 1,130 shares. The majority of administrators involved in the casino and baths, including Vialatte, Forie, Pateu, Sandoz, Delavelle, and Savoye, were aware from the outset that the thermal complex would require a significant degree of attention to ensure its success. They recognized the necessity of positioning it as the new flagship location of the city. Significant emphasis was placed on advertising, even hiring Mr. Dusso, the former administrator of the Villa des Fleurs in Aix-les-Bains