Leukerbad thermal springs

Leukerbad – 500 Years of Thermal Bathing Culture

In the heart of the sun-bathed Valais Alps

For over 500 years, Leukerbad has been a place of healing, relaxation and renewal. At the heart of this unique spa tradition lies its thermal water – a rare gift of nature, treasured for centuries.

Our Thermal Water

Formation time: 40 years – directly from the depths of the Earth –
fresh every day and highly mineralised, for centuries.

The thermal water of Leukerbad has a formation time of approximately 40 years. Rainwater and melting snow that seep into the ground between the Majinghorn and the Torrenthorn at an altitude of over 2,300 meters require at least four decades before resurfacing as warm, mineral-rich thermal water – reaching temperatures of up to 51 °C, emerging from one of the 65 thermal springs in Leukerbad.

When you consider the price of a 40-year-old whisky, you will appreciate this thermal water even more.

On its journey, the water penetrates steep rock fissures to depths of up to three kilometres, far below sea level. Along the way, it becomes enriched with valuable minerals, particularly calcium and sulphate. The heat of the Earth’s interior not only warms the water but also ensures that more than 4 million litres are pushed back to the surface every day by geothermal forces.

The Bristol Spring – Small, Refined and Reliable

Our Bristol Spring supplies us daily with fresh thermal spring water. With a flow rate of 50 liters per minute and a constant temperature of 31 °C, it may be modest in size, but it is exceptionally reliable and consistent.

Just 200 meters below Hotel Le Bristol, the thermal water is captured in a discreet surface shaft and pumped directly into our thermal pools every 15 minutes using a high-performance pump. A precious natural product – always fresh, pleasantly warm and drawn directly from the unexplored depths of the Earth.

A Clever Farmer?

According to legend, the former owner of Hotel Le Bristol once asked a local farmer whether he could purchase the simple meadow located below the hotel. The land was constantly damp and difficult to cultivate. The farmer was puzzled by the interest, but ultimately pleased to sell the perpetually wet meadow for a few francs.

What the farmer did not know: in winter, mysterious clouds of steam rose from the ground. The shrewd hotelier suspected a warm spring beneath the surface – knowledge he kept to himself until the purchase was finalised.

Triple Use of Thermal Water

• Bathing water – for relaxation, health and well-being

• Energy production – residual heat is fed into the local district heating network

• Hydropower – after releasing its heat, the water flows into the Dala River and is used to generate electricity in Leuk
  
  

Thermal Springs Walkway – Nature Up Close

Along the Thermal Springs Walkway, rust-brown discolorations appear on the rock where iron-rich thermal water emerges from narrow fissures. In the Dala River, icy glacier water mixes with warm thermal water.

A special attraction is the small pulley system with a bucket, allowing visitors to draw warm thermal water directly from a spring just above the riverbed. Another highlight is the 21-metre-long suspension bridge, which leads to a waterfall plunging 30 meters into a wild gorge. With a bit of luck, sunlight reveals a shimmering rainbow in the fine water spray.

Medical Benefits & Relaxation

The beneficial effects of thermal water are based on three key factors:

Thermal Effect
The warmth relaxes muscles, increases the elasticity of connective tissue and improves joint mobility – particularly valuable for arthritic conditions.

Mechanical Effect
Thanks to buoyancy, the body carries less than 10% of its actual weight in water. Movements become easier, joint-friendly and deeply relaxing.

Chemical Effect
While bathing, the skin exchanges substances with the water and absorbs beneficial ions. The calcium- and sulphate-rich minerals are especially suitable for alleviating rheumatological and neurological conditions.

Digital Detox
Thermal water is a proven stress reliever – offering peace, deceleration and deep mental relaxation.

Thermal Springs Guild of Leukerbad

Guardians of the Warm Springs

The Thermal Springs Guild was founded on 3 March 2003 at 3:03 pm, during the UN Year of Water. Today, it consists of 7 council members and approximately 300 guild members.

Purpose of the Guild

• Collection and archiving of all information on the thermal springs

• Providing public access to selected springs

• Preservation and sustainable use of the thermal springs

• Promotion of their medical, cultural, scientific and historical significance

• Fostering camaraderie and social connection

Guild Days & Membership

• Annual Guild Assembly: every third Saturday of the year

• Guild Excursion: in spring or autumn

• New members welcome!

More information: www.thermalquellenzunft.ch

Completed Projects of the Guild

• 2003: Opening of the Thermal Springs Trail with 8 information stations

• 2004: Opening of the Thermal Springs Walkway (open May to October)

• 2012: Book Thermal Baths in Valais – The Power from the Mountain (Dr Louis Largo / Peter Salzmann)

• 2015: Restoration of the 1867 footbath spring, made visible and accessible

• 2017: Capturing of the 38 °C spring in a stone basin – thermal water pulley in the Dala Gorge (150 volunteer work hours)

• 2019: Installation of a visitor counter at the walkway entrance (approx. 45,000 visitors per year)

• 2023: 20th anniversary of the Thermal Springs Guild of Leukerbad