Hot springs / Bains de Canaveilles
In the Têt valley, in the Canaveilles area (Pyrénées-Orientales) there are some natural thermal waters that come **directly from underground springs and mix with the river water.**
The water emerges hot (sulfurous or thermal) from a geothermal area and **forms in natural pools in the Têt bed.**
The temperatures usually range between 35°C and 42°C, depending on the pressure and how they mix with the cold water of the river.
Access is a short walk of about 10–15 minutes from the road (there is parking near the RN116 and then you have to go down to the river bed).
When the stream is carrying a lot of water or after rains, you have to cross the Têt to reach the thermal pools (this can be tricky if the river is very high).
What you will find there
These thermal waters are not spas with changing rooms or tourist infrastructure, but natural pools in the river:
pools of hot water formed by stone and pebbles,
places where you can sit or soak to relax your muscles,
a very wild and peaceful environment at the bottom of the gorges.
A bit of history
Historically, this area of the Têt has been known for its thermal waters since ancient times (even before Roman times). In the 19th century there were spas and thermal establishments, such as the one in Thuès‑les‑Bains nearby, which no longer operates as a spa today but is a reminder of when these waters were exploited on a large scale.
