Long before anyone thought of hurtling down the hillsides strapped to a pair of wooden planks, Le Mont-Dore was frequented for its hot springs, which bubble out between 37°C and 40°C. The first bathers were the cleanliness-obsessed Romans – you can still see traces of their original baths. In addition to treatments, in low season you can visit the 19th-century neo-Byzantine building on a 45-minute, French-language guided tour (adult/child €3.50/2.50; 2pm & 3pm Mon-Fri).
