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 and the current head of the Cercle Anglais in Paris, to oversee the new thermal spa. Vialatte, who acquired 100 of these shares, guaranteed an annual return of 10% and reserved a 20% share of the casino's annual profits for himself.
The total number of subscribers was 509. Of these, 300 subscribed for 20 shares, 100 for 10 shares, and 209 for a single share. Most subscribers were ordinary individuals without significant wealth, as the city's bourgeoisie, for reasons that remain unclear, chose to refrain from participating in the operation. In less than three months, the adjudication of the work was carried out, yet the files were not adequately prepared. On May 7, 1891, the Pateu company from Chaprais was awarded the casino contract, followed by the baths contract on May 26 of the same year. Finally, the hotel contract was awarded in the early autumn of 1892. Vialatte fulfilled his commitments, with all the architects being from the city. The bath plans were designed by and Louis Rouzet, the casino by Maurice Forien, and the plans for the grand hotel were created by and Boutterin once more. Additionally, the contributions of various other professionals were instrumental in the realization of the ambitious project. These included painters such as , , , Raoul Maurice Trémolières, and , as well as sculptors Jean-Antoine Injalbert and Just Becquet. Arthur Nicklès, a renowned pharmacist, played a pivotal role in developing the Guide du baigneur, while plans were also underway for the establishment of a dedicated tourist office.
Construction of the thermal complex
The construction of the buildings commenced in early August 1891 and was concluded in 1893. On February 16, 1892, the comprehensive blueprint for the prospective thermal establishment was exhibited in the Beaux-Arts window situated near the Granvelle Palace. Subsequently, on May 16 of the same year, the local newspaper Les Gaudes published an article about the Company, to substantiate the project's veracity and refute the most outlandish rumors that were pervasive at the time. However, the baths, which were less profitable than the casino, were ultimately deemed less essential and thus sacrificed in favor of the latter. This was because the Company lacked sufficient liquidity and began to incur debt, leading to a situation where everything was bet on the gaming tables. However, following the July 10, 1892, opening of the casino, enthusiasm for the baths in the Franche-Comté capital waned, particularly among the city's merchants, who disapproved of the extensive publicity surrounding the new establishment and the widespread printing of its name.
Following the laying of the foundation stone for the grand hotel, a further issue emerged. The imported materials, which were deemed to be of inferior quality by the Italian workers, prompted their discontent. These same workers were subsequently the subject of a contentious debate when 1,500 demonstrators assembled in front of the town hall on September 22, 1891, demanding the replacement of Italian workers with French workers. The popular and media outcry was significant, particularly when local press headlines included "Too many foreigners" and "Too many enemies being supported to the detriment of our compatriots." This led to the dismissal of these workers a few months later. The Italian workers were subsequently replaced by local labor. Historians have largely overlooked this episode. For example, 's comprehensive book entitled Mon Vieux Besançon, written between 1900 and 1912, which details the history of the Comtois capital and its inhabitants, does not refer to the new spa station. It may be surmised that the author regarded the new Besançon, with its associated turmoil around the baths, as somewhat vulgar and harmful.