Bagnoles-de-L'Orne, a spa town

Bagnoles-de-L'Orne (pop. 2,000) is a spa town located a little less than an hour's drive west of Alençon in lower Normandy. zit's the largest spa in western France, according to the Michelin Green guidebook for Normandy). People go there to "take the waters" for circulatory disorders and as a preventive treatment against varicose veins. Bagnoles is a good place to take a walk and just admire the beautiful landsapes, the lake, and the grand houses all around the town.

According to a local legend, in the Middle Ages a prominent man named Hugues de Tessé, upon arriving in the forest surrounding the town of Bagnoles, realized that his horse was suffering and didn't have long to live. He decided to abandon the horse in the forest, and continued his journey on foot.

A few hours later, the horse caught up with him and seemed to be in much better health than when he was abandoned. The horse, which he called Rapide, guided Hugues to the natural hotspring where he had found water to drink. The cure was like some kind of miracle. Hugues drank from the spring and was likewise rejuvenated. The reputation of the waters at Bagnoles was born.