Plombières-les-Bains

600 m² of conference space with natural daylight, Calodaé Spa, gourmet restaurant L`Orangerie (landmarked), Thermes Napoléon (landmarked) with statues on loan from the Louvre Museum in Paris, the pediment was sculpted by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi (renowned for designing the Statue of Liberty), 3-star hotel Prestige Impérial, 2-star art deco residence Le Beauséjour, and three additional residences with a total of 218 rooms and 2 suites. Founded more than 2000 years ago by the Romans, Plombières-les-Bains is a climatic spa resort in the Vosges department in northeastern France. It has seen many a heyday throughout the centuries, starting with the construction of the thermal baths according to instructions by Julius Caesar himself. During the Renaissance and up until the end of the 17th century, the town was further developed and its reputation grew and grew. Many well-known guests flocked to Plombières-les-Bains, such as e.g. Michel de Montaigne, one of the most influential writers of his time, who kept an excellent memory of his 1580 vacation. The 18th century was also marked by prosperity, when Plombières was very much en vogue and destination to the stars: Voltaire, Beaumarchais, the daughters of Louis XV were among the illustrious guests of the time. After the French Revolution, under the First Empire, it was one of Napoleon`s (and his family`s) favourite spa towns, especially his wife, Josephine Bonaparte, honoured Plombières with her frequent visits. Among the many notable personalities and artists who also succumbed to the town`s charms were Musset, Goya, Delacroix, Lamartine, Théophile Gautier and Hector Berlioz (who composed his opera The Trojans while on vacation in Plombières). At the time of the Second Empire, Napoleon III became enamoured of Plombières and endowed it with many exceptional buildings. Extensive construction works were undertaken in 1857: Napoleonic Thermal Baths, Grand Hôtel (Prestige Impérial), L`Orangerie Restaurant. The Roman Baths were discovered, restored and reopened, the Parc Impérial was created. In short, this charming town with a population of less than 2000 was bedecked with a particularly rich history and exceptional architectural masterpieces. According to Philippe Seguin, an expert on Napoleon, there are only two places in France that can pride themselves on having been marked by Napoleon III`s urbanisation work: Paris and Plombières-les-Bains.