Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Chefs Aruss Lerlerstkull and Atcharaporn Kiatthanawat lean into regional traditions.
Charmgang
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
At Nai Mong Hoi Thod, the oyster omelet is worth waiting for.
Nai Mong Hoi Thod
In this deceptively simple dish, top-quality ingredients are paramount.
Kor Panich
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
5 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
6 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
7 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
8 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All France Risoul Plan de Phazy
AO Edited

Plan de Phazy

Since ancient times these picturesque springs have been providing bathers with healing waters.

Risoul, France

Added By
Eric Grundhauser
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Plan de Phazy   michel coiffard on Flickr
Plan de Phazy   michel coiffard on Flickr
Plan de Phazy   ludovic on Flickr
Plan de Phazy   ludovic on Flickr
July 2024   DMStephenson / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Tucked away in the French Alps, the Plan de Phazy springs and their supposedly healing waters have been catering to all those willing to make the trek since time immemorial. 

The earliest accounts of the springs date back to before the Roman Empire when the site was thought to be a holy place. The superstitions about the springs didn't end there either. By medieval times, the waters from the spring were being used as medicinal components due to the belief that they had healing powers. In fact the site is named after the nickname of the first recorded person to peddle the waters. By the early 1800s actual stone baths were built over the springs so that people could just come and relax in the restorative pools. An iconic round building known as "The Rotunda" was built over the source of the waters at this time which acted as a sort of spa. This building has been restored down the years and still sits on the site today.

Currently the hot springs are mainly a winter vacation destination with the two main stone pools sitting overlooking the beautiful French Alps. Some still claim that the minerals in the naturally heated water do have healing properties, but this could also just be the aftereffect of relaxing in one of the most beautiful mountain landscapes in the world.     

Related Tags

Hot Springs Geological Oddities Geology Water

Community Contributors

Added By

EricGrundhauser

Edited By

jpeerenboom, ghaia22, DMStephenson

  • jpeerenboom
  • ghaia22
  • DMStephenson

Published

December 12, 2014

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plan_de_Phazy
Plan de Phazy
Risoul, 05600
France
44.658294, 6.603706

Nearby Places

Petrified Fountain of Réotier

Réotier, France

miles away

Fort du Janus

Montgenèvre, France

miles away

Mont Cenis

Bessans, France

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of France

France

Europe

Places 692
Stories 72

Nearby Places

Petrified Fountain of Réotier

Réotier, France

miles away

Fort du Janus

Montgenèvre, France

miles away

Mont Cenis

Bessans, France

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of France

France

Europe

Places 692
Stories 72

Related Stories and Lists

21 Hot Springs to Escape Winter's Chill

List

By Jonathan Carey

Related Places

  • San Jacinto, Nicaragua

    Boiling Mud Pools of San Jacinto

    Volcanic activity causes small pools of super-heated mud to boil furiously.

  • The salt hill.

    Egerszalók, Hungary

    Salt Hill

    The massive white mound and accompanying water terraces are a striking geological oddity.

  • Sunlight from the dome’s opening plays on the surface of the spring water, reflecting on the rock face inside

    Midway, Utah

    Homestead Crater

    This geothermal hot spring hides beneath a slowly growing mineral dome.

  • Hot Creek Geological Site

    Mono County, California

    Hot Creek Geological Site

    This naturally heated mountainous creek has created a group of neon blue pools of potentially deadly boiling water.

  • Reykjadalur

    Hveragerði, Iceland

    Reykjadalur

    Iceland's "Smoky Valley" is a beautiful river that is shrouded in a constant cover of steam clouds.

  • Pumpkin Spring Pool

    Littlefield, Arizona

    Pumpkin Spring Pool

    An arsenic-filled pool in the Grand Canyon takes on the appearance of a giant, overflowing pumpkin.

  • A toxic-smelling steam rises from the mud.

    Iceland

    Námaskarð

    A sulfuric martian landscape that looks far better than it smells.

  • Deception Island

    Antarctica

    Deception Island

    An abandoned whaling station on an active volcano offers hot springs in Antarctica, surrounded by ruined giants of industry.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.