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Spa cure in Royat-Chamalières: indications, organisation and accommodation

Published 31 October 2026

The Thermes de Royat, on place Allard, on the edge of Clermont-Ferrand, welcome spa patients for rheumatology and cardio-arterial conditions. A cure covered by the French health system lasts 18 days of treatment, and the 2026 season ends on 7 November. Here is how to prepare your stay: indications, paperwork, getting around and accommodation.

For which conditions?

Royat is approved for two therapeutic areas:

• Rheumatology (RH): osteoarthritis, arthritis, lower back pain, fibromyalgia.
• Cardio-arterial conditions (MCA): peripheral arterial disease of the lower limbs, Raynaud's phenomenon, arteriovenous ulcers.

The resort's special feature is its thermal gas, made up of more than 99% carbon dioxide. It is used in carbon dioxide therapy for its vasodilating and pain-relieving effects. The water emerges at a temperature of 28 to 34 °C.

It is possible to follow a dual programme: you then receive about 6 treatments a day instead of 4, or 108 treatments in total compared with 72 for a single cure.

An 18-day cure: how it works

The covered cure includes 18 days of actual treatment. Treatments follow one another over part of the day, leaving you free time to rest, walk or sightsee. An interrupted cure is in principle not reimbursed, except for medical reasons or force majeure: so plan on a stay of about three weeks.

If you do not have three weeks, the Thermes also offer mini-cures of 6 to 12 days, focused on a specific problem (osteoarthritis of the hands or back, fibromyalgia, arterial disease, Raynaud's). These are not part of the covered cure scheme. Right next door, the Royatonic thermal spa offers hot baths and wellness treatments, with no prescription needed.

Paperwork and cover

1. The prescription: your doctor prescribes the cure and specifies the therapeutic area.
2. Approval from your health insurance fund: once approved, the Assurance Maladie sends you the administrative cover form, to be presented at the Thermes.
3. Booking: book your dates directly with the Thermes de Royat, online, by phone or in person.
4. The spa doctor: choose one in the resort; they will follow you throughout the cure.

At present, the Assurance Maladie reimburses the medical supervision fee at 70% and the thermal treatment fee at 65%. Subject to income conditions, part of the travel and accommodation costs may also be covered. Your top-up insurance (mutuelle) may cover the rest. Cover rules can change: check them with your health insurance fund before booking.

Season dates

The 2026 season opened on 13 April and ends on 7 November 2026. Bookings for 2027 are open. The announced dates, from 5 April to 30 October 2027, should be confirmed directly with the Thermes. Book early, for both the cure and the accommodation.

Getting to the Thermes without a car

The Thermes are at the terminus of line B of the T2C bus network, at the "Royat Place Allard" stop. This line links the airport, the SNCF railway station, central Clermont (Jaude stop) and Chamalières, with a bus every 6 to 10 minutes according to the line B timetable. So you can stay in Clermont and get to your treatments every day without using the car.

If you are arriving by train, our article Getting to Clermont-Ferrand by train or plane covers the connections.

Where to stay for three weeks

For a cure, a flat with a kitchen makes daily life much easier: you keep your usual eating habits and have room to rest.

• In Chamalières, near Royat: the Le Tonic flat (2 guests, balcony, lift, parking space) is in a residential area between the centre of Chamalières and the outskirts of Royat. It is among our properties around Clermont.
• In central Clermont, on line B: the Résidence Jaude, on avenue des États-Unis, is a few steps from place de Jaude and the line B stop. Handy if you are coming with someone and want to enjoy the city.

All our properties can be booked from one night, with cleaning and linen included. For a stay of several weeks, write to us: our long stays page explains how to get a proposal tailored to your dates, and our frequently asked questions cover the practical points.