The Hôtel Royal in the town of Évian-les-Bains in France on the shores of Lake Geneva at the foot of the Alps, draws on its natural surroundings – water, plant life, and mountains – to offer a serene setting for visitors. After a year of renovation, the hotel unveiled a new wellness area to merge long-standing traditions with the latest trends.  

While the evian®SPA concept first launched in 2012, this is the first location in Europe. (There are five evian®SPA destinations around the world.) Of course, central to evian® spas is the concept that water is central to well-being, providing the hydration needed for good health.  

evian®SPA at The Hôtel Royal provides its visitors with a comprehensive immersive experience with six individual treatment rooms and two couples treatment rooms featuring nature views, both through the windows and photographs of the Alpine landscape. 

We interviewed Amanda Deloncle, Spa Manager, to learn more about this unique nature-inspired spa focused on the benefits of water. 

Why you’ll love it: The most memorable aspects of evian®SPA at Hôtel Royal are the new facilities, as well as the care provided for each guest, so that they can depart with an unforgettable and lasting experience.

Key features: A new personalized, all-round wellness experience in an immersive 1,700m² space, based around a unique concept inspired by the life cycle of evian® natural mineral water. This includes ten treatment rooms, two relaxation rooms, one fully equipped gym, one personal training room, one indoor pool, one indoor jacuzzi, one snow cave, one steam room, one sauna, one outdoor hydro-contact area, one cold plunge.

Insider tip: The evian®SPA at Hôtel Royal is the first and only in Europe. For our guests who reserve treatments, they are invited into our immersive water experience cycle before their treatments. The inspiration behind the concept is closely linked to the journey taken by evian® water, as it takes fifteen years to travel through the Alps, before finally emerging at the surface, pure and clear. After each treatment, every guest is invited into our Aga Khan relaxation room for time to wind down in a calm atmosphere.

Spa snacks: We serve dried fruit and nuts, evian water, and a variety of herbal teas from the French brand, Chic des Plantes.

Unique treatment: The most unique treatment is “Le Minéral.” This 100-minute treatment consists of a body massage with talc. The experience begins with a bath and foot scrub using a pumice stone and via a series of motions, muscle kneading and stretching, the body regains balance and joint pain is soothed. This type of treatment using talc is truly unique and rare to find elsewhere.

Wellness offerings: We offer Pilates, yoga, and yoga paddle in our outdoor pool with a view of Lake Geneva. For those looking for additional wellness activities, our Sport & Culture department at Hôtel Royal can offer in-spa activities such as freediving with an expert in our indoor pool, which relaxes the senses, reduces stress, improves breathing, and boosts endurance.

Featured brands: La Vallée, Bonpoint and Chic des Plantes.

Keep up with the latest from Hôtel Royal and evian®SPA by following @hotelroyalevian and @evian_resort on Instagram. 

A University of Michigan graduate, Lizzy Sherman is an award-winning writer/editor. Her work has appeared in publications including Beauty Launchpad, Nailpro, DAYSPA, CNET, Entertainment Tonight, and more. She has been a featured guest speaker at Cal State University Northridge, Digital LA, and The National Association of Audience Marketing Professionals. When she's not writing, Lizzy enjoys yoga and playing guitar. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter: @zillizy,