2. AR THROUGHIT
NUA/S
Is there a commodity more precious than crude oil, diamonds or gold?
Yes, says Rous ena MareIIa--D a us : pure mineral water at Evian Spa
vian mineral water comes from the rain narker bearing the name "1789 Source Cachat" can
and glacial snorv settling on the French be seen above the source at Evian-Les-Bains, where
Alps and is filtered through glacial local residents come to fill their jugs, free of charge.
sand. The journel'tlkes e minimum of The resort comprises two luxury hotels, Hotel
15 years, during ri'hich time rhe s-eier Ermitage, and Hotel Royal, the Evian Golf Masters
is purified, acquiring a delicate bll,:nce oi rrin.rais Golf ClLrb, and recreation facilities for children.
before it reaches the Cachat Spring in :h. io,.,.:.1 oi Both hotels are graced with sweeping views of the
Evian-Les-Bains and the bonling pl:l:. lake, manicured gardens and lawns, although they
The healing properrier of ri.ii.: ::,':: :l:- each exude a distinct charm and character. Since
Sainte Catherine spring s.ere discor .r.: :: i -::. its inauguration in 1909, the Hotel Royal has been
when the Marquis of Lessert. t hr. '....,. -,. ,.. , irequented by members of Europe's high society and
distinguished guests, including the Aga Khan. The
the spring during his regular n:l hotel has seen some dramas and transformations in
health improved, rvhich he cl;i:: its time, and today still retains an air of elegance and
"miraculous" rvater. Locll do;:. sense of tradition with its grand salons and period
it to their patients, and in 1S-:. features. The restaurant is equally luxurious, and
of Health gar e Crchat .ltcr- i:- dining here feels like a special occasion. In contrast to

3. TRAV E I,
its older sister, Hotel Ermitage has a more intimate,
contempofary setting. Vibrant colours, textures of
velvet, leather and contemporary art bring the style
up to date, although I rvas pleased they retained the
more traditior"ral revolving entrance door made of
darkwood, glass and polished brass handles. On a
cold winter's night, dining at the La Table restaurant
provides a cosy corne.r, '"vith just the right amount of
tables and a creative menu using seasonal, locally-
grorvn ingredients. Seize an1'opporrurrity ro enjol'a
meal or cocktail on the terrace in the sunshine.
The resort has three havens for: pampering
- Le Spa Quatre Terres at Hotel Ermitage, Spa
Evian Source at Hotel Royal, and Evian Les
Therrnes, in Evian-les-Bains. Le Spa Qu:rtre F u
Terre's signature ritual, Soin Complet du Corp
"Quatre Terres", starts lvith an exfoliating salt z.
scrub, followed by warm clay and volcanic
mud smothered all over the body. Mud
treatments can feel sticky and uncomfortable,
but worth enduring - after rinsing it off,
without exaggeration, my skin turned to silk.
A lovely ending is a gentle sleep-inducing
massage using basalt stone and aromatic oil.
The concept of purity permeates
throughout - from the minimalist white lobby
to the treatment rooms. Compared to most
spas rvhere the lights are dimmed and aromas
of oil pervade, this one is bright and airl',
sparse and bordering on clinical. lVith very
little idea lvhat my treatment involved, I rvas
ushered into a room to find a sporless white
tub filled rvith rvarm Evian rvater. For 25 minutes, I
lay blissfully as massage jets worked their way from
my feet to my shoulders, each area synchronised
with underrvater lights of magenta, cobalt blue,
green, orange and yellorv. The floating sensation was
amazing and I didn't want it ro end.
In between spa sessions, a trek along the
foothills of the French Alps and through the rvoods,
hamlets and farms rvas an energising exer:cise, rvith
a few stops to take in views of the valleys and hills
around the region and learn about healing her:bs
and flowers from our expert guide. This culminated
in a delightful alfresco lunch in a typical Alpine
restaurant, La F6tiudre in Bernex, Rh6ne-Alpes,
where rve tucked into typical French counrry delights,
such as fondue, scrumptious Beignets de Pomme de
Terre (potato fritters to you and me), crusty bread,
cured han-rs and salad.
It's tee time at the Evian Masters Golf Club F]EI) TO tiOi I
and its 6,064-metre track of technically challenging
contours and slopes, rvith only vielvs of Lake Geneva A four-night stay at the Hotel Ermitage on a B&B basis costs
and Alpine peaks to distract. The rvorld's top from €586 per person based on double occupancy, and ,l
professional female golfers come here to compete, includes one signature spa treatment per person. .l
but no pressure, though - many come to learn at the il
The Hotel Royal is closed until 28 February 20 I 3 and
training centre, play a round or practise their srving.
re-opens on Friday, I st March 20 I 3. A four-night stay at the
At the end of my journey, I came to appreciate
Hotel Royal on a B&B basis costs from €638 per person
that Evian Resort is not just about consuming
based on double occupancy, and includes one signature spa
copious amounts of spring water. It provides guests
treatment Per Person.
an opportunity to de-srress and kick-start a healthy
lifestyle. It also made me more discerning about'"vhat Evian Resort, BP 8, 7450 I Evian-Les-Bains, France
type of bottled rvater I drink. Pure and healthy is just +33 (0)4 50 26 85 00,www.evianresort.com
horv I like it. And I rnight even take up golf.