Balneario de Lanjarón
Lanjarón is famous in Spain and abroad for its drinking water, bottled and sold nationwide. The Spa is one of the best known in Andalucia thanks to the successful marketing of its drinking water. It has five natural springs of medicinal waters and is often referred to as the 'Fountain of Health'. The water originates from the Sierra Nevada (Snow Mountains) and the town is often referred to as the main gateway to the 'Alpujarra' mountains, which back on to the Sierra Nevada ski station.
The Spa is in the centre of the town of Lanjarón, which is 43 kilometers from Granada. It is 500 meters above sea level. The climate is fresh in summer, with temperatures rarely going above 28ºC and winters are generally mild, with minimum temperatures of around 12ºC.
The properties of the waters include: sodium/calcium, bicarbonates, diuretic, digestive and iron.
Therapies offered for: digestive system, rheumatism, respiratory problems, stress and nervous system.
Treatments on offer: Drinking water, Jacuzzi baths, underwater massage, jet and circular sprays, inhalation, steam, mud baths, massage, reflexology, electrotherapy and lymphatic drainage.
There are numerous hotels and hostels in the village of Langaron. The Spa has a large ballroom and magnificent chandeliers which testify to the importance of the Spa in a bygone age.
The spa is open from March to December.
Tel: + (34) 958 770 454
History of the Balneario
From the mid-nineteenth century onwards, the therapeutic properties of water would significantly alter the appearance of the town and the lifestyle of its inhabitants. By the end of the century, there were numerous affordable accommodation options in private homes and rooms for modest families, as well as three inns (La Granadina, San Rafael and Reguera), which were classified according to travellers' preferences and experiences. From the 1920s onwards, the Lanjarón spa experienced its most glorious era. Driven by important reforms, new hotels were built, radically modernising the local offering and giving the town the appearance of a large tourist centre.
The construction boom of that decade filled the space between the town centre and the spa, creating a hotel strip that was unique and on a par with a new town. During the Primo de Rivera dictatorship and the Second Republic, Lanjarón became the most important summer resort in Granada, attracting the crème de la crème of the petite bourgeoisie; the spa had firmly established itself as the main attraction for visitors, creating a source of wealth and seasonal employment that supported many local economies.
However, the Spanish Civil War and the long post-war period tragically interrupted this tourist trajectory and the peaceful world built around the waters. There was also a change of ownership and management of the spa. Following its purchase in 1947 by Granada businessman Manuel Gallardo A new era began with Torrens, characterised by the growing consideration of water as a commodity for domestic consumption. This gave rise to a new productive and commercial activity: the bottling of mineral water.
The reactivation of the spa as a tourist centre during the process of modernisation promoted an influx of visitors. The number of visitors rose to 4,559 in 1950 and experienced constant growth throughout the decade, reaching over 7,000 in 1960. Today, the Lanjarón Spa offers remodelled services and new approaches to the management of tourism and spa activities. Thirty-two springs have now been discovered, although only five are under the control of the centre’s management, as the rest are considered fit for drinking only. The properties of the five springs that are marketed are extremely varied. It is located on Avenida de Madrid.
Capuchina Spring: Chlorinated, bicarbonated and sodium-calcium. It is used for digestive problems.
Capilla Spring: Chlorinated, bicarbonated and ferruginous. It activates the hepatic muscular system and is ideal for diabetics and people with high cholesterol.
San Vicente Spring: Bicarbonated-calcium. It helps overcome kidney deficiencies, reduces blood pressure and promotes weight loss.
Salud Spring: Chlorinated sodium-calcium bicarbonate. It is ideal for facilitating digestion.
El Salado Spring: Chlorinated sodium-calcium, ferruginous magnesium (strongly mineralised). It is used for thermal baths. It comes out at an average temperature of 27º C. It has anti-inflammatory properties and eliminates stress, fatigue, helps with respiratory problems and greatly attenuates the effects of osteoarthritis.