Pouhon, Spa, Liege, Belgium - A Famous Hot Spring

In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, it was very popular for royalty and members of the upper classes to frequent natural hot springs to rejuvenate themselves. As a result, the towns with natural springs all over Europe became resort towns, with grandiose bathing houses for their wealthy guests.

In Belgium, the source of the hot spring was called a Pouhon and arguably the most famous pouhon was the Pouhon Pierre Le Grand. The Russian Tsar, Peter the Great visited the town in 1717, and the pouhon was named after him. In the late nineteenth century, the building in the photochrom below was built on the site of the pouhon.

 

Pouhon, Spa, Liege, Belgium

by OldeWorldGifts

Vintage photomechanical print of a pouhon in Spa, Belgium, which was taken towards at the end of the 19th century. The photograph shows one of the most famous 'pouhons' otherwise known as a water well or water source. This pouhon is known as Pouhon Pierre Le Grand, which was named after the Russian Tsar Peter the Great who visited the town in 1717. The building where the well is situated dates from 1880. Photograph courtesy LOC LC-DIG-ppmsc-05720. Visit OldeWorldGifts to see the full range range of products available with the beautiful old photochrom