Tuscany thermal baths: Terme di Bagni di Lucca
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Important: The Terme di Bagni di Lucca (Stabilimento Jean Varraud) have been closed since 2021 (as of October 2026). The municipality is seeking a new operator through a public tender; a reopening date has not yet been set. A visit to this historic spa town in the Serchio Valley is still worthwhile.
Terme di Bagni di Lucca at a glance
- Status: Closed since 2021 – tender for renovation and operation is underway (as of October 2026)
- Location: Bagni Caldi district, Bagni di Lucca, Province of Lucca, in the Lima Valley
- Water: Several springs with temperatures of approximately 37 to 54 °C; the natural steam grottoes are famous.
- Free: no freely accessible thermal pools
- Ownership: Municipality of Bagni di Lucca
History of the baths of Bagni di Lucca
Die warmen Quellen wurden schon in der Antike genutzt. Ihre Blütezeit erlebten die Bäder im 19. Jahrhundert: Elisa Bonaparte Baciocchi, Napoleons Schwester und Fürstin von Lucca, ließ den Kurort ab 1805 ausbauen, und Dichter wie Byron, Shelley und Heinrich Heine kamen zur Kur. Englische Gäste nannten das grüne Tal „Schweiz der Toskana“ und bauten eine eigene anglikanische Kirche. Das Stabilimento Jean Varraud in Bagni Caldi mit seinen Dampfgrotten und rund 54 °C heißem Wasser war bis zur Schließung das wichtigste Thermalhaus.
What will happen to the thermal baths?
In 2026, the municipality launched a project for the renovation and management of the thermal baths as part of a public-private partnership; the tender was published in September 2026. Whether and when the thermal baths will reopen is still uncertain – we will update this page as soon as there is any news.
Alternatives nearby
Those looking for a thermal spa in the area will find open alternatives in the province of Pistoia :
- Montecatini Terme – historic spa town with drinking cures and treatments
- The Giusti cave in Monsummano Terme with thermal grotto and outdoor pool
- You can find more thermal baths, including free springs, in our Overview of thermal baths in Tuscany
Visit Bagni di Lucca
Bagni di Lucca lies about a half-hour drive north of Lucca in the wooded Lima Valley, where the Lima River flows into the Serchio River. The town is ideal for strolls past the villas and hotels from the spa era, as well as for hiking and canoeing on the Lima. On the way from Lucca, in Borgo a Mozzano, you'll find the medieval Devil's Bridge (Ponte della Maddalena). Read more about the region under Province of Lucca.
Find accommodation
You can find accommodation in Bagni di Lucca at Booking.com (Bagni di Lucca).
Find accommodation in Bagni di Lucca
Frequently asked questions about the thermal baths of Bagni di Lucca
Are the thermal baths in Bagni di Lucca open?
No. The Jean Varraud thermal baths in Bagni Caldi have been closed since 2021. The municipality launched a tender for renovation and operation in 2026; an opening date has not yet been set.
How warm are the springs in Bagni di Lucca?
The springs have temperatures ranging from approximately 37 to 54 °C, depending on the point of emergence. The hottest water is found in the Stabilimento Jean Varraud, with its natural steam grottoes.
Are there any free thermal pools in Bagni di Lucca?
No, there are no freely accessible thermal pools there.
Which thermal baths nearby are open?
In the province of Pistoia, Montecatini Terme and the Grotta Giusti in Monsummano Terme are open.
