11 Mineral Waters you can trust in France 🇨🇵
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
France is one of the most popular travel destinations in Europe. There are many options, from the City of Lights, Paris, to glamorous Monaco and the sunny Côte d’Azur, home to towns like Nice and Cannes, to the idyllic Alpine regions inland. France offers a multitude of beautiful and interesting places.
The country is also renowned for its cuisine, wine, and lifestyle. Mineral waters also play a significant role in French culture. As a Water Sommelier, I put together a list of French mineral waters that I like.
Workers searching for oil discovered the water in 1923 in the Abatilles district of Arcachon. At a depth of 472 meters, they struck mineral water instead. After analyzing the water, they decided to build a spa at the spring. Soon after, the area became a health resort. The total mineral content is 372 mg per liter. Accordingly, it is low-mineralized.
Chateldon can be found on the tables of many large hotels and Michelin-starred restaurants. It originates from the Puy-de-DĂ´me region near Lyon. With 1,882 mg of total minerals per liter, Chateldon is highly mineralized and particularly rich in calcium, sodium, and bicarbonate. Even Louis XIV recognized its positive effects on digestion.
Orezza comes from Corsica, where it has filtered through mineral-rich rocks for centuries. Since 1856, people have been drinking this water for its digestive and revitalizing properties. It has a total mineral content of 516 mg per liter. It is particularly rich in calcium and bicarbonate.
Vichy Célestins was popular even during the Roman Empire. At that time, it was known as Aquis Calidis, meaning "warm water." It bubbles up from the rock of the same name at a constant temperature of 22°C. Napoleon III was also a regular visitor to the local thermal baths to treat his rheumatism. Vichy Célestins has a total mineral content of 3,325 mg per liter and is particularly rich in sodium (1,172 mg per liter) and bicarbonate (2,989 mg per liter).
Discovered in the Vosges Mountains in 1873, HĂ©par has been bottled since 1919. It has a total mineral content of 2,513 mg per liter. Due to its high sulfate content of 1,530 mg per liter, the website states that the water can be used to treat constipation. It is also rich in calcium (549 mg per liter) and magnesium (119 mg per liter).
As its name suggests, Ogeu Pyrénées hails from the Pyrenees. Like many other mineral waters, it also originates from thermal springs. In 1830, a thermal spa was built above the spring. With a total mineral content of 250 mg per liter) and low sodium content, OGEU is classified as low-mineralized water.
The La Sasse spring originates from the heart of the Mont Blanc Massif, specifically near Mont Joly in Megève. The "Source de la Sasse" spring lies at an elevation of 1,740 meters, making it a pure alpine spring. As the water flows through layers of shale, it is naturally filtered and gently enriched. With a total mineral content of 206 mg per liter, the artesian spring is low in minerals.
The Ă” Muse spring is located 800 meters above sea level within a protected area. The water contains 128 mg of minerals per liter. Incidentally, the name "Ă” Muse" dates back to 1715, when the great-great-grandfather of the current owner wrote a poem for a woman who would become his wife. The poem began with the words "Ă” Muse," thus beginning a tradition.
The Saint-Géron mineral spring, which bubbles naturally, is located in the Haute-Loire region. Julius Caesar made the water famous in the 16th century when he mentioned it in “The Gallic Wars”. The water has a total mineral content of 1,158 mg per liter. It is rich in magnesium (64 mg per liter), sodium (207.9 mg per liter), and bicarbonate (1,191 mg per liter).
808Â
The 808 Spring is named for its depth. Located 808 meters below the surface in the Pays d'Aix-en-Provence region, it is the deepest artesian spring in Europe. When the city was founded by Roman Consul Caius Sextius in the first century, these springs flowed at the foot of Mount Sainte-Victoire. The area was later celebrated by artists such as CĂ©zanne and Picasso. Its total mineral content is 244.8 mg per liter.
The Plancoët spring is located in Sassoy, in the Côtes d'Armor department of Brittany. The name "Sassoy" derives from the Latin "saxis aquae" and means "rock water." The Gallo-Romans recognized the benefits of the spring. Plancoët water has a total mineral content of 257 mg per liter. Therefore, it is considered a low-mineralized water.
Conclusion
France offers an extraordinary variety of mineral waters, each with its own unique characteristics. The range of options, from extremely light to highly mineralized, makes it clear that water can be used for different purposes depending on its mineral content.
Therefore, it’s worth making a conscious choice and exploring the options. Pick up three to five different mineral waters, taste them one by one, and find out which one is your favorite. You may be surprised.
With that said: Drink water, #stayhydrated
Best regards
Timo Bausch
Certified Water Sommelier
About SOMMCADEMY
Water is more than just a basic necessity. It represents taste, health, and experience. A new awareness is emerging: Drinking mindfully, recognizing differences, and truly understanding quality. As a certified Water Sommelier, I founded SOMMCADEMY to share the diversity and unique characteristics of mineral water with the world. With SOMMCADEMY, you can experience water in a whole new way, as a sensory journey that will make your event truly special / Timo Bausch Founder of SOMMCADEMY
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