In brief
- Three addresses with a real spa in the Hautes-Vosges, between Ventron and Gérardmer.
- The big news: Domaine de Montagne · Chalet Frère Joseph has become the department’s first five-star hotel, less than six months after opening in January 2025.
- The largest: its 900 m² FORêT spa, featuring an 18-metre indoor infinity pool and two outdoor pools facing the mountain.
- The most complete in town: Grand Hôtel & Spa in Gérardmer, with two indoor pools, one outdoor pool, and five themed treatment rooms.
- The most deeply rooted: Les Bas Rupts, a Relais & Châteaux run by the same family for five generations, at an altitude of 800 metres.
The Vosges have long been the mountains of farmhouse-inns and lakes, rarely associated with grand spas. That changed in 2025, when a chalet in Ventron secured the department’s very first five-star rating. The mountain range now boasts addresses that easily rival the Alps, with one advantage the Alps cannot match: they can be reached in three hours from Paris, and you won’t encounter the crowds of Chamonix. Here are three properties, verified one by one.
1. Domaine de Montagne · Chalet Frère Joseph, in Ventron: the first five-star hotel in the Vosges
It is the region’s big hospitality story: opened in January 2025, Chalet Frère Joseph secured its fifth star in less than six months, becoming the first establishment of this rank in the Vosges. It occupies the site of the Ermitage Frère Joseph, a resort created in 1922, in a preserved mid-mountain environment.
The 900 m² FORêT spa is where the real difference lies. It features an 18-metre indoor infinity pool with a shallow lounging area, two outdoor balneotherapy pools (including an infinity pool facing the peaks), saunas, a hammam, an ice fountain, sensory showers, a relaxation room with a fireplace, and a fitness area. Treatments carry two signatures: FORÊT l’effet Vosges and Gemology.
The property features 27 rooms and suites, including a panoramic suite. On the dining front, Le M was awarded a Michelin star in the 2026 Guide under the direction of Michelin-starred chef Benoît Potdevin, assisted on-site by Maximilian Troebs, while Le Comptoir de Montagne offers a more generous bistronomic cuisine.
- Address
- Ventron, Hautes-Vosges
- Book
- domainedemontagne.com · official website
- The spa
- FORêT Spa, 900 m² · 18m indoor infinity pool with shallow lounging area · 2 outdoor balneotherapy pools · saunas, hammam, ice fountain, sensory showers · FORÊT l’effet Vosges and Gemology treatments
- Category
- 5 stars · 27 rooms and suites · first 5-star hotel in the department
- Dining
- Le M, 1 Michelin star 2026 · chef Benoît Potdevin · Le Comptoir de Montagne
- Access
- Ventron, 20 mins from Gérardmer
2. Grand Hôtel & Spa, in Gérardmer: three pools by the lake
This is the grand dame of Gérardmer, and the only one in this selection located right in the town centre, on Place du Tilleul, just a stone’s throw from the lake. It features 76 rooms including 14 suites and junior suites, complemented by a Belle Époque-style chalet.
Its main draw is aquatic: two indoor pools and one outdoor pool, a unique feature in the mountain range. The Les Chênes Blancs spa offers five themed treatment rooms, including a 36 m² double room, and remains open to day guests, meaning you can visit without staying overnight.
The dining options are the most extensive in this selection, with three restaurants: Le Pavillon P, a gourmet restaurant led by Thierry Longo, Maître Cuisinier de France, and Patrice Paya; Le Grand Cerf for traditional cuisine; and L’Assiette du Coq à l’Âne for regional specialities. The hotel is open year-round and is pet-friendly.
- Address
- Place du Tilleul, 88400 Gérardmer
- Telephone
- +33 3 29 63 06 31
- Book
- grandhotel-gerardmer.com · official website
- The spa
- Les Chênes Blancs Spa · 5 themed treatment rooms including a 36 m² double room · 2 indoor pools and 1 outdoor pool · open to non-residents
- Category
- 4 stars · 76 rooms including 14 suites · Belle Époque chalet
- Dining
- Le Pavillon P (Thierry Longo, Maître Cuisinier de France, and Patrice Paya) · Le Grand Cerf · L’Assiette du Coq à l’Âne
- Access
- Centre of Gérardmer, a stone’s throw from the lake
3. Les Bas Rupts, in Gérardmer: five generations at 800 metres
A few kilometres from the centre, on the Route de La Bresse, Les Bas Rupts has been run by the same family for five generations. It is a Relais & Châteaux, also a member of Singuliers Hôtels, set at an altitude of 800 metres in the heart of the Vosges forest.
The wellness area features an indoor pool and an outdoor pool, a sauna, a hammam, treatment rooms, and relaxation areas. The chalet offers six room categories, from the Plume to the 110 m² Suite.
The restaurant is distinguished by the Table Distinguée Relais & Châteaux label, with a cuisine highlighting Vosges produce and a cellar of over 1,300 references, focusing on Alsace and Bordeaux. A piano bar brings Saturday evenings to life. In July and August, the restaurant serves lunch and dinner daily.
- Address
- 181 Route de La Bresse, 88400 Gérardmer
- Telephone
- +33 3 29 63 09 25
- Book
- bas-rupts.com · official website
- The spa
- Indoor pool and outdoor pool · sauna, hammam, treatment rooms, relaxation areas
- Category
- Relais & Châteaux · Singuliers Hôtels · 6 room categories up to the 110 m² Suite · 800m altitude
- Dining
- Table Distinguée Relais & Châteaux · cellar of over 1,300 references
- Access
- Route de La Bresse, 4 km from Gérardmer
Comparing the three spa hotels in the Vosges
| Establishment | Where | The spa | What sets it apart |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chalet Frère Joseph | Ventron | 900 m² · 18m pool + 2 outdoor pools | First 5-star hotel in the Vosges · Le M, 1 Michelin star |
| Grand Hôtel & Spa | Gérardmer, centre | 2 indoor pools + 1 outdoor pool · 5 treatment rooms | 76 rooms · spa open to non-residents |
| Les Bas Rupts | Gérardmer, 800m | Indoor and outdoor pools, sauna, hammam | Relais & Châteaux · 5 generations |
Which one to choose, depending on your stay
If the spa is the main reason for your trip, Chalet Frère Joseph stands out with its 900 m² space and 18-metre pool, and its Michelin-starred restaurant seals the deal. If you want to be by the lake and go out on foot in the evening, Grand Hôtel is the only one in the town centre, and its spa even welcomes non-residents. If you are looking for a family home rather than an establishment, Les Bas Rupts and its five generations offer something money cannot buy.
When to visit, and how to get there
The Vosges have two distinct seasons. Winter is snowier than you might think, with family-friendly resorts in Gérardmer, La Bresse, and Ventron, making it the perfect time to enjoy a grand spa after a day outdoors. In summer, life in the mountains revolves around its lakes and trails, and the outdoor pools become the main attraction.
A practical guide: Gérardmer is about four hours from Paris, by train to Remiremont or Épinal followed by a thirty-minute drive, and Ventron is twenty minutes from Gérardmer. As is always the case, book your treatments at the same time as your room: five treatment rooms in Gérardmer and a naturally limited capacity in Ventron are not enough to meet demand during school holiday weekends.
