With all the culinary delights of Paris–the brasseries, the boulangeries, the patisseries–it’s difficult to focus on health and wellness. Decadent cheeses, cooked-in-pure-butter delicacies, and carbs galore are enough to leave even the sveltest among us feeling as stuffed as a sausage.
If you’re ready for a dose of detox, head to Spa Valmont in the Franco-fabulous Hôtel Le Meurice. It’s a place where bringing your body back into balance doesn’t mean scaling back on indulgence. You might start with a workout in the spa’s fitness center, but aside from that, purification here requires little effort.
The spa is staffed with Swiss skincare specialists, and accordingly the age-defying skin treatments (like the signature Glaciers Moisturizing Vitality Treatment) are loaded with plenty of pure, mineral-rich Swiss water from glacial sources that wash away any impurities. Switzerland being a neutral country, it’s perhaps not accidental that the body treatment menu here looks a bit like a gathering of the United Nations. You can go with the India Body Scrub (with copper and dead sea salts), Africa Body Wrap (mineralizing tonics), or Antilles Body Scrub (loaded with sugar). The sweets you’ve consumed at patisseries can’t be any good for you, but why not let a sugar body scrub slough off dead cells and restore a healthy glow?
Though Valmont’s methods involve oodles of scientific wizardry and high tech tools, the vibe in this dark, soothing space is more plush than clinical. With only three treatment rooms, the spa’s definitely on the small side, but the spa suites are cushy and cocooning. Additional areas include a hammam, sauna, and Jacuzzi–keep your eyes peeled for lounging celebs ? la Naomi Campbell and Salma Hayek…this is a hotspot for the celeb jetset and Paris elite. If you really want to log some serious time here, know that the spa offers extended opening hours (8:00am-10:00pm, but note that treatments are available from 8:00am-8:00pm only).
Post-treatment, you can buff up your newly radiant skin even further by visiting the in-house makeup artist, or relax with a light snack on the sunny terrace. The spa fare menu includes delicious salads and sandwiches that won’t make you feel deprived despite the lack of butter and cream. And if there’s anything that can describe the pleasures of Spa Valmont in a nutshell, it has to be the “detox macarons.” Decadence and detox, all in one petite and delicious package!
Spa Valmont
Hôtel Le Meurice
228 Rue de Rivoli
Paris, France
(33) 014-458-1010
Website
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Rachel Levin contributed to this article.
