Emollient baths were used as a counterpoint to sulphurous water baths. Prepared from plants, they had softening properties and were reputed to limit irritability of the nerves. There were also emollient baths taken in the town: the thermal baths company had a special building constructed on the Quinconces, on the site of the old horse pool, which is still shown on the Castex plan of 1882. Press articles from May 1895 indicate that artists had been commissioned to decorate the casino’s grand banqueting hall and the new emollient baths establishment, giving an approximate date for construction. The project by B. Castex, dated October 1891, does not seem to correspond to the plan adopted. The baths occupied the ground floor, with accommodation for the supervisor upstairs. The annex building (to the west) housed offices. The baths were distributed in a U-shape by a covered gallery and a service passage at the rear. Each wing of the U had 8 bathing cubicles preceded by changing rooms. The central wing housed a shower and 2 bathing cubicles, while the corners of the U were reserved for the boiler room and the toilets and linen room. The building was completed to the east by 3 apses devoted respectively to wood, coal and the boiler (in the centre).
The purpose of the pavilion was changed in 1920, and it was transformed to house the radioactive baths in what was renamed the “Moureu pavilion” in homage to the chemist Charles Moureu. The water from the Lepape spring was channelled here and used to treat rheumatism and high blood pressure in particular.
The building now houses the “maison du curiste”, a place where visitors can relax and enjoy exhibitions.
