A Chavasqueira

What it is

A Chavasqueira is the first thermal area on the Miño promenade as you leave the centre of Ourense, a few metres from the Millennium Bridge (puente del Milenio), on the right bank of the river. It is two different things, side by side:

• The public pools: a group of small open-air stone pools, among the riverbank vegetation, with water at about 40 °C and a large green area to lie on. They are free, with limited capacity.
• The A Chavasqueira Baths (Termas A Chavasqueira): a paid, Japanese-inspired facility, onsen-style, in wood and stone, with its own circuit.

The place is also known as Caldas del Obispo: in the 19th century Cardinal Quevedo fitted it out for the sick who came to be cured by the water, and had a small stone temple built for their use, which can still be seen at the paid baths. On the bank, a mermaid by the sculptor Acisclo Manzano is half submerged or in view depending on the river's flow.

Status in November 2026

According to the Concello's (town council's) thermal baths status page, updated on 1 November 2026, the free pools are closed until spring 2027. The paid baths remain open. Check that page before going: the free pools also close when the Miño rises or in bad weather.

The public pools

The water springs at 63.6 °C and reaches the pools at about 40. It is sodium bicarbonate, fluoridated and very soft. There are changing rooms, toilets, lockers and a drinking water fountain. Bring swimwear, flip-flops, a towel and a padlock if you want to use a locker. You can't reserve: you go in on a first-come basis until capacity is reached.

Children under 10 are not admitted. Under-14s must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

The paid baths

The circuit has three outdoor stone pools at 41 °C (the rotenburo), an indoor stone tub at 39 °C (the ofuro) and two saunas, one of stone and slate at 40 °C and a Japanese one of stone and wood at 45 °C. They reopened on 7 October 2025, after closing because of a fire.

• Price: €5.40 admission, with a discount for pensioners and children.
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Thursday and Sundays 9:00 to 23:30; Fridays and Saturdays 9:00 to 1:30. Closed on Mondays.
• Minimum age: 5 years; for ages 5 to 8 you must prove their age with an ID card or family book.
• Massages and treatments: by prior reservation, on 988 214 821.

Getting there and parking

From the Praza Maior you can walk: go down towards the river, cross to the other bank by the Roman bridge or the Millennium Bridge and follow the promenade downstream. It is about 2 km. The area is pedestrianised. By car, leave the car in the free Campo da Feira car park, next door. By city bus, line 9 stops nearby. The thermal tourist train, which used to stop here, is not running in November 2026.

If you arrive by train from Madrid, the Ourense-Empalme station is on the same bank as the thermal promenade.

Rules and health

Use is recreational only. The Concello recommends consulting a doctor before bathing and advises against it in pregnancy, with high or low blood pressure, heart disease, venous insufficiency or open wounds. No swimming or jumping: these are pools for relaxing. Animals are not admitted. Baths should not exceed 30 minutes at a stretch, with breaks, and children's baths should be 10 to 15 minutes. Drink water when you get out: the heat tires you more than it seems.

Continue along the thermal promenade

A Chavasqueira is the start of about 4 km of pedestrian path beside the Miño with up to eight thermal areas. Following the river downstream are the O Tinteiro fountain, the Muíño da Veiga and, at the end, Outariz and the Burga de Canedo.