Escaldes-Engordany Wins Approval to Join European Historic Thermal Towns Network

The Executive Council of the European Historic Thermal Towns Association (EHTTA) has approved Escaldes-Engordany's bid to join the network of historic thermal towns, following a favourable assessment by the association's Scientific Committee.

The decision marks a key step forward, with final ratification now pending at EHTTA's General Assembly in Greece at the end of October. Once confirmed, the parish will become part of the organisation, which manages the European Route of Historic Thermal Towns—a Cultural Itinerary certified by the Council of Europe. The network unites municipalities and regions with strong thermal traditions, focusing on heritage preservation, cross-border cooperation, and the promotion of thermal culture at European and international levels.

Assessors particularly noted how thermal water shapes the parish's identity and daily routines, extending far beyond tourism. It appears in private homes, swimming pools, public facilities, and the new Caldes project, which features open thermal baths and access points for residents and visitors. These elements demonstrate efforts to reconnect the community with a natural resource tied to its history and development.

Escaldes-Engordany's consell major, Rosa Gili, praised the endorsement as confirmation that local initiatives to recover and value thermal water are on the right track. She said the Caldes project aims to return the water to the public, making it visible, accessible, and integral to the parish's identity and history. Gili added that the water's role in Escaldes-Engordany goes beyond tourism, forming part of everyday parish life.

Joining EHTTA will enable knowledge-sharing and experiences with other European thermal towns, while unlocking the resource's full potential. The association has already offered technical support to characterise and classify the parish's thermal water, opening new avenues for its appreciation beyond promotion. This approval concludes an initial phase of the parish's push to strengthen its position in European thermalism, safeguarding a patrimony central to its past, present, and future.