There’s something about a wood-fired sauna. The heat from the fire is almost like an organic presence; it’s the heart of the sauna. And that soft glow from the fire, the gentle natural smell of the wood – it all adds to the experience. Anything else is a compromise.
Luckily – if you’re in France, you don’t have to compromise! At Hot Tubs in France, we specialise in wood-fired saunas that are not only beautiful – they’re a really stunning addition to the garden – but they’re simple to use, quick to heat up, easy to maintain, cheap to run, good for your health and a true pleasure to use.
It takes just a couple of small logs to heat the sauna, pour some water on the heated stones, add some essential oils for optimal atmosphere, breathe deep and relax. We offer two sizes and two different styles, and our saunas suit 6 to 8 people comfortably, so they’re great for friends and family – or stretch out à deux
Using wood to heat the sauna really is a part of the experience, lighting the fire in the small inside stove, listening to the crackle, smelling the burning wood – it’s a ritual, because a real sauna isn’t just about the physical health benefits, it’s also about the mental wellbeing, the feeling of stopping, escaping the everyday, giving into the moment, and total and utter relaxation.
And those physical health benefits? In Finland, where saunas are a way of daily life, they say “a sauna is a poor man’s pharmacy” – a good sweat boosts your heart rate, lowers blood pressure, and according to some studies, it reduces cardiac risk. It also relieves sore muscles and eases joint pain from arthritis, for instance. And it reduces stress; the heat triggers a relaxation response to help calm the mind and the body. Dermatologists say it can really help your skin health too – when you sweat, you flush out toxins and impurities, and we’ve had lots of feedback from clients who’ve bought our saunas saying that this unexpected benefit is one of their favourite things!
The Finns also call a sauna ‘a church of nature’ – it’s about much more than relaxing, getting clean and flushing the toxins out. Pouring water over the heated stones to release steam is almost a ceremony. And when you enjoy our wood-fired hot tubs, as the steam curls around you, opening pores, soothing muscles and mind, the peaceful atmosphere makes everything feel as if it’s slowed down. And we find it helps you sleep much better (especially when combined with a dip in one of our wood-fired hot tubs!).
The practical bit
Well, first off – our wood-fired saunas are strong but beautiful, curved wood-tiled structures that enhance the look of the garden, like something out of the land of the hobbits. Importantly, they’re easy to install; you can place them on a gravel base, no need to dig deep foundations and concrete. They’re super easy to maintain; if you want to clean the chimney, simply lift it off and use a chimney cleaning device. No plumbing or complicated drainage systems are required. They’re incredibly cost-effective; just a few small logs are enough to heat them, and the only electric needed is for the lights inside, though most people say they just love the romantic glow from the fire and rarely use the lights, and there are also twinkling lights around the door on the outside. We deliver all over France, so all you have to do is light the stove and relax.
Our wood-fired hot tubs are low-energy, eco-friendly, easy to heat, low-maintenance, low-run cost: a more natural sensory experience – and utterly fabulous.
Get in touch if you’d like to find out more or order one of our wood-fired hot tubs
