Thermal pools in Ourense open?

[Bradypus]

Hoping someone can give me current information. I'll be in Ourense sometime in the next few days and I'd love to have a bath in the hot springs. What could be better than a Galician onsen? Online I am seeing conflicting reports of closures because of Covid. Does anyone know for sure which - if any - of the hot spring bathing pools are open?

[Moderator's note: There is conflicting information even on this thread. See post #12 for an on-the-scene report of Feb 23, 2022]

 

[lbeckhusen]

Hoping someone can give me current information. I'll be in Ourense sometime in the next few days and I'd love to have a bath in the hot springs. What could be better than a Galician onsen? Online I am seeing conflicting reports of closures because of Covid. Does anyone know for sure which - if any - of the hot spring bathing pools are open?

Termas Outariz was open last October and there is a sightseeing train that makes frequent round trips to there from the city

 

[Mark Francis Auchincloss]

Hoping someone can give me current information. I'll be in Ourense sometime in the next few days and I'd love to have a bath in the hot springs. What could be better than a Galician onsen? Online I am seeing conflicting reports of closures because of Covid. Does anyone know for sure which - if any - of the hot spring bathing pools are open?

Yes the outdoor public ones are open e.g in centre As Burgas and on outskirts As Termas next to privste on Termas de Outariz. Great idea!!

 

[Peregrina 2013]

Ah, the wonderful As Burgas! Yes, it's a very relaxing and enjoyable free experience in Ourense and they're open from 10:00 to 13:00 and 17:00 to 21:00.

 

[Bradypus]

Yes the outdoor public ones are open e.g in centre As Burgas and on outskirts As Termas next to privste on Termas de Outariz. Great idea!!

That is great news! I had read that As Burgas was closed "for renovations" and the other open-air pools closed because of Covid. I'm planning to stay in the new municipal albergue which is very close to As Burgas

 

[Rebekah Scott]

That is great news! I had read that As Burgas was closed "for renovations" and the other open-air pools closed because of Covid. I'm planning to stay in the new municipal albergue which is very close to As Burgas

Do let us know about the new albergue... the old one was a phenomenon.

 

[Mark Francis Auchincloss]

That is great news! I had read that As Burgas was closed "for renovations" and the other open-air pools closed because of Covid. I'm planning to stay in the new municipal albergue which is very close to As Burgas

If there's a problem with public ones then Termas de Outariz is definitely open. It's my preferred one although you have to pay, by memory I think it's 5.70 € for 2 hours. The other that's open is near where I live : Termas de Prexigueiro which is near Ribadavia a bit far for you!

 

[Anniesantiago]

OH man!
Now I HAVE to walk that route.
You people are dangerous!

 

[VNwalking]

What could be better than a Galician onsen?

Kon'nichiwa, @Bradypus! Not much is better than that. It sounds fabulous!

Do let us know about the new albergue... the old one was a phenomenon.

And I second Reb's question. I have heard tales of exceedingly grumpy hospitaleros, so if I ever walk this way. I've been prepared for an interesting experience.

 

[Peregrina 2013]

I just went to the Ourense Office of Tourism and contacted them via email regarding their schedule. I noticed that when I searched for the As Burgas it shows in red that they are temporarily closed. However, the only pertinent information I can find is that they had planned on reopening September 2021, but nothing current.
I'll post the particulars as soon as I hear back from them.

If for any reason you get to Ourense before I receive a reply, would you mind letting us know what the status of As Burgas is? That would be very helpful for others who are planning/walking the Sanabrés.

 

[Peregrina 2013]

Tourism Office responded almost immediately. They tell me that the public As Burgas thermal pools are closed, only the Terma Outariz is open and the link is included. They do require a mask - even in the thermal waters; you can also see their schedule and they do charge 5.70€ for 2 hours - which includes the time spent in the dressing room. Here is their email:

Buenos días,

En estos momentos la Piscina de las Burgas esta cerrda al baño.

Hay una terma abierta en estos momentos que es la terma de pago de Outariz (www.termasoutariz.com). Todas las termas gratuitas están cerradas. Hay un cambio de la norma que las regula y estas deben adaptarse a la nueva ley. Aun no disponemos de una fecha de reapertura.

Atentamente,

---
Oficina Municipal de Turismo de Ourense
Concellería de Turismo
Concello de Ourense
Telf: (0034) 988 366 064
turismo@ourense.es
_________________________

 

[Bradypus]

Thanks to all for your replies. I'm in Ourense now. As Burgas and the other public pools are closed. The albergue is perhaps 50m from As Burgas and the pool has been drained completely. The Outariz complex is the only place which is open. I'll be heading there very soon. It will be very strange to bathe in a hot spring while wearing a mask!

 

[Bradypus]

And I second Reb's question. I have heard tales of exceedingly grumpy hospitaleros, so if I ever walk this way. I've been prepared for an interesting experience.

I'd read that too. Perhaps I met a different hospitalero but the gentleman on duty today was polite and helpful. Not effusive in his welcome but very correct. The building itself has been beautifully refitted if your taste is for polished wood and bare stone. Personally I like the minimalist look. A tall narrow building which seems to be about 80% staircase The usual Xunta kitchen with no utensils at all. The location just off As Burgas and Praza Mayor is superb.

 

[Peregrina 2013]

Thanks to all for your replies. I'm in Ourense now. As Burgas and the other public pools are closed. The albergue is perhaps 50m from As Burgas and the pool has been drained completely. The Outariz complex is the only place which is open. I'll be heading there very soon. It will be very strange to bathe in a hot spring while wearing a mask!

View attachment 119156

Just like I remember it - minus the water

 

[Bradypus]

Just back from a session at the Outariz thermal pools. A pleasant place at a very modest price. Trying quite hard to recreate the feel of a Japanese onsen but hampered by having mixed bathing and mandatory swimwear I travelled out on the last tourist train journey of the day. The only passenger. Possibly the least practical mode of transport since the spacehopper went out of fashion. But it leaves from very near the albergue and is very cheap at 85 cents. I returned to town by L15 bus from a stop across the river at Reza. Buses are quicker and smoother at the same price. They also run later in the day. Having to be back at the albergue for 10pm did mean that I kept my eye on the clock. Going earlier in the day might make for a more relaxed visit. All in all a very enjoyable evening.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

Thanks, Bradypus. A Japanese hot-spring bath on a pilgrim trail is a perfect mix, IMHO... especially as you're looking at a real uphill haul out of town tomorrow morning!

I was a volunteer hospitalera at the Albergue Municipal de Ourense in 2006, when it was up on the hill next to the (then-under-renovation) monastery, built inside a medieval tower. The dorm was cantilevered upstairs over the public and kitchen areas below, and sound traveled inside there in very strange ways. You could breakfast to the roaring snore orchestra caroming around the stone walls; and the people trying to sleep up there could hear every word you said down in the kitchen. A normal conversation in the wide-open lounge below was almost impossible to hear at all. It tended to fray the nerves. That may have been why later years led to snarling hospis.

 

[J Willhaus]

I saw an article in the last few days about new rules in the thermal pools. You can only stay 30 minutes, no pets, etc. I can't find it now, but it was in La Voz de Galicia.

 

[nycwalking]

Thanks to all for your replies. I'm in Ourense now. As Burgas and the other public pools are closed. The albergue is perhaps 50m from As Burgas and the pool has been drained completely. The Outariz complex is the only place which is open. I'll be heading there very soon. It will be very strange to bathe in a hot spring while wearing a mask!

View attachment 119156

November 2019 I was there.

 

[Peregrina 2013]

As Burgas in town and the thermal waters along the Miño

 

[Bradypus]

As Burgas in town and the thermal waters along the Miño

Your photo of the pools beside the river reminded me of this place. Kawayu Onsen - a tiny resort a few km from one of the main Kumano Kodo shrines. One of the oddest quirks of geology I've seen. The river is full of fast-flowing cold water running off the mountains. But there is hot water rising up through the gravel of the river bed. So if you take a shovel or a huge orange excavator and dig a hole in the gravel it will fill with hot water. I bathed in that pool a few minutes earlier. Although it is only a few feet from the river the temperature was close to 40C. You can dig a small channel to let in some river water to cool it down. Bizarre!

 

[Peregrina 2013]

Your photo of the pools beside the river reminded me of this place. Kawayu Onsen - a tiny resort a few km from one of the main Kumano Kodo shrines. One of the oddest quirks of geology I've seen. The river is full of fast-flowing cold water running off the mountains. But there is hot water rising up through the gravel of the river bed. So if you take a shovel or a huge orange excavator and dig a hole in the gravel it will fill with hot water. I bathed in that pool a few minutes earlier. Although it is only a few feet from the river the temperature was close to 40C. You can dig a small channel to let in some river water to cool it down. Bizarre!
View attachment 119204

The wonders of our Mother Earth!!