Les Bains

A flagship establishment

Les Bains is the kind of address that comes up when people talk about the great gay saunas of northern Europe. 1200 m² spread over four levels, right in the heart of Lille, a stone's throw from the Porte de Douai and Porte de Valenciennes metro stations. Suffice to say you won't cover it all in an hour.

On the menu: a Finnish sauna, hammam, three spas, a pool, three terraces including a covered rooftop equipped with an outdoor shower and an open-air spa. There's also a gym, a solarium, a dojo, a dorm and cruising zones for those who show up without a clear idea in mind. A friendly bar and a beer cellar round things out, plus a restaurant for those who want to make the evening last.

Atmosphere and crowd

The venue is entirely male, open to gay men from 18 upward, with a friendly spirit rather than one strictly focused on performance. The place draws a crowd varied in age and profile, which makes for a fairly relaxed atmosphere depending on the time slot.

A detail worth mentioning: Les Bains offers free HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C testing twice a month, with a full screening on the first Tuesday of the month. A concrete way of looking after its members beyond just being a place to meet.

Rates and hours

General admission is 20 euros, dropping to 10 euros for those under 26. After 8pm, a flat rate of 15 euros applies to everyone, which changes things quite a bit for a spur of the moment evening out.

Open Monday to Thursday from noon to midnight, Friday from noon to 1am, Saturday from 2pm to 1am and Sunday from noon to midnight. Enough flexibility to fit in a visit on a weekday or a busier weekend outing.

• General admission: 20 euros
• Under 26: 10 euros
• After 8pm (everyone): 15 euros
• Open 7 days a week, until 1am on Friday and Saturday

What people say

Feedback mostly highlights the cleanliness of the place and the modernity of the facilities, which isn't so common for an establishment of this size. The warm atmosphere comes up often, as does the kindness of the staff.

The diversity of the crowd and the richness of the facilities are also mentioned as strong points, with the sense that you'll find what you're after whatever the time of your visit or the mood you're in.