Roman Baths - Parc de Furfooz

The Roman baths from the 3rd century AD were completely restored between 1956 and 1958.

The thermal baths use the hypocaust system , the precursor to central heating. Hot air from a wood fire is channeled through underground brick ducts beneath the floors to heat the water in the baths.

The building has three rooms:

Frigidarium (cold bath) near the entrance

Tepidarium (lukewarm bath)

Caldarium (warm bath) above the hypocaust system

Roman baths were much more than just places to wash. They served as social gathering places , much like modern cafés or sports clubs. People came there to relax, conduct business, read books, and discuss. Many baths were public and accessible to both wealthy and poor citizens (sometimes free or for a small fee). Men and women usually had separate bathing times .

Romans did not use soap , but cleaned their bodies with oil (often perfumed), which they then scraped from their skin with a metal scraper ( strigil ) along with dirt and sweat.

Willem Vandenameele