les Escaldes · AD
Font del Roc del Metge
In the heart of the Pyrenean parish of Escaldes-Engordany, the Font del Roc del Metge is one of the hottest natural springs in Europe. Water rises from a rock face at a steady 68–71°C, sending up ribbons of steam and a faint sulphur scent that have defined this town for centuries. Free to visit at any hour, it is the most literal way to understand why 'Escaldes'—literally 'the hot waters'—exists at all. Tucked along Avinguda Carlemany just below the medieval Pont de la Tosca, the spring is the starting point of the town's Water Route and the source that feeds the famous Caldea thermal spa. A short, easy stop that rewards a few minutes' curiosity.