! Hotel Lux, (Loutra Ipatis history) !
In the center of Fthiotida, that is to be the center of Central Greece, we find Loutra Ypatis.
Near Loutra flows the Spercheios river with its dense and cool planes. Just above the village are the slopes of mountain Oiti, with its age-long firs . And between Sperchios river and mountain Oiti , Loutra Ypatis is loacated, a beautiful spa town
Thermal Baths history
The waters of the spring spurt after the big earthquake of 427 BC.
The use of spas begins from the Roman years, the second century BC, but always with an empirical way, until the 19thcentury.
From descriptions of Loutra Ypatis, made around the middle of last century, we know that they found several items indicating that the source was used since antiquity. Deep inside the tank of the source, stones placed incrementally were saved, suggesting that there was no ladder for the swimmers to go down. In one of the stones was written in letters of the 4th century, the name Aphrodite (Venus – the ancient Goddess of Beauty and Health). Therefore it is considered that the spring was dedicated to the worship of the Goddess. For the fate of the Baths in High Middle Ages there are no informations.
In the 19th century, thanks to advances in chemistry, physics and geology, begins the scientific investigation of spas in Europe.After the liberation from the Turks, the various thermal springs in Greece were abandoned in a situation quite primitive. The government of Kapodistrias was interested immediately for the thermal springs and in 1830 brought foreign experts scholars. In 1833, the chemist and professor at the University of Othona X. Lanterer, and after him other scientists, made various tests of water sources of Loutra Ypatis.After 1860, the government began to heed the spas. At the spring of Loutra Ypatis, at that time the tank was cleaned, housed in sheet metal, and built about 20 wooden huts that served as dressing rooms for the bathers stay. Also many trees were planted (almonds, pines, cypresses).
In 1870 the spa passed to the great businessman and member of the Parliament D. Chatziskos. He built the first three stone houses of three rooms each and took care for the improvement of the spa.The therapeutic value of thermal spring of Loutra is indeed unique.
The spring is different from all other Greek spas in the physicochemical composition of the water. The water is not only acid- carbonaceous but also sulphureous. That means the water is rich in carbonic acid (as in some thermal springs of Greece), but also in hydrogen sulfide (as some others). The acid- carbonaceous water is beneficial to the circulatory system, but also suitable for neurovascular disorders and cardiac function, for hypertension, for weak states of exhaustive illness, for recovery situations, for chronic nervous system disorders, neuralgia, spasmodic conditions, etc. In addition sulphureous water is suitable for various skin diseases and chronic rashes, especially eczema, dermatitis, urticaria, acne and others, but also for chronic rheumatic disease and arthritis, migraine, traumatic situations, etc. The water temperature is 33.5 degrees, i.e. close to body temperature, and this is also an additional factor prosperous for balneotherapy.Today, the old village is now a small but complete city, a resort that did not miss anything and that ensures a perfectly comfortable, pleasant and enjoyable stay up without any problems