As Bernard Toulier pointed out: “The thermal and bathing towns of the late 19th century were inspired by the promenades of Haussmann’s city, recreating in the resort morsels of the “real” town with their lines marked out in boulevards and avenues, woods and bridle paths (Vittel, Vichy and the spa towns of Normandy). The influence of the English  Crescent model can be seen in all of Europe, and the imitation of well-known thermal towns such as Spa, Brighton and Marienbad. From the 20th century, urban developments differentiated themselves from this traditional blueprint and evolved more towards the garden city. One of the characteristics of these facilities, which are linked to areas devoted to walking for medical purposes and social functions, is the portico arcade, which extends the walk around spaces developed for the public.  It gives movement around between the parks, avenues and alleys and the buildings, connecting them with the shopping arcades and covered terraces. There are also a number of sports facilities related to walking or most often connected to individual sports. Golf courses, racecourses, tennis courts with seats, stands and annexes occupy a large place in the landscape of each spa”. All styles meet and overlap, with such a wealth of decoration, where the baths are often as vast as Neo-Byzantine or Neo-Roman cathedrals. To this, at times, was added a soupcon of Egyptian art, before the canons of Art Nouveau and Art Deco were followed. A lesson in utopian, playful and social architecture and urban development, which still remains a template for nowadays Europe.