Discovery and opinion on the Russian sauna Bania Babushka in Tours (France)

While passing through Tours, I am looking for a place to do a sauna / hammam session. I discovered by chance Bania Babushka which proposes Russian sauna sessions: the famous bania.

I already had the opportunity to discover the bania in Belarus but it was without the treatments, so I seize the opportunity to perfect my learning.

Bania Babushka offers several formulas that can be booked directly online. I chose the discovery package which costs 69 € for a 90-minute session. If the website has a design that reminds me of 20 years ago, it works well. You receive a confirmation by e-mail and even SMS reminders

The first good surprise is that Bania Babushka only takes care of one client at a time (except if we take a duo formula), it’s the guarantee to spend this relaxing moment without being disturbed. I am welcomed by the mistress of the place Nadia who comes straight from Siberia.

The place is small but well organized with a Russian decoration which contributes to the change of scenery. I put on my bathing suit and I settle comfortably in the sauna. Nadia comes back 10 minutes later and explains to me the principle: during the Bania sessions, the treatments take place inside the sauna to work on the perspiring skin and thus promote detoxification.

She starts by exfoliating the skin with coarse salt. I wait another ten minutes, it becomes difficult to bear and it’s good timing, it’s time to go out to take a shower.

I have two choices: use a classic shower head and adjust the temperature or use the Siberian bucket that suddenly spills a large amount of cold water. I love the hot – cold transitions so I don’t hesitate and pull the chain so that the bucket spills its contents on my head. The thermal shock is violent but it feels great!

I go back to the sauna and Nadia offers me a Siberian herbal tea. She comes back a few minutes later for what characterizes the Russian bania (I had already discovered it in Belarus): the friction with dried branches, birch in this case (oak, lime or laurel can also be used). Gathered together, these dried branches form a “whip” that is used to whip the skin. It is surprising but not at all painful and generates a pleasant smell. This exercise is supposed to promote blood circulation.

After this new treatment, it is again time to go to the shower and use the Siberian bucket a second time.

I am then moved to a different room and placed on a massage table for the last step: a body massage with olive oil. Very relaxing.

I can only advise you to discover Bania Babushka. There must not be many places in France where you can experience an authentic Russian bania, enjoy it!