Arlanzón: the spa that could have been and barely was (1879-1902)

Abstract

In 1879, Burgalese businessman Julián Fournier, aware of the existence of a mineral-medicinal water spring in the nearby town of Arlanzón, began the necessary procedures for its regulated therapeutic use. After the mandatory chemical analysis, the declaration of public utility of the water was obtained in 1882, and the following year the Society “J. Fournier, Sedano y Compañía” was established, consisting of 12 members who provided the necessary capital for the construction of the spa and its adjacent inn. When the construction was finished, the establishment in 1884, and that same year the first Director, Dr. Anselmo Bonilla Franco, was appointed. He was responsible for the drafting of two spa reports, and was succeeded in 1888 Marco Antonio Díaz de Cerio. Far from consolidating, the number of users dwindled, leading to the bankruptcy of the owning Society in 1892. The new owners were also unable to improve the situation in the following decade, leading to the sale of all the facilities and the definitive interruption of the spa activity.