Royat

Royat, a watering-place of central France, in the department of Puy-de-Dome, situated at a height of 1475 ft. on the Tiretaine, 12 m. S.W. of Clermont-Ferrand. Pop. (1906) 1451. The thermal springs, situated in the part of Royat known as St Mart, are strongly impregnated with carbonic acid and chloride of sodium and are used in cases of rheumatism, gout, bronchitis, asthma, anaemia, &c. They were known in Roman times, and ruins of ancient baths are still to be seen. The village of Royat proper, a little higher up the valley, has a church of the nth and 12th centuries fortified with battlements.