CAUTERETS, a watering-place of south-western France in the department of Hautes-Pyrenees, 2om. S. by W. of Lourdes by rail. Pop. (1931) 1,307. It lies in the beautiful valley of the Gave de Cauterets, and is well known for its thermal springs, and as a station for winter sports. Some 50,00o visitors are attracted an nually. The 22 springs produce copious supplies of sulphuretted water and serve nine etablissements. Their temperature varies between 75° and 137°. Cauterets is a centre for excursions, the Monne 7 f t.) , the Cabaliros (7,15 5 f t.) , the Pic de Chabarrou (9.55oft.), the Vignemale (Io,82oft.), and other summits being in its neighbourhood. The properties of the waters have been known at least since the loth century : they became famous in the I6th century when Marguerite de Valois composed the "Heptame ron," on the model of Boccaccio's "Decameron," while visiting the spa with her court.