How a French businessman became a bath attendant in Russia

Arnaud Fass is originally from Strasburg, France, but now lives in Tula, 200 km from Moscow. He first came to Russia in 2001 and stayed. He went into business and then became a professional steam master – he steams Russian bath lovers in a Russian banya. 

Why Russia?

In France, Arnaud graduated from business school and was involved in a variety of businesses. In his 20s, he started traveling a lot: he lived in Greece, Spain, Egypt and South America. 

“I wanted to learn languages, to meet people, to talk,” recalls the Frenchman. 

Arnaud on a Russian TV show

Arnaud's father ran a fabric store, while his grandfather was engaged in sewing. And he, himself, started his way in Russia – with fabrics.

He first came to Moscow in 2001, working as export director for Eastern Europe in a French firm. 

Russian wife

In 2009, Arnaud married Svetlana. They met at a trade fair in Frankfurt: she deals in fabrics and was a buyer at Arnaud's stand.

Russo-French marriage

“Everyone knows that the most beautiful women in the world live in Russia. And before I met Svetlana, I thought: gosh, how do people get married here when there's so much choice? But, then I realized how: when you find the right person, beautiful both outside and inside, when she is both smart and patient. That's my wife!”

Russian wedding is unforgettable

“In France, it's different. We meet for an aperitif, go to church, then have dinner with a narrow circle… But, here there are several stages and each one is more interesting than the previous one.”

Wild wedding traditions

First, the “redemption” of the bride. “I went up the floors of the apartment building to 'buy back' the bride. I took all the money, a lot of banknotes from different countries. But they didn't want them: only coins were needed!”

Then Arnaud had to draw his bride. “I did the best I could: ears, nose, two eyes… And they brought me another woman! “You drew this one, didn't you? Take it!” the Frenchman recalls with a laugh.

Trials of the groom

At the registry office, Arnaud was worried that he would miss the moment when he had to say “yes” (the Russian version of “I do” ). At the time, he still spoke Russian poorly. “Thank God, the first one asked my wife and, when it was my turn, I said as if I had been waiting for days: 'Yes-aaa!'”

The couple now has a daughter named Polina. 

How a fabric salesman became a bathhouse attendant

“One day during the Covid lockdown, I wondered: what am I doing with my life? What could I possibly be interested in?” Arnaud recalls.

By then, he had already built a business and had free time to spend on his family, himself. And the banya.

The Frenchman had always loved the Russian bathhouse, but never imagined that he could tie his professional life to it.

An art of steaming

A chance decided the matter. A relative of his wife was doing massage in a spa complex, but her clients really asked for bath procedures. So, she asked Arnaud to help: “You love baths, you love people! Don't you want to learn and help me?”

Then, he seriously thought about it, began to watch training videos and realized that steaming was not just whipping a broom in a hot room, it is a whole art.

And, in 2021, Arnaud went to a banya festival. 

“I met masters who take 3, 5, 10 thousand rubles (approx. $30, $50, $100, respectively) per steaming, but, when they saw me, they shouted: 'Come here, Frenchman!' And everyone was allowing me to steam for free! And I realized: this is where I belong.” 

There, at the festival, Arnaud found a famous teacher, then another. And so, having learned from the best masters in different directions, he began to work on his own. 

French steam master in a Russian banya

During his long time in Russia, he says he’s become a bit Russian himself. “Tell me, is there a more Russian profession than steam master?” the Frenchman asks. 

The full version of the interview was published in Russian in the ‘Nation’ magazine.