Vichy: Resort City in France (attractions and photos). Vichy France: a holiday worthy of kings
The French city of Vichy is now known all over the world primarily thanks to the cosmetics brand of the same name, produced by the L'Oreal corporation. Usually this is the first association that comes to mind with this name even to a person who has never been to France. However, it is worth delving a little into history, as the exciting theme of the rise and fall of a small resort town, located far from the popular and "hackneyed" ones, opens up. tourist routes Fifth Republic.
Vichy is located in the Auvergne region, considered one of the least known to foreigners (and many French) part of the country. The wild and inaccessible mountain range of the Central Massif stretches across the region; it is here that the natural reserve of volcanoes is located with more than 80 ancient giants asleep, the severe appearance of which is incredibly impressive and makes you dream of conquering new peaks. The land of Auvergne nourishes a huge number of underground mineral springs, thanks to which the thermal spas of the region and the famous production of medicinal table water have arisen.
So where:
Vichy is located in the Allier department (named after the river of the same name that crosses the city), in the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region.
How to get to Vichy:
The most convenient way to travel around the Auvergne is by renting a car. For example, even such a famous city as Vichy is located several tens of kilometers from major highways crossing France, and many cities in the region can only be reached along winding national roads, not to mention smaller sights lost among the mountains, such as ancient castles or natural beauty.
If your goal is just to relax in a thermal resort, and your plans do not include driving around, then in this case there is no problem - from Paris (from Bercy train station) you can get to Vichy by direct Intercity train (journey time - 2 hours 58 minutes). This is the fastest option, but you need to buy tickets in advance, then they will be inexpensive.
Closest to Vichy major airport is located 90 kilometers, in the main city of the Clermont-Ferrand region.
You can choose in advance and book a car for traveling around France here(instant comparison of offers, prices and conditions of the world's leading car rental companies, online booking confirmation and flexible terms, discounts, super offers)
A bit of history
In the place of Vichy in ancient times, BC, the Gallo-Romans began to use mineral springs for treatment and healing. However, the first exact mention of a settlement called Vippiacus, which after many centuries under the influence of various owners of these lands finally transformed into Vichy, dates back to the reign of the Roman emperor Diocletian (end of the 3rd century AD).
In the Middle Ages (XIV century) Vichy passed into the possession of the Duchy of Bourbon (Bourbonnet), and in the XVI century (1527) - to the French crown. The slow flourishing of this “city on the waters” began already in the 16th century. Royals and aristocrats, who sometimes visited Vichy, almost without exception noted the beneficial effect of hydrotherapy, but complained about the lack of decent infrastructure in this place. And the infrastructure was not slow to appear.
Around the end of the 18th century, the resort began to rapidly become fashionable, but the real boom came in the middle of the 19th century, when Emperor Napoleon III spent several seasons here in a row for five years. In the city, old hydropathic clinics were expanded and new ones were built, art salons were opened, in which the best musicians and actors of Europe were invited to perform, landscape parks were laid out, befitting the level of noble spa guests. Naturally, the accelerated construction of a casino with a theater (opening in 1865) was not without progress. The surge of the second wave of urban development occurred in Vichy at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, during the period of the Belle Epoque (“Belle Epoque”). By this time, the emergence of the Opera and several large thermal complexes in the city center, as well as luxurious monumental hotels. Until the First World War, Vichy literally bathed in glory as the most fashionable resort, then there was an understandable lull. After the war, holidaymakers slowly began to return, and the city managed to partially win back the lost positions in terms of the number of holidaymakers by the mid-1930s. However, World War II intervened and changed the fate of the city. During the German occupation, the city was dominated by a collaborationist regime collaborating with the Nazis, which was called the "Vichy regime". But this is a completely different topic, not directly related to tourism.
One way or another, the famous Vichy waters survived all the regimes, and until the 1950s and 1960s remained a favorite vacation spot for the rich, however, this period changed the composition of vacationers - the rulers of the African colonies of France and their numerous escorts frequented the city. When this wave also subsided with the beginning of the decolonization process, Vichy, if not in decline, was definitely on the verge of it. It took several decades to recover as a popular holiday destination for wealthy citizens. However, alas, the resort has not been able to return the past.
Today it is a well-known, well-maintained, neat town on the banks of the Allier River, which has preserved historical monuments from different eras, but ... just one of the many balneological resorts in France. If you do not know its history, having got here, it can hardly be assumed that once the entire French nobility walked along the alleys of Vichy. It's funny that on the website of the Vichy Tourist Office in the "How to get there" section, the number 1 way is by plane ... with a note that a small airport 5 kilometers from Vichy accepts private jets. Echoes of past glory...
Where to stay in Vichy
If you are purposefully traveling to Vichy to visit health and spa treatments, you should choose the appropriate hotels with thermal complexes operating under them (the best of them are at the end of the article). This is a great, but rather expensive accommodation option. Private apartments in the city and its environs can also be a good alternative, and in spa complexes you can buy only those services that you need.
Attractions Vichy
For convenience, we provide here not just a list of Vichy attractions, but links to ready-made walking routes around the city, with a description of what you will see along them.
12 Best Things to Do in Vichy
Congress Palace - Opera
A large casino, including a theater hall and cozy chamber salons for the nobility, was built in Vichy in 1865 (since 1995 - Vichy Congress Palace) on the initiative of Napoleon III. In 1900, the casino was expanded in its western part: the building of the Opera House in the Art Nouveau style for 1486 seats appeared, the decoration of which inside is striking in its luxury.
Passages and pedestrian streets of Vichy
In the city center, in the quarter adjacent to the Springs Park, there are many cozy restaurants with outdoor terraces and lively shopping streets where all kinds of brands, including expensive ones, are presented. Importantly, many boutiques here are open on Sundays and public holidays, which in France is typical only for tourist megacities and large resorts like Nice.
Hall of sources and covered gallery in the Park of sources
A beautiful modernist building called the Hall of Springs in the Park around the Vichy Casino-Opera is a place where you can not only see the city's springs, located on the site of an ancient medieval monastery of Celestine monks from the beginning of the 15th century, but also get the famous mineral water for free. In total, in the Hall, built in 1903, there are 5 springs, hot and cold, under the names Célestins, Lucas, Hôpital, Chomel and Grande Grille.
In the Park, it is impossible not to appreciate the covered gallery (promenade) with a total length of 700 meters, which closed the monarchs and aristocrats walking from source to source during bad weather and allowed keeping clothes and shoes clean.
Great thermal center Thermes de Domes
It is located a few meters from the Hall of Sources. It was the most "luxury" thermal center of Vichy at the turn of the XIX-XX centuries. In the 1930s, it was reconstructed in the neo-Moorish style (the oriental dome of the spa looks a little strange, but that's what it is).
Napoleon III Chalet
The villa, built for the emperor (with a view of the Park of Springs) in the Swiss or English colonial style, was the spa house of Napoleon III for a short time - the sovereign did not like that the building in the very center of Vichy did not provide a private environment for him and the court. However, the chalet has been preserved and maintained in a decent condition until now.
Street with luxurious villas built in different styles at the beginning of the 20th century
Buildings in the neo-Venetian, Flemish, Gothic, classical and Art Nouveau styles side by side with each other and at the same time do not dissonate at all. They were mainly built to be rented out to wealthy vacationers. And in those days it was customary to relax on the waters for a long time.
Napoleon III Park and Kennedy Park
Founded under Napoleon III, the park is located along the embankment of the Allier River. Centuries-old trees, wide alleys and well-equipped beaches attract many citizens here in hot weather. Napoleon Park smoothly flows into the Park named after the American President Kennedy.
Promenade along the promenade and beaches on the lake
On the Allier promenade, between the historic restaurant La Rotonda and Kennedy Park, there is a 1.5 km promenade that will take you to Celestan Beach with excellent leisure facilities. A little explanation is needed here: the city of Vichy is crossed by the Allier River, which in the 20th century was blocked by a dam (its role is played by the Bridge of Europe), and the Allier lake of the same name was formed as a place for residents to relax.
Selestan spring pavilion
An elegant building from 1908, where you can get mineral water for free.
Church of Notre-Dame-de-Malade adjoining the church of Saint-Blaise
Notre-Dame-de-Malade was built in 1714 on the site of the old chapel of the Dukes of Bourbon, and Saint-Blaise, attached close to it, was built in the 1920s and 30s. In the church you can see the statue of the Black Madonna - an object of worship in Auvergne.
Music kiosk and horseshoe gallery
The pavilion from 1902, where musicians played during the Vichy Golden Age, still serves as a platform for the city orchestra from May to September. A covered gallery in the form of a horseshoe with shops inside encircles the Hall of the source L`Opital.
You can follow this route on an interactive map here.
Other routes:
Thematic route "Thermal Vichy"
This is not a very long, compact route, passing by the most important symbols of Vichy - the sources of thermal waters.
Route around the lake and along the promenade of the river Allier
Vichy's best spa hotel today is luxurious Vichy Celestins Spa Hotel 5*, located opposite the Springs Park and offering all kinds of luxury spa services and much more. Despite the high cost, it is better to book rooms in it in advance - it is very popular and often crowded. However, there is no shortage of first-class hotels in Vichy: you can choose between historical hotels in the very center of the city (for example, Aletti Palace 4 *), and ultra-modern spa complexes, located a little further from the city noise, in the bosom of nature.
You can find a complete list of all spa centers at the Vichy Tourist Office, where you can also book tickets for concerts constantly taking place in the city, to the Opera, book any tour of the city and the Auvergne region, and so on.
Here you can also find and buy tickets to the cities of France at the lowest price (in the search form at the top of the article), as well as instantly compare hotel prices in different booking systems and choose the best offer.
The resort of Vichy (France) is a well-maintained city that has preserved historical monuments of different eras, available for recreation of wealthy tourists. The city of Vichy on the map of France should be looked for north of Paris in the Auvergne region. You can get to it by rented car or by train departing daily from. The journey takes about 3.5 hours.
This historical place It has been known since the time of the Roman Empire thanks to thermal springs, the water of which has a beneficial effect on the human body. It began to be rebuilt in the 16th century so that the aristocracy could feel comfortable during treatment.
Vichy was the capital of France during World War II. The Vichy government, which supported the regime of fascist Germany, worked there.
What is interesting in the city
Vichy has a large number of well-groomed parks, several sanatoriums where treatment is carried out using various procedures. The city of Vichy was often visited by Napoleon III, whose chalet attracts tourists interested in the history of France. Thanks to this emperor, there are attractions here that are interesting for travelers vacationing in the city. A tour of the city can be done not only on foot, but also by stagecoach or carriage.
Have you been to Paris?
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There is an opera with a large number of seats and excellent acoustics. The building of the casino, built on the initiative of Napoleon, now houses the Congress. It is open to the public, it has an exhibition hall where personal belongings of famous citizens are displayed, which are passed down as relics from generation to generation.
Limoges in France: Weather and holidays in the capital of the Limousin region
Vichy is a city where Napoleon III is honored every year and carnival processions are held. On it you can see ladies and gentlemen dressed in 19th-century outfits, walking along the main street, accompanied by drummers and a brass band.
Vichy has many areas for outdoor activities. There are places for golf, tennis, horse racing. For the convenience of the wealthy public, an airfield was built where private planes can land.
Expert opinion
Knyazeva Victoria
Guide to Paris and France
Ask an expertThe resort town of Vichy (France) is an expensive place where you have to pay for everything. In the center of the city there is a park where there is an outlet for thermal waters. It has a modernist building called the Hall of Sources, which is entered by magnetic cards purchased at the entrance. It is located on the site of a medieval monastery of monks. There are 5 hot and cold springs in the hall thermal water with different names.
Source Hall
Around the park there are many restaurants, shops selling souvenirs. The area adjacent to this park is lined with shopping streets, where boutiques sell expensive items of famous brands.
Vichy has its own charm, it has its own style, in which there is luxury. The streets in the city center are lined with multi-storey villas built in different architectural styles. Here you can find buildings in the classical, Venetian, Gothic, Flemish styles, which are intricately combined with each other.
Val D'isère France
The city has a beach equipped on the banks of the Allier River. There are 2 parks along the embankment. One was founded under Napoleon III and is famous for its wide alleys with centuries-old trees. Birches grow in it, stately and elegant, reminiscent of the ties that connect France and Russia. The second park is named after US President Kennedy. It has a recreation area.
Napoleon III park
kennedy park
Near the beach there is a pavilion of the Celestin spring. This is a beautiful building from 1908, where you can get mineral water for free.
Not far from Vichy there is a park where there are several dormant volcanoes, thanks to which hot springs appeared in the city. Tourists can visit inside the crater, see the sights and appreciate the beauty of the local nature.
In the vicinity of Vichy there are 2 medieval castle available for visiting. They have interesting collections of antique household items. In Olterib, tourists are offered a collection of old carriages for inspection.
What treatment is offered at the resort
Thermes de Domes
Vichy spa hotels are located in the city center, where you can stay and receive wellness treatments. Paid thermal center Thermes de Domes, located a few meters from the Hall of sources, provides expensive services.
The health-improving center Celesten, which occupies about 5 square meters. km, is more popular with tourists due to its affordable prices. The thermal center Dom has medical and cosmetology rooms where you can get help with various diseases.
— small town in central France in, which has long been popular as, becoming the most fashionable vacation spot for the aristocracy in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Officially, from July 11, 1940, Vichy was the seat of the French government for four years.
Vichy is also associated with the cosmetic brand of the same name: Vichy Cosmetics, founded in 1931 and specializing in medical cosmetics based on . These cosmetics are sold in pharmacies around the world.
Well, a little glamour: the famous Vichy checkered print was widely popularized by the famous French actress and model Brigitte Bardot, who adored the feminine outfits of this color. The print is most popular in blues and pinks, although it comes in all colors, of course.
Weather in Vichy:
Vichy travel guide:
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The sights of Vichy can be divided into four periods:
- ancient architecture before 1861,
- Vichy era of Emperor Napoleon III (from 1861 to 1870),
- Vichy early 20th century (1870 to 1944)
- modern post-war Vichy (after 1944).
Old Vichy before 1861:
During the religious wars, due to its strategic position along the Allier River, Vichy was taken and destroyed many times by both Catholics and Protestants.
At the end of the 16th century, Nicolas de Nicolas, the royal geographer, gives the first known description of the Vichy springs. In 1630, the first small pavilion "Maison du Roy" ("King's House") with two pools is built, therapeutic recommendations are developed on how to drink water, take a shower and use Vichy mineral water for diet.
The great Vichy Age begins in the 17th century, when Madame de Sevigne, having undergone two courses of treatment here and got rid of paralysis of her hand, extols the virtues of local thermal springs.
In 1729, the physician Jacques-Francois Chomel, chief physician of the Vichy springs, built a new fountain, which was named after him.
In the summer of 1785, the daughters of Louis XV visited here, but were dissatisfied with the narrow baths and mud. Returning, they persuade their nephew Louis XVI to build new baths, bigger and more pleasant. This task was entrusted to the architect Janson. He created a covered gallery above the Chomel and Grande-Grille springs, adjoining showers, a saloon and a ballroom.
During the French Revolution, the aristocracy had no time for rest and the resort was idle, but in 1799 Letitia Bonaparte, Napoleon's mother, came here for treatment with her son Louis.
Antique boundary post
This is a 2.35 m high border pillar made of arkosic sandstone. The pillar dates from 248-249 and has inscriptions in honor of the Roman Emperor Philip. The pillar was found in 1880 near the Thermal Center, where it is now installed.
Monastic monastery of the Celestines (Couvent des Célestins de Vichy)
The monastery of the Celestine monks was located on the site of the current Celestene park. It was built of stone in the 15th century. In April 1410, Louis II Duke de Bourbon, shortly before his death, signed the act of founding the monastery by Celestine monks. In addition to the building of the monastery, a library was also built in the complex, a room for the seniors and gardens were laid out. Using a good reputation, the monastery received a significant income and the monks prospered. For this reason, the abbey was liquidated by a papal bull in 1777, as well as by a royal ordinance issued a year later. After that, the premises of the monastery housed Vichy City Hall, and in 1793 it was nationalized. The building of the monastery was destroyed in 1795 and only its remains have survived to this day.
Villa Strauss
Villa Strauss is located on the street rue de Belgique at number 4. It was built of brick in 1858, in the neo-Louis XIII style, for the conductor Isaac Strauss. Later, in 1861, and then in 1862, Emperor Napoleon III stayed here, since the imperial chalet intended for him was still under construction.
Now the building houses the La Veranda restaurant, owned by the 4-star Aletti Place hotel.
Gallery of Napoleon III
This central gallery was built in 1865 by Charles Badger, architect of the chalet la Compagnie and later the casino. The gallery opened to the public on June 15, 1858, during the era of the Second Empire. The rest of the building was demolished in 1935 during the construction of Bains Callou located nearby. Since June 2008, the gallery has been converted into a cafe-restaurant.
Castel Franc
This is a small castle built at the end of the 15th century on the site of the ancient fortifications of the city of Vichy. The building was owned by the Frank family, after whom it got its name. In the period from 1801 to 1822, Castel Franc housed Vichy City Hall. The facade of the castle was rebuilt in 1880 in neo-gothic style.
The castle is located on Kennedy Boulevard.
Pavilion Sevigne
This pavilion was built in the 17th century. In 1676 and 1677, the Marquise de Sevigne was treated in Vichy for rheumatism of the hands and she settled in the old part of the dwelling (in a building made of Volvika volcanic stone).
The pavilion is located on Kennedy Boulevard.
The house where Albert Londr was born
In this building, on November 1, 1884, Albert Londre was born, a famous French journalist, the founder of the genre of investigative journalism. The building is located at the intersection Rue Besse and streets de la Porte Saint-Jean. The house was built in the middle of the 19th century and today is in disrepair.
Vichy in the era of Emperor Napoleon III (from 1861 to 1870):
The French emperor Napoleon III began to regularly travel to Vichy for treatment, causing a complete reorganization of the city and a real construction boom: it was during this period that beautiful mansions and chalets were built.
Vichy railway station
In 1862, it was built, connecting the city with and greatly facilitating the road to the resort. The platform was enclosed by protective stained-glass windows in the Art Nouveau style. The station building was expanded in 1977 and completely restored in 2009.
On his first visit to Vichy on July 4, 1861, Emperor Napoleon III had to get off the train at Sainte-Germain-des-Fosses, 10 km from Vichy (the line was opened on June 19, 1854).
Fashion dictated the construction of mansions in the form of elegant chalets. The most beautiful of them frame the boulevard boulevard des Etats-Unis . They were designed by the architect Jean Lefort and were built of brick and wood.
Chalet Maria Louise (109, boulevard des Etats-Unis): built in 1863, the first order of the emperor in Vichy. Napoleon III lived here for only one season, since the windows overlooking the street did not allow keeping his personal life a secret.
Chalet Clermont-Tonnerov(109bis, boulevard des Etats-Unis): built by Jean Lefort in the same 1863 of brick and wood for Captain Clermont-Tonnerre, who provided security for the monarch.
Chalet of the Emperor(Chalet de l'Empereur, 107, boulevard des Etats-Unis): built in 1864, becoming the new residence of Napoleon III instead of the former chalet Marie Louise. The balcony of this building overlooked the park.
Chalet Roses(chalet des roses, 101, boulevard des Etats-Unis): also built in 1864 by order of the French Minister of Finance (1861-1867) Achilles Fulda. This building is influenced by Swiss and American architecture.
Chalet of Empress Eugenia(chalet de l'impératrice eugénie, 105, boulevard des Etats-Unis): also built in 1863 by architect Jean Lefaure for Empress Eugénie de Montijo. She lived there from July 23 to 27, 1863, surviving the presence of her husband's mistress, the actress Margaret Bellanger. Pay attention to the letter "E" of the central forged gate topped with an imperial crown.
rue Alquie —
on this street, made in the London style, houses were built for the imperial guard.
Napoleon III park- trees planted in 1861 and 1862 by the gardener Joseph Marie still grow in this park. Joseph Marie). In the beginning, an artificial stream flowed in the middle of the park, nowadays it has been replaced by two ponds. The park (parc d'Allier) covers an area of 13 hectares. It was broken in the summer of 1862, on the second visit of Emperor Napoleon III, to paint the city and to protect the inhabitants from the incessant floods of the Allier River.
Casino— now the Casino building is located Palace of Congresses. It was built in 1865 and also included a theatre, ballroom, reading room and veranda. In 1995, the casino was remodeled and turned into a convention center. South side of the building rue du Casino executed in the neo-Louis XIII style. The northern façade overlooking the park is made in the neo-baroque style. It consists of a central part and two façade ledges, decorated with four caryatids representing the seasons. The caryatids support two pediments, with a clock on the left and a barometer on the right. In 1901, the casino was expanded with the addition of a stone building that contained saloons, a walking gallery, a large hall and a theater. The theater hall was designed for 1400 seats.
St. Louis Church- built in 1865. The first time Emperor Napoleon III arrived in Vichy on July 4, 1861, and on Sunday, the 7th, he went to mass in the tiny church église Saint-Blaise. The decree of July 27, 1861 provided for the construction of a new church. It was built by the architect Jean Lefaure, who also built the imperial chalet, and opened to the public on July 2, 1865, in the absence of the emperor. Napoleon was able to visit the church on his last visit to Vache, in 1866: on July 29 he attended mass with important dignitaries (Bishop Dre-Brezet and Bishop Moulin) and on August 5 with the prince.
Cafe La Restauration- was built in 1870 by architect Charles Badger and was opened in May 1870, along with a new casino. Café La Restauration has long been considered "the greatest café in Europe". It was renovated in 1985 and changed its name to Grand café. This popular place in the city, with a traditional carzuel, is located opposite the Astoria.
Vichy in the Belle Epoque:
The perfect combination of Second Empire architecture and Belle Époque (, large hotels, palaces and villas) creates a unique charm and Vichy style.
The Belle Époque era (1884 - 1914) came to Vichy in the form of the construction of beautiful villas, including the architects Henri Decoret and Antoine Persil, which blend perfectly with the buildings of the time of Napoleon III.
At this time, active development and modernization of Vichy took place, including the construction of five palaces: Carlton, Majestic, Thermal Palace today is Aletti Palace, Ruhl (renamed Radio in the interwar period), and the famous "hôtel du Parc".
At the same time, beautiful hotels were being built in Vichy: les Ambassadeurs, l’ Astoria, l’International, Le Havre, Le Helder, Le Lutétia, les Princes, le Queen’s, etc.
les Ambassadeurs, l'Astoria, l'International, Le Havre, Le Helder, Le Lutétia, les Princes, le Queen's, etc.
During this period, the street is built up in the Parisian style with beautiful mansions. rue Hubert-Colombier, many houses on which are now historical monuments of France:
- House 5 - villa Victor-Hugo , made in stone and brick in the neo-Louis XIII style;
- House 12- an imposing villa built in 1900, crowned with a rotunda with a dome in slate; after a recent cleaning of its facade, the original whiteness of the stone was revealed (during the Second World War, the embassy of the former kingdom of Siam was located here);
On Rue de Belgique:
On Boulevard de Russie:
Villa Castel Flemish(2 and 2 bis rue de Belgique). This building is listed historical monuments in 1991. The mansion was built in 1898 by Ernest Mizar. The high roof of the building was destroyed in a fire in 1933. During World War II, the building housed the Secretariat of Posts and Telecommunications. As the name implies, the mansion was built in the Flemish Renaissance style of brick and decorated with many sculptures and vases.
rue Alquie: villa Douchka for the sub-prefect, work of the architect Décoret in 1896
rue Albert Londres : Villa Anne-Marie- for Paul Martin (his second home), built in 1902
boulevard carnot: villa Tunisienne- completed by the architect Percilly in 1912 at number 19 and Castel Virginia, built in 1891, number 75.
boulevard des Etats Unis: villa de Samuel Henriquet, built in 1906 at number 115
rue du Maréchal-Foch : Castel Henri And Castel Saint Julien at numbers 46 and 48 (by architect Henri Décoret)
rue Jean-Jaures: villa Bluette de Percilly(1896, No. 9) and Villa Marlyse de Percilly(1902, No. 39)
rue Longchamp: villa Yvonette de Chanet, 1899
Rue Prunelle : Castel du Dr Greletty- built in 1893 by the architect Percilly.
Villa Paul Martin
rue de Strasbourg: a wonderful example of style is Villa Paul Martin, built of stone in 1904 (No. 50) and Villa Antoine Planchin in the spirit of the Spanish architect Gaudi at number 70.
avenue Thermale : villa of the architect Honoré Vianne, built in 1881 for the establishment of Dr. Eugène Lejeune, (since 2002 it has housed the African and Asian Museum - le musée des arts d'Afrique et d'Asie)
Mon Plaisir Villa
quai d'allier: villa Mon plaisir works by Émile Pélisse (1894, no. 4) and a villa Dr Maire d'Henriquet(1911, number 11).
Church
Saint Blaise —
adjoins the Notre Dame church. Église Saint-Blaise de Vichy was built on the site of the Saint-Michel castle. The construction was started by Father Claude Marechal, pastor of Saint Christopher, and completed in 1714 by his nephew, Father Joseph Marechal, who was buried in this church after his death. 
His tombstone, located in the choir, has been listed as an architectural monument since August 30, 1924. French Trip. In the sanctuary of the church is the miraculous Black Virgin Mary, considered the patroness of the sick.
Thermal spas of Vichy
In 1881, the construction of a medical institution began ( house 16 on the avenue avenue Thermale ) with a Neo-Baroque façade.
Pavilion of the Celestene spring - built in 1908 by the architect Lucien Vogue (fr. Lucien Woog) made of stone, wood and artificial marble.
The oval shape of the pavilion is harmoniously complemented by an arcade of regular semicircles. Under the arches of the pavilion there is a wide bowl filled with water from the Celesten spring (table mineral water).
Source Hall,
- is located in Source Park. It was built from metal and wooden structures in 1902, later, in 1977, the pavilion was reconstructed. During these works, water was supplied to the building from all five sources of Vichy.
Grand thermal center Dôme s(Near Hall of springs) with domes, which was built from 1899 to 1903 according to the design of the architect Charles Lecoeur (fr. Charles Le Cœur). The building, made of Moorish-style sandstone, is 170 meters long. There are two notable paintings in the hall, Creek (1903) by Alphonse Osbert, on which the characters quench their thirst from a stream, and Bathing (1904), where the master depicted bathing women. Both works are distinguished by the rigidity of the bodies of the characters, characteristic of the style of symbolism.
Vichy in the interwar period:
This is another period of active construction in Vichy after the Second Empire. Basically, these are "utilitarian" buildings, necessary in the situation of the huge popularity of hydrotherapy in general and the influx of tourists to Vichy in particular. At this time, the city hall (Hotel de Ville), a church, a stadium, bridges, a market, a post office and a bathhouse are being built.
Hotel de Ville- On April 15, 1925, city services move to a new city hall building, built on the site of the former Vichy Stock Exchange. The city hall is made in style - this is the work of the architect Antoine Chanet (1873 - 1964) with his friend and son Jean Liegier (1894 - 1969).
- Church Notre-Dame-des-Malades(Street rue d'Allier), - the church was built in the period 1925 to 1931 of concrete and a dome 42 meters high was decorated. The interior of the church was decorated by the Maumejan brothers (fr. Maumejean) frescoes in three parts: the Old Testament, the New Testament (, Louis XIII and Louis XVI) and the Crucifixion. The bell tower was built in 1956.
- Church of Joan of Arc (Église Jeanne d'Arc, 1929). Architect: Gilbert Brière. The church was inaugurated on June 29, 1929 by Bishop Gonon of Mulin.
- Missionary Chapel(Chapelle des Missionnaires, 1930). Built on the initiative of Father Henri Watté (1878-1935). Consecrated on July 19, 1930 by Bishop Jean-Baptiste Gonog.
- main post office is a granite building erected in 1935 on the square place Charles de Gaulle. The project was carried out by the architect Leon Azema, who by that time had experience in the construction of communication facilities. The façade of the building resembles that of the Parisian Social and Economic Council. The powerful telephone exchange installed here was one of the reasons why Vichy was chosen as the seat of the French government in 1940.
- Bridge Bellerive(1932) - the foundation of the modern bridge over the Allier River between Vichy and Bellerive was laid back in the Second Empire, in May 1870, but in 1932 the bridge was significantly dernized, having doubled in width. The inauguration took place on September 11, 1932, the same day as the city stadium.
- covered market(1935). It was built by the Chaumény company according to the plans of the architect Mazon. It replaced the arena (arènes de Joseph Durand), where bullfights have been held since 1919.
- Salle des fêtes(1935). This Art Deco building was built on the site of the house of the engineer Voye Passignat, which was demolished in 1932. The building was built from 1933 to 1935.
- Bains Lardy(1937). These 3rd class style baths were added to the main building of 1903 (1st class) by the new Bains Callou (2nd class) opened on 21 May 1933.
The Vichy resort is located in the central region of France, Auvergne, on the coast picturesque lake and the river Allier, in the heart of Bourbon - the "Provinces of the Bourbons". This modern French resort is located a 4-hour drive from the capital of France - Paris.
resort type
thermal resort
Description
The city of Vichy is recognized as the "king" of resorts, a charming town with a rich culture and developed entertainment industry. The Vichy resort gained wide popularity during the reign of Emperor Napoleon III, after whom one of the central parks was named.
Vichy resort is now one of the most beautiful resorts of the world, it is literally immersed in the greenery of gardens and reserves, of which there are almost 160 hectares in the city, and the surrounding forest, in which there are more than 500 species of various animals.
The thermal waters of the Vichy resort are known throughout the world for their beneficial effect on the body, so for the sake of an exquisite and at the same time wellness holiday, many celebrities and famous people. There is hardly a person who has not heard about this elegant spa resort, which is famous for its dermo-cosmetic procedures of the Vichy brand of the same name, whose products are distinguished by a unique composition and contain valuable mineral elements through the use of thermal water from source Lucas.
It is worth noting that UNESCO included the Vichy resort in the list of world heritage in the group "Thermal cities of Europe" in 2014, which makes it even more popular place for health and recreation.
The Vichy balneological resort attracts guests not only with mineral and thermal springs, the water of which has healing properties, but also a warm climate, picturesque nature, a large number of beautiful green parks, as well as the ability to combine treatment with relaxation on prestigious resort France. For its sophistication, beauty and aristocracy, this resort can rightly be called "little Paris" on the Allier River.
It is at this resort that guests have a great opportunity to combine wellness vacation with visits to famous restaurants and cozy cafes, known for their amazing French cuisine.
Vichy is ideal for a quiet and relaxing holiday, as well as for guests who like to actively spend free time. Despite the development of the resort direction in this city since the 17th century, modern Vichy lives a rich social life: there are entertainment and leisure activities for every taste in the city.
Video about Vichy resort, France
Type and properties of thermal water
- In total, the resort has 15 cold and hot springs, 6 of which are drinking
- Mineral waters of Vichy - carbonic bicarbonate-sodium, rich in calcium, magnesium, iron, the water temperature in the springs ranges from 16°C to 75°C
- Fluorinated mineral water from springs
The alkaline action of sodium bicarbonate allows you to fight the acidity of food. It is the favorite water of athletes in the fight against cramps and fatigue, stimulating muscle recovery.
Bicarbonates have a beneficial effect on carbohydrate and protein metabolism, have an anti-inflammatory effect, reduce the acidity of gastric juice.
Calcium strengthens bone tissue, thickens cell membranes, and reduces bleeding.
Fluorine strengthens tooth enamel, removes salts of heavy metals and radionuclides from the body.
The Vichy thermal water, used internally according to a medical prescription, complements the thermal treatments. Being a biologically active natural substance, it is recommended for digestive and metabolic disorders, as well as for rheumatism.
Natural healing factors
The climate is warm and moderately humid. The average air temperature in January is +5°C, in July - about +22°C.
Mud therapy
The resort uses thermal mud combined with local clay and mineral water. In combination with hydrotherapy, mud therapy helps relieve muscle tension, improve lymph flow and microcirculation, and speed up metabolism.
Indications for mud treatment
- Degenerative joint diseases (arthritis, rheumatism, osteoporosis)
- Post-traumatic deformities
- Skin diseases (psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis)
Indications for treatment
Outwardly
- Diseases of the musculoskeletal system (rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis, arthrosis, osteoporosis, ankylosing spondylitis)
- Skin diseases (atopic dermatitis, neurodermatitis, ichthyosis, psoriasis, eczema)
- Respiratory diseases (excluding tuberculosis)
- Diseases of the cardiovascular system (rehabilitation after myocardial infarction and heart surgery)
- Diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system (functional disorders of the nervous system, rehabilitation after strokes, neurosis, depression, overwork)
- Diseases of the endocrine system and metabolic disorders
- Decreased immunity
inside
- Diseases of the musculoskeletal system with impaired microelement metabolism (arthritis, complications after injuries, osteoporosis, gout, periarthritis, tendovaginitis)
- Diseases of the digestive system (gastritis, biliary dyskinesia in children and adults, peptic ulcer, colitis)
- Endocrine and metabolic diseases (gout, hypercholesterolemia, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus)
- Urological diseases (cystitis, urethritis)
- Stress, fatigue, obesity
Contraindications
- kidney failure
- Chronic bilateral pyelonephritis
- insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
- The city of Vichy is a balneological resort.
- The city has an unusually developed infrastructure, which makes the Vichy balneological resort the flagship of the resort business in France.
- While walking around the city, you can independently taste the water from different sources.
- There are several treatment centers in Vichy, among which the Celestin (specializes in cosmetic procedures) and Kalu (for the treatment of gastroenterological diseases) stand out.
- The healing properties of thermal water are widely used in the well-known cosmetic brand Vichy.
- At the resort you can relax and undergo treatment with children.
Vichy Celestins Thermal SPA
The Celestin thermal center is one of the most famous not only in France, but throughout Europe. It is connected to the hotel by a covered walkway. Procedures are carried out on the basis of mineral water local sources. It is worth noting that it is better to use water from sources immediately on the spot, since it quickly oxidizes in the air and loses its therapeutic effect. A fitness centre, jacuzzi, sauna and Turkish bath are at guests' disposal. Wellness treatment corresponds to the Vichy method, which provides for 5 directions:
- Medical consultation and dietitian consultation
- Carrying out Vichy procedures based on thermal water
- Special procedure of choice or according to indication
- Exercise in the mineral water pool or in the fitness room
- Proper nutrition, kitchen based on mineral water
Center "Celesten" is one of the largest SPA centers in Europe, the area of treatment rooms is 7500 sq.m.
The Dermo-Cosmetic Center at the Celesten SPA Center offers services for diagnosing the condition of the skin, determining its type and biological age, as well as procedures for men and women based on Vichy preparations. Mud therapy procedures with wraps, vegetable and mineral mud wraps are carried out, which improves the condition of the skin. The SPA center offers a wide range of SPA programs for excellent well-being: "Royal luxury", "Specially for women", "Specially for men", "Recuperation" and others. The Celesten Center also offers a wide range of beauty and health programs, which include facial skin rejuvenation procedures (anti-aging care), body detoxification, weight loss, treatment of back, neck and joint pain.
Thermal center Les Thermes Callou
The Kallu Baths opened in 1990 and are open from April to October. Available in thermae following procedures: bathtubs, jacuzzi, jet douche, underwater douche, disperse douche, mud therapy, massage, fitness, care procedures. Kallu Center specializes in the treatment of gastroenterological diseases.
Center Thermal des Dômes
Therme Dom is open from February to December. Thermae offer the following services: drinking cures, thermal pool 35°C, sauna, hammam, jacuzzi, cardio area, open pool. The dermo-cosmetic center of the Dom thermal center operates on the basis of Vichy cosmetics and mineral water from the Luca spring.
Vichy is a resort offering guests a lot of secular entertainment: performances of the Opera House, concerts under open sky, horse racing, elegant shopping, casinos, evenings in trendy bars and restaurants, yacht races, rowing competitions, as well as romantic walks in the city park, front embankment, medieval streets cities. The surroundings of the resort are conducive to travel: ancient castles, extinct volcanoes, the royal estate of Randan.
Excursion opportunities
Vichy is distinguished by a variety of architectural sights. The eclecticism of the resort amazes the tourist, the city is full of a mixture of classical, Gothic and Venetian styles. In the old part of the city, you can visit the Notre-Dame-de-Malyad church, built in the Art Deco style using various decorative techniques (painting, mosaics and stained glass). The city has a large number of parks, where there is an excellent opportunity to stroll comfortably, breathe fresh air and just relax on a sunny day. Often in the evening, resort guests attend performances at the Opera House. The surroundings of the city have ancient castles, a park extinct volcanoes"Vulcania", not far from Vichy, there are cheese dairies and wineries, where you can organize unforgettable excursions.
Sports opportunities
Organization of an active pastime in the French resort of Vichy is not difficult: especially for guests, excellent conditions have been created for horseback riding, golf, parks are equipped with jogging and cycling paths. Guests who enjoy fitness activities can visit sports complex and the Vichy water stadium.
Entertainment for children
In Vichy you can also relax with children, for this the resort has not only therapeutic possibilities, but also entertainment that fits comfortably into the atmosphere of the city.
For example, a city tour on a mini train will be an unforgettable adventure not only for children, but also for their parents. In the Vichy Springs Park you can find merry-go-rounds for your children. Some Vichy centers, such as the Kallu center, which specializes in gastroenterological diseases, provide balneological procedures for children, preventing the development of chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Nearest major cities
Lyon - 150 km
Dijon hotels - 220 km
Limoges hotels - 240 km
Paris - 360 km
Distance to airports
Clermont-Ferand hotels - 54 km
Lyon - 170 km
Paris - 340 km
Since the 19th century, with the participation of the mother of Napoleon Bonaparte, her sons, Maria Theresa, Charles X and many other influential personalities, Vichy has developed and gained more and more popularity. But the final impetus for the creation of the world-famous balneological resort was made by Napoleon III, who rested in these places for five years in a row. Was laid Railway and the station was equipped, a dam was built on the Allier, landscape parks were laid out, pavilions were created for receiving healing waters, a casino was opened, and prototypes of hotels were built - chalets for temporary stay. All this allowed to increase the flow of tourists by 10 times!
Further growth only continued - if at the beginning of the century 40,000 tourists came to the waters a year, then before the First World War - already 100,000. The First World War, of course, reduced the popularity of the resort, but in the 30s active growth began again - it was opened Opera theatre, where stars of the first magnitude acted, new thermal centers were built and existing ones were restored.
During World War II, Vichy assumed a role other than a thriving resort - the city became the capital of a German-controlled collaborationist government, the so-called Vichy regime. This was facilitated by the relative proximity to Paris, the presence of prepared infrastructure, farms in the district, a large number of hotels and the most modern telephone station and telegraph in the country, created to ensure the connection of the rich and famous guests with the rest of the world.
After the war, the resort flourished again, planes flew to the modest airport even from other countries. Despite a pause in development in the 70s and 80s, in 1989 the city was transformed and improved in accordance with modern requirements. The fruits of these labors can still be enjoyed today, and their level can already be judged by the fact that in 2008 Vichy hosted the European Union Summit.
How to get there
Vichy is located 300 kilometers southeast of Paris and 120 kilometers from Lyon, while the city is located away from major highways, respectively bus service will be long and with transplants. Therefore, it is better to get to the city by rail.
From Paris
You need to go to the Bercy station (you can reach it from the Gare de Lyon on the 14th metro line), then take the train to Clemon-Ferrand to Vichy station. Travel time is about three hours.
From Lyon
Trains depart from the Lyon station to the same Clemon-Ferrand, the travel time is just under two hours.
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