Just 2 hours from Lyon and 4 hours from Paris, Vichy is the most prestigious and well-known spa town in France. Known since the Roman times, Vichy developed in the nineteenth century to a grand spa town with some of the richest spa architecture in France.
Located across the River Allier, near the Bourbonnais mountains, Vichy is an elegant spa town, built as a cosmopolitan ‘little Paris’, set within a majestic landscape.
The Palais des Congrès–Opera is a must-see, known as the jewel of the city’s architectural heritage. The Opera House is the only Art Nouveau style theatre in gold and ivory colours in France.
To sample Vichy’s famous water, visit the Hall des Sources. Inspired by the ‘trinkhalle’ of German or Austro-Hungarian spas, the hall was built in 1903 to house the refreshment stands for the five springs used for the drinking cure: Célestins, Lucas, Hôpital, Chomel and Grande Grille. Visitors can also drink from The Celestine Spring, the most famous water of Vichy and the only one to be bottled. A grand pavilion houses the spring, build in 1908 in a neo-Louis XVI style.
Napoleonic History
Vichy, the “Queen of the Spa Towns” was a favourite spot of Napoleon III, and you can still see his villa in the park near the River Allier.
Napoleon III encouraged the building of a new spa town, laid out with promenades and parks to create a resort similar to the styles of nineteenth century Paris.
From the spa to the theatre, from the bottled mineral water to the cosmetics company, Vichy has a global reputation.
Vichy celebrates its Napoleonic history with the Vichy fête Napoléon III, nationally recognised by the public as one of the flagship events of historical re-enactments in France.
Wander and Explore
Vichy is known for its eclectic architecture, and wandering through the town is sure to uncover hidden gems. Talented architects created luxurious villas at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries; Moorish, Venetian, Flemish, Tunisian.
From The Neighbourhood of France to The Old District, walking through the streets of Vichy is a travel experience in itself.
The town has a lively district of cafés and brasseries, and covered galleries with boutiques provide covered spaces to go shopping and explore under historic architecture.
Places of Interest
The Palais des Congrès - Opera
This Art Nouveau theatre is the jewel of the city’s architectural heritage, with vibrant performances throughout the year.
La Source Lardy
It was once said the Lardy spring “produced the same phenomena in women as champagne wine”.
Walk Along the Allier
Walk along the promenade on the edge of the Allier lake, with the Napoleon III parks, banks, guinguettes and leisure activities.
Napoleon III and Kennedy Parks
1/6th of Vichy is made of parks, squares and green spaces, created under Napoleon III. Particularly remarkable is the Napoleon III park, with an area of 7.8 hectares and 138 species.
The Great Thermal Establishment
A spa facility in a surprising neo-Moorish style. The Callou thermal baths are just a few steps away and are also used for traditional cures.
Museé de l’Opéra
The Opera Museum is the only one of its kind in the province, reserving and enhancing the archives of the famed Vichy Opera. Each year, it offers a thematic exhibition that recreates the history of the spa’s musical seasons.
Passage Giboin
The passage Giboin is the most beautiful of the city’s many passages. Covered and full of charm, it was built in 1888 on the site of the former garden of the Mombrun hotel.
The Church of Saint-Blaise
On the inside, this church is adorned with light marble, lapis lazuli and onyx. On the outside, it is deceptively austere.
Musée des arts d'Afrique et d'Asie
Unique collections in Auvergne of fine arts, photography, sacred art, ethnography, music, contemporary creation: the museum illustrates the artistic diversity of civilisations in Africa and Asia but also in Oceania and America. Every year, temporary exhibitions tell the story of the world of yesterday and today. There is a fun route for families with creative workshops.
The Horseshoe and Kiosk
Built in 1902, this still hosts free outdoor concerts from May to September. The seven bandstands that Vichy had at the beginning of the century testified to the importance of music in the “Queen of the water cities”. A shopping arcade, “horseshoe-shaped”, surrounds the bandstand and extends the covered arcade around the Hospital spring.
Rue de Belgique
Villas in various styles and with different cultural references.
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in Vichy
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A perfect day in Vichy
10 a.m
Discover the spa quarter
Start your day in Vichy with a guided visit to the spa quarter: enter the Springs Hall (“Hall des Sources”) and taste the Célestins spring. Walk around the Napoleon III villas and stroll through the Napoleon park.
12 a.m.
Taste the local cuisine
Have a lunch to remember at the Nations or Célestins restaurants, where you will be able to taste some delightful local cuisine with French flair.
2 p.m.
Having a sporty time on the river Allier
Begin the afternoon with some exercise or sport: go down the River Allier by canoe or bike and admire the beautiful landscape.
3 p.m.
Relax in the Thermes des Dômes
A source of health, beauty and well-being since ancient times, the thermal resort of Vichy is renowned around the world over for the benefits of its waters. Discover spa rituals with Vichy thermal water in the new thermal suite, such as a Hydromassage bath, a Phyto-mineral mud wrap, a Vichy shower or simply enjoy the pools.
5 p.m.
Play in the Opera House
Try a novel way to discover the mystery of the Opera with the Maître Chanteur Escape Game. Discover the magnificent golden Art Nouveau opera house in a playful way.
7 p.m.
Relax on a boat
After a long day, take the promenade boat on the River Allier, and take a time to relax, take in the fresh air and scenery.
9 p.m.
Try Local Cuisine for Dinner
Food in Vichy combines the sophistication of French cooking with the health benefits of spa town food. There are several Michelin star restaurants, alongside charming brasseries, comforting home cooking.
Accommodation & Offers
Stay in style in Vichy
Whether you want to spend a night or a week in Vichy, there are plenty of options for accommodation – from impressive spa hotels to quintessential French gîtes.
Getting there
- Vichy is approx. 3 hours from Paris by train, with regular services leaving from Bercy and Gare de Lyon throughout the day.
- In the summer, the (free) shuttles La Mouette and Le Mirage allow you to go from one bank of the Allier to the other. The boats can accommodate up to 12 passengers and carry bicycles and strollers. The redeveloped quays allow people with reduced mobility to embark and reach the places on board reserved for them.
- Nearest Airport: Lyon
- For discounts, don’t forget to use the Vichy Pass
Vichy Tourism Information Centre
- + 33 (0)4 70 98 71 94
- info@vichymonamour.fr
- 19, rue du Parc 03200 Vichy France
- https://vichymonamour.fr/
Events and festivals in Vichy
Fêtes Napoleon
Each year, Vichy is taken back to Napoleonic...
Sunday in Vichy
On Sundays in Vichy, you can enjoy concerts, shopping,...
Iron Man Vichy
During the last weekend of August, more than...
Opera Season
Sometimes classical, sometimes contemporary, the world of live...
Places to visit near Vichy
Cusset: Museum of the Prison Tower
This museum traces the history and urban development of Cusset in one of the last vestiges of the imposing fortifications built in the 15th century at the request of Louis XI.
Billy: Fortress and Medieval Village
This military fortress dominates the Allier valley and attracts thousands of visitors every year, who wander through the narrow streets of the village to see its remains. Guides will explain the long history of the Bourbon lords during guided tours.
Châtel-Montagne: Church and Artist's Village
The charming village of Châtel-Montagne, perched on a hilltop, is home to one of the most beautiful Romanesque churches in Auvergne. Discover some artists’ workshops, the “chemin d’étonnement” and the Romanesque Art space at the Tourist Office.
Laprugne: Plateau of La-Lodge-des-Gardes
The Druidic Stones are hidden here, among tress aged hundreds of years. Located in the Assise forest, many winter sports and summer leisure activities are also available here.
Pierre Châtel and Hêtres Totueux
La Pierre Châtel, a rocky escapement and a picturesque place, offers one of the most beautiful views of the Montagne Bourbonnaise.
Saint-Nicolas-des-Biefs: Peat Bogs of the Plateau de la verrerie
This plateau is a real paradise for many species, some of which date back to the Ice Age. With its wild atmosphere, surrounded by mountain moors, it offers magnificent views of the Roannais, the Alps and Auvergne.
Saint-Clement Lake
A leisure centre for water sports activities, offering all its visitors family-friendly leisure activities in an environment conducive to relaxation and rest. It is classified as a large inland mountain lake. Certified “Tourism and Disability”.
Lavoine: Saint Vincent Rock
As the guardian of places steeped in history, standing above the Sichon Valley, the Saint-Vincent rock is one of the most typical natural sites in the Bourbonnaise Mountains. It offers a remarkable panoramic view.
Lavoine: Bois noirs forest and montoncel
The highest point of the Allier department at 1287m, the Puy de Montoncel offers a 360° view. To access it, walk through the Bois Noirs forest, one of the oldest forests of pectin fir in Europe, which favours the development of a remarkable flora and fauna. This natural area is a playground for nature activities. It is home to the Montoncel hostel and the largest mountain bike area in France.
Lavoine: Ball clock
The largest ball and water clock in the world is located in the village square in Lavoine. Occupying a space of more than 30m², this clock was made of 95% wood.
Ferrieres-sur-Sichon: Glozel
This museum presents more than 2500 pieces of baked clay, stone and bone, discovered since 1924. A large part of the collection contains enigmatic inscriptions that are still being deciphered.
Ferrieres-sur-Sichon: Montgilbert Castel
In a wild site, the imposing ruins of the 13th century castle, a military stronghold of the Bourbons, have been the subject of conservation work for several years by volunteer work camps. The greatest caution is recommended when visiting the site.
Arrones: Cluniac church and its medieval garden
This characterful village was built around its 11th century Cluniac church. On the south side of the building, a medieval garden and the Prior’s house, known as the Gamet house, tell of the installation and life of the Cluniacs at the priory of Arrones.
Electrodrome
In a setting of industrial buildings, the Electrodrome conservatory presents electrification and its history. Its guides tell the story of the genesis of the many objects in the museum and the impact on daily life of the arrival of the ‘Electricity Fairy’ in one of the first electrified villages in France.
Saint-Germain-des-Fosses: Priory
In Auvergne Romanesque style, the priory is a Cluniac site belonging to the Benedictine order. Numerous events take place there from May to September: concerts, exhibitions, theatre, treasure hunts and conferences.
Bellerive-sur-Allier: Intermittent Source
The shady park of the Intermittent Spring has the particularity of a spring gushing out at regular intervals. Since it was drilled in January 1844, it has been delivering water at 29.7° for 45 minutes every four hours.
Sensitive Natural Area: Boire des Carres
A former branch of the river, the Boire des Carrés comes back to life when it reconnects with the Allier at high water. This site is a real natural setting combining alluvial forest, meadows, lawns and small islands.
Via Allier
From St-Yorre to Billy, the greenway allows users to walk along the banks of the Allier for 27 kilometres. The comfortable, safe, 3 metre wide paths are accessible to mountain bikes and mountain biking. In addition to this greenway, discovery loops of 6 to 12 km will allow you to take additional routes to discover the varied atmosphere and landscapes of picnic areas by the water or in wooded and natural areas.
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