Five years on, the impact of a UNESCO World Heritage status is increasingly visible in Vichy; one of The Great Spa Towns of Europe (GSTE) and the only spa town in France to be part of this group.
The Great Spa Towns of Europe is a serial, transnational UNESCO World Heritage Site comprised of 11 spa towns from seven countries across Europe: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom. Distinguished from the hundreds of spa towns across the continent, these 11 hold specific traits that earn the prestigious UNESCO assessment of ‘Outstanding Universal Value’.
This month, members of The Great Spa Towns of Europe Association (GSTEA) will gather in Vichy for a series of meetings and site visits, including their General Assembly on 29th April 2026. This is the first General Assembly held during the anniversary year of The Great Spa Towns of Europe, as 2026 marks five years since being inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (24th July 2021).
Image of Vichy, France – one of The Great Spa Towns of Europe. (c) Xavier Thomas.
The General Assembly is made up of political representatives of each town, working alongside experts in heritage, conservation, tourism, community engagement and climate change. The Great Spa Towns of Europe’s Youth Forum, formed of young people living across the spa towns, also participate in decision-making.
The fifth anniversary is a moment of acceleration, as the General Assembly will be working on management strategies with impacts across Europe. The Property Management Plan – the formal planning document required by UNESCO – will be revised, while a new Action Plan will be created for the Property. Within this, plans for climate change adaptation and disaster risk frameworks will be built. The UNESCO inscription creates a structure to govern alongside local legislation, meaning projects can be created collaboratively and management commitments can span the entire network.
Meanwhile, Vichy itself is undergoing restoration, developing its tourism products and preserving its rich spa heritage. Vichy’s recent and ongoing developments are an example of what our spa towns are achieving at a local level as a result of a strong network of international relationships and collective action. The town has used its World Heritage status as leverage to attract considerable investment and funding, and channel it back into heritage-friendly conservation and regeneration.
Chiara Ronchini, Secretary General of The Great Spa Towns of Europe, comments:
“Five years of UNESCO inscription is a moment to reflect, but above all, to act. This General Assembly is where we set the course for the next chapter – for the network, for the towns and for the communities that live this heritage every day. Gathering in Vichy gives us a vivid reminder of what that work looks like on the ground: a town that has invested deeply in its heritage, its public spaces and its future. That commitment is what we ask of all our members, and it’s what makes this network worth being part of.”
Fighting Climate Change
Aerial view of the Parc des Sources in Vichy, France. (c) Joël Damase, 2018
The Great Spa Towns of Europe network means experts can share knowledge and expertise easily. Supporting one another in preventing the impacts of climate change on-the-ground, as well as contributing to shared strategies like the new Action Plan. For instance, Baden bei Wien led a Climate Vulnerability Index workshop last year, sharing the experience with Site Managers across the spa towns.
The result in Vichy is seen in innovative approaches to conservation, which not only protect the historic town from climate change but improve its offerings for tourists and residents. The Parc des Sources – a major heritage monument and the epicentre of the town – was reopened last summer with new water features. These cool the urban environment and have a visual appeal, with 11 dancing fountains that evoke the 11 spa towns in The Great Spa Towns of Europe and celebrate European spa heritage.
A continued effort in advancing climate adaptation is the The Great Spa Towns of Europe’s work with Preserving Legacies, a climate adaptation programme funded by the National Geographic Society. Four members of The Great Spa Towns of Europe Association have enrolled – from Vichy (France), Spa (Belgium), the City of Bath (UK) and the Secretary General of The Great Spa Towns of Europe. This training stands out for being community-led, weaving traditional knowledge with scientific research. Working with the GSTE was a significant step forward for Preserving Legacies, as they were attracted to the benefits of our international network, which allows their work to be amplified at scale.
Frédéric Aguilera, Mayor of Vichy, added:
“The spa district is the heart and soul of Vichy. The “Renaissance of the Spa District” project had a clear ambition: to make Vichy the Queen of Spa Towns in the 21st century.
With nearly €100 million invested by the City of Vichy and its partners to preserve and enhance our heritage, this spa district is being revitalised and is once again becoming the vibrant heart of Vichy.
By restoring iconic sites such as the Parc des Sources, a 6-hectare space in the city centre and at the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, we are choosing a living, attractive heritage that is fully focused on the future.”
The Centre of Celebrations
Celebrating European spa heritage in Vichy, France – one of The Great Spa Towns of Europe. (c) Ville de Vichy.
Vichy plays a significant role in celebrating The Great Spa Towns of Europe, as the host of celebrations every year. On the birthday of the inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List, Vichy creates grand festivities in honour of another one of the spa towns. Last year, Vichy honoured the Czech town of Karlovy Vary with national food, music and dancing. This year, the annual birthday party will honour the City of Bath.
Major Developments, New Attractions and Historic Spas Reopened
Recently Restored Bandstand in Vichy, France – one of The Great Spa Towns of Europe. (c) Ville de Vichy.
In June 2025, Vichy officially reopened the Parc des Sources following extensive construction work; renovating the bandstand for festivities, live music and public events; the Fer à Cheval shopping arcades; the forecourt to the Palais des Congrès-Opéra and more.
A new, immersive exhibition is currently being created in and beneath the Hospital Spring Pavilion, which houses a spring of water used widely in cosmetics. A crypt is being created around archaeological remains found during on-site excavations and digital totems will be installed in the pavilion’s lobby. The site is expected to open in September 2026.
The Thermes Callou recently reopened following 18 months of restoration, respecting the spa building’s architecture and history while reducing its carbon footprint. Its transformation has prompted wider modernisation across Vichy’s accommodation, with overhauls underway at the Ibis Hotel, the Résidence Callou, the Vichy Célestins Spa Hôtel and the Mercure.
Throughout the town, new signage has been installed to influence how residents and visitors navigate the town. With priority given to natural wayfinding (such as using notable buildings or natural landmarks), 13 orientation tables, including one monumental one in the centre of Parc des Sources, and 51 heritage plaques on the city’s most iconic buildings and landmarks have been installed. The city acts as an open-air museum, embedding cultural heritage and European spa history in everyday life.
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The Great Spa Towns of Europe
The Great Spa Towns of Europe is a serial, transnational UNESCO World Heritage Site comprised of eleven spa towns across seven European countries. Together, these towns comprise one ‘property’ .
From the hundreds of spa towns across Europe, these eleven are the most authentic examples of the European spa phenomenon. As epicentres for social, cultural and political innovations, these spa towns shaped architecture, urban design, medicine, health and wellness tourism and modern European identity.
The site was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List on 24th July 2021; the highest international recognition for global cultural and natural heritage sites. The Site is managed by The Great Spa Towns of Europe Association, formally registered in August 2022 in Baden bei Wien, Austria.