Vichy is a pleasant small town on the banks the River Allier and is nowadays known as a world-famous spa town recognised as such in 2021 by UNESCO as one of the ‘Great Spa Towns of Europe’.

In Roman times Vichy was a minor spa town which declined during the Middle Ages. It experienced something of a revival during the reign of Henry IV and began to flourish during the late 17th Century when the letter writer Madame de Sévigné stayed here.

Centre thermal des Dômes Fresko "La Source"

Later, visits by Napoleon III in the 1860s established Vichy as a top spa town.

Vichy France

In July 1940 Vichy was chosen by the Nazi Collaborationist Government of Marshall Pétain as their capital and remained so until August 1944. This episode damaged its reputation and it took till the 1960s to re-establish itself .