Vichy



Vichy (Occitan: Vichèi) is a commune in the department of Allier in Auvergne in central France. It is known as a spa and resort town. It was the de facto capital of Vichy France during the World War II Nazi German occupation from 1940 to 1944. It has a population of 26,528 (1999). The town inhabitants are called Vichyssois. Up until the 18th century they were more properly known as les Vichois which stems from the Occitan name of the town, Vichèi. The writer Valery Larbaud uses the term Vicaldiens after the Ancient Roman name for the community[4].

With 80,194 inhabitants, Vichy's urban area is the second largest in the Auvergne region behind Clermont-Ferrand. And its CouchSurfing community count about 30 members.

HISTORY OF VICHY
The presence of a ford on the "Flumen Elaver" (Allier) and the Thermal Springs induced the Gallo-Romans to set up a small town at the exit from the bridge which Caesar had taken in 52 BC when returning to Gergovia. They were the first people to experience and exploit the therapeutic properties of the Springs. During the first two centuries AD Vichy prospered both economically and as a spa. At the end of the 3rd. century, Diocletian undertook a major administrative and cadastral (property registration) reorganization. In this period the toponym VIPIACUS appeared (agricultural region belonging to VIPIUS) which evolved phonetically to become VICHIACUS then VICHIET or VICHIER and finally through being written rapidly VICHY.

By the act of 2nd. September 1344, Jean II ceded the Manor of Vichy to Duke Pierre the 1st. of Bourbon. After the acquisition on 6th. December 1374 of the last part of the Château de Vichy by Louis II, Vichy became part of the Bourbon estates. In 1410, the Monastery of the Célestins was founded by 12 monks. A building situated above the Spring is still visible. From the end of the 16th. century people came to Vichy seeking water cures and the waters rapidly acquired a quasi-miraculous reputation. Certain intendants, such as Fouet and Chomel, introduced a classification of the cures giving the Spa considerable prestige by attracting visits by important persons.

Following her two cures in 1676 and 1677, Madame de Sévigné praised the virtues of the waters at Vichy which cured her of an awkward paralysis of the hands, allowing her to recover the use of her brilliant and valued pen. Victoire and Adélaïde, daughters of Louis XV, stayed at Vichy during the Summer of 1785. The bathing establishments were too uncomfortable for them with muddy surroundings and inadequate to cope with the large number of people taking the waters. On their return to Versailles, they went to convince their nephew Louis XVI to build more spacious and agreeable thermal spas.

Napoléon IIIIn 1799, Laetitia Bonaparte, mother of Napoleon, took a cure in the company of her son Louis. Under the Empire the Parc des Sources was developed under the orders of the Emperor (Decree Gumbenin 1812). Under Charles X, the influx of people taking the waters resulted in an increase in the capacity of the Etablissement Thermal (Thermal Spa Establishment). The Dauphine, Madame la Duchesse d'Angoulême, had the Bâtiments de Janson (Janson Buildings) improved in the same style according to the design of Rose - Beauvais (Works completed in 1830). From 1844 to 1853, dramatic and lyric performances developed in the rooms of the Etablissement under the baton of the conductor Isaac Strauss.

Between 1861 and 1866, Lebobe and Callou, farmers on the State's spa estate, had the heavy responsibility of organizing successive cures for Napoleon III. It was the flowering of spa treatments in Vichy. The urbanization process profoundly transformed the town under the Second Empire. Under the orders of Emperor Napoléon III, the Allier river was dammed. Formal gardens of 13 hectares (32 acres) replaced the ancient marshes. Along the newly laid out roads and boulevards chalets and pavilions were built to accommodate the Emperor and the imperial retinue. Entertainments were not forgotten : a Casino was built by the architect Badger in an eclectic style within view of the Parc des Sources. It was opened in 1865.

Painted mural by Osbert (1903) in the Centre Thermal des DômesAfter the Second Empire, the Belle Epoque marked the second great period of construction in Vichy : in 1903 the Opéra (Opera House), the spa hall and a great thermal spa establishment in an oriental style were opened. In 1900, the Parc des Sources was surrounded by a covered metal gallery which came from the Exposition Universelle (Universal Exhibition) of 1889. 700 meters in length, it is decorated with a frieze of thistles, and was created by the ironworker Emile Robert. Private hotels with highly varied architectural references were built during the first part of the 20th. century. Vichy welcomed 40,000 people taking cures in 1900, close to 100,000 by the eve of the first war. Spa life reached its apogee in the 1930's. The success of the spa treatments led the managers of the farm estate to increase the capacity of the establishments by building the Bains Callou (Callou Baths) and Bains Lardy (Lardy Baths). The Art Nouveau style Opéra (Opera House), opened in 1903, hosted all the greatest international names : Vichy became the Summer music capital of France.

Following the French collapse, Marshall Pétain was charged with forming a new government. On the 18th. June General de Gaulle made his celebrated call from London. The Government could no longer remain in Paris and withdrew to Bordeaux. After the Armistice in June 1940, the Government, driven out of Bordeaux by the German occupation, set itself up in Vichy. The reasons for this choice relate to the amount of tourist accommodation in the "Queen of Spa Towns" and the presence of telephone systems which were among the most modern in France. On the 1st of July, the government took control of a large number of hotels. 600 parliamentarians (Deputies and Senators) went to Vichy to convene the parliamentary Chambers. On the 9th. and 10th. of July, in the hall of the Opéra (Opera House) members of parliament voted for the end of the 3rd. Republic. The republican regime was abolished, the Etat Français (French State), with Philippe Pétain as Chef d'Etat (Head of State) replaced it (only 80 of the 600 members of parliament voted in opposition). From this date Vichy would be the Capitale de l'Etat Français (Capital of the French State) for more than four years.

The storm passed, the spa centre regained its large national and international clientele. Nevertheless, with medical progress and the arrival of new treatments, its profile declined relative to the traditional level of spa treatment activity at Vichy. Conscious of this evolution, Pierre Coulon, Mayor of Vichy, and Jacques Lacarin, his 1st. Adjoint and successor, launched a vast programme of investment in order to diversify Vichy's activities and create new centres of attraction. With the construction of the dam and the creation of an expanse of water, the creation of the Parc Omnisports (Sports Park) and development of the banks of the Allier, Vichy became a sporting town. He also created the CAVILAM (Centre Audiovisuel de Langues Modernes - Audiovisual Centre for Modern Languages) which attracted young people from all over the world to learn French. In 1989, Claude Malhuret, former Minister of Human Rights, was elected Mayor of Vichy. The town and its economic partners initiated and successfully carried out a major programme of renovation and modernization. The creation of a vast pedestrian area in the centre of the town, modernizing and bringing the hotel sector up to standard, reconstruction and renovation of the spas, construction of a balneotherapy centre dedicated to restoring health and physical well being, restoration of the architectural heritage, construction of a conference centre in the heart of the old Casino, restoration of the l'Opéra (Opera House).

More informations about the History of Vichy on the Vichy !

WHAT TO VISIT ?
More informations about the places to visit in Vichy on the Vichy !

Free Internet/Wifi Access
Here are some places where you can get some free Internet Access:


 * Atelier des TIC Vichy - Adress: 5-15 rue Montaret - Tel: 04 70 30 41 30

COUCHSURFERS
There are about 35 Couchsurfers in Vichy and the area, feel free to contact them by searching them on a couchsurf or by posting some messages on the CS Group of Vichy.

Meetings
There are some meetings organised in Vichy, you can check on the CS Group of Vichy if there is something happened or check on the Regional CS Group of Auvergne to see if there is an event organised in the area.

Coffee or a drink
Here is a list of local couchsurfers who could be ready to show you the city or/and have a drink with you:

How to get to Vichy

 * By Car:
 * By Bus:
 * By Train:

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY


35 avenue Victoria, Vichy Tel: 04 70 96 11 11 or 17 Gendarmerie - 16, av Gérardmer Tel: 04 70 30 42 50 Police Municipale Place de l’hôtel de ville, Vichy Tél: 04 70 30 17 28 Tel: 15 Centre hospitalier bd Denière, 03200 Vichy Tél: 04 70 97 33 33 Polyclinique La Pergola Allée des ailes, Vichy Tél : 04 70 30 30 30 Tel: 18 Tel: 15
 * Police Station:
 * Health Urgency:
 * Hospital:
 * Fireman Station:
 * Embassy:
 * Emergency Doctor:

INTERESTED LINKS</FONT>
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 * Regional CS Group: Auvergne
 * Local CS Group: Vichy


 * Vichy on Wikivoyage
 * Vichy on Hitchwiki
 * Vichy on Wikipedia