During my first weekend in France, my Austrian friend Alex and I took a trip to Vichy, a city around 2 hours northwest of Lyon by train. It’s pretty much located in the center of France.
🌟About Vichy🌟
When it comes to Vichy, many people especially girls would think of the french dermo-cosmetics brand Vichy Laboratoires (under L’Oreal Group) and their renowned sunscreen, thermal water spray, and many other thermal products.
Some people might remember that in World War II, Vichy was the capital of Vichy France from 1940 to 1942. As part of the Allies’ side, the Third French Republic fought against Nazi Germany but could not prevent the invasion. Thus, Marshal Philippe Pétain signed the Armistice of 22 June 1940 (Armistice of Compiègne) and the French territory was then divided into “zone libre (free zone)” and “zone occupée (occupied zone)”. Pétain established an authoritarian government in Vichy, located in the free zone. It adopted a collaboration policy with Nazi Germany, so it was often described as a German puppet state.
Historically, the hot mineral springs were found in Vichy before Jesus Christ, and since natural spring water was credited with medicinal value and healing powers, the city has become prosperous and famous as a spa and resort town ever since. In 2021, Vichy was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List as one of the “Great Spa Towns of Europe“.
🌟Why I would like to go to Vichy🌟
When Alex asked me if I would like to spend a weekend in Vichy, I said OF COURSE YES because 1) It’s been so long since I traveled with Alex. We went to Strasbourg and her home country Austria (Vienna and Graz) together in 2015 and 2016. Traveling with her was always super fun and we were good travel partners. Thus, I was super excited about another opportunity to visit a new city with her!
👉 You can read our previous traveling blogposts below:
2) Vichy is not well-known in Asia as a tourist destination and I would like to seize the chance to explore the city and have a relaxing weekend in the famous spa center. Pierre and Bernadette said people would go on a ‘cure’ in a medical thermal spa for a week. While I did research, I was surprised to see that ‘GPs in France can prescribe three weeks at a thermal treatment centre for patients with a wide range of pains or diseases, and the insurance company will reimburse the bill (including transport and accommodation) from 65% to 100% depending on their resources and pathology.’ That’s such a good combination of “cure” and “relaxation” and a legitimate excuse to take sick leaves! I wish Taiwan could have this practice and the doctors can prescribe me a week of thermal treatment in Beitou or Jiaoxi! (oh not possible… our National Health Insurance is already on the brink of bankruptcy 😅
🌟Our relaxing weekend in Vichy starts🌟
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| Thanks Alex for preparing delicious baguette sandwiches as our first meal! It’s very common to prepare sandwiches while traveling in Europe as restaurants are costly and it is easy to get the ingredients in the supermarket! |
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| On our way to the hotel, we felt that this city was strangely quiet. There were few people and cars on the street… maybe it was due to the bad weather (it was raining for the whole weekend), or people stayed at home or went to other towns on the weekend, or simply because this city was just too small with few residents (in 2019, the population of Vichy was 24,980) |
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| Besides the natural spring water, Vichy is also famous for its architecture. There is one district called “Les Rues Remarquables (The Remarkable Streets)” where many Neo-Venetian, Flemish, Classic Gothic or Art Nouveau style buildings were constructed at the turn of the 20th century. |
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| The cloudy and rainy weather made the city even more tranquil, more like in September not April. |
Palais des Congrès-Opéra (Convention Center & Vichy Opera House)
Under Napoleon III, Vichy was booming. The king hoped that people came here not just to enjoy the thermal water, but to have fun with games, balls and shows. As a result, the first casino-theater of Vichy was built in 1865.
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| source: Google image |
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| The exterior and interior of the Opera House |
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| We bought the ticket to have a look at the interiority of the opera house. According to the website, “the Vichy Opera House is a pure jewel of Art Nouveau style”. Although the color and the decoration were a bit old-fashion, it’s not difficult to imagine how dazzling the opera house was a decade ago. |
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| The Opera House is still in use for live performance like dance, musical or theater. |
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| I was so excited to find this Vintage Pay Phone at the Opera House |
Hall des Sources (Drink-hall)
The active thermal spring sources in Vichy are sheltered in this hall. Compared to the chilly temperature outside, the hall was very warm due to the heat of the sources. Pierre and Bernadette told us before our departure that we can drink the spring water from the faucet directly. Their natural water has a positive effect on our health and skin. They said some people even brought a lot of bottles to bring the water back home.
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| Must-try spring water in Vichy! There’s a vending machine for paper cups. The spring water tasted like not-so-good sparkling water. Alex didn’t finish it, while I gulped it down as I still believed in its beautifying effects lol |
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| We enjoyed the tranquility in the Parc Des Sources. When the weather is nicer, there must be more people going on a picnic or doing sunbath on the grass… |
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| I really like the vintage boutique shops. The cloudy weather rendered the shop more old-time and made me feel nostalgic. |
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| Vichy municipality has been taking efforts to promote its tourism. Every year, they design a signature poster for advertising in the magazine and on online channels. The design is very vivid and creative. |
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| You can find this logo for #IaminVichy touristic photo in the Parc Des Sources |
🌟Vichy Célestins SPA🌟
As Vichy is known as the “Queen of spa towns”, you cannot say that you have been to Vichy without enjoying a thermal spa!
The COMPAGNIE DE VICHY was entrusted to manage the spa area under Emperor Napoleon III and ever since has been famous in offering spas with therapeutic and medicinal properties. It manages three spas connected to three partner hotels in Vichy, including Vichy Célestins Medical Thermal Spa (Vichy Célestins Hôtel), Thermes des Dômes (Hôtel Mercure Vichy Thermalia), and Thermes Callou (3* Hotel Ibis).
If we stay in those partner hotels, it’s usually cheaper or even free to gain access to the thermal spa area. The 5-star Vichy Célestins Hôtel was the most attractive one, but staying for one night was too costly. Therefore, we decided to stay in a boutique hotel and came to Vichy Célestins for the spa experience.
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Tips: Choose a 15-minute thermal spa treatment so that you can make a reservation!
If you only want to access the thermal spa (public jacuzzi, sauna, Turkish bath/Hammam), you cannot make reservation and the walk-in slots are very limited. For half-day, the thermal spa access costs 40€. However, if you book a 15-minute thermal spa treatment like tonic jet shower, it costs just 3€ more and you can make a reservation and have half-day access to the thermal spa as well!! We were so glad to find this out and booked Sunday morning’s thermal spa treatment😎
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| From Google translate: “eat healthily, cuddle your health, take care of your body suspended in its course, of your being cradled in the benefits of the spring, a feast of delights with a thousand lightness” |
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| Ground floor: reception and change room 2nd floor: thermal spa and resting lounge 3rd floor: therapeutic treatment area |
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| We started with the jacuzzi.It was super relaxing!!! The spring water was warm, and the massage was just to the point. We saw a couple of people who seem to be Vichy locals… I bet the spa center sells monthly or annual pass to those who live nearby. I would come here often if I live in Vichy or nearby towns haha |
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| The sauna and Hammam room (Steam room) are next to each other. They can help detoxify the body and increase metabolism. In Taiwan’s public swimming center, we have sauna and hammam room as well and I used to stay there for 5 minutes each after I finished the swimming. But they were too hot for Alex, so she went out very quickly 😆 |
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| This icy pool is meant for relaxing our legs and feet after the steam. It’s like the Swedish usually jump into a snowy lake to feel lighter after their hot sauna session. |
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| The thermal spas was so relaxing that Alex couldn’t help falling asleep while waiting for me 😂 |
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| On a chilly April Sunday, is there a better thing to do than enjoy a thermal spa with my good friend in Vichy? |
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| In the resting lounge, we can enjoy three kinds of hot herbal teas. That’s very thoughtful of the spa center. |
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| This was the bathtub for the individual treatment “tonic jet shower with Vichy thermal water”. The staff would guide you in, put in the Vichy brand bath powder and set up a 15-minute session. The light will be turned off; only some colorful lighting from the bathtub itself. The experience was really special and worth 3 more euros! |
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| I was so delighted that Alex suggested that we come to Vichy for a spa experience! It was such a brilliant idea. We both felt more refreshed after a half-day spa! ☝ |
😋Dining in Vichy
➀ La Plancha
Address: 11 Rue de Banville, 03200 Vichy
In France, most shops closed at 7pm. After doing some shopping in the old Vichy, Alex and I were quite hungry and wanted to find a nearby good restaurant. Most restaurants in Vichy received very good reviews (over 4 star) on Google, so we thought we could quickly find one, especially since there were few people on the road. However, we were totally wrong! We visited several good restaurants, and they were fully booked!!
Exhausted and a bit frustrated, we finally found seats at “La Plancha”, a Spanish seafood restaurant near our hotel that also has very good Google review, and enjoyed our first resto in Vichy!
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| We ordered one main dish and one set menu (appetizer, main dish, dessert) to share… this has become our way of ordering so that we can both share starter and dessert 🙂 Their salad and seafood were fresh and well-cooked. Finishing a meal with dessert in France was also a must! |
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| We needed some calories to defend the coldness of April 😂 |
➁ Brasserie de l’Opéra
Address: 6 Pass. Noyer, 03200 Vichy
On Sunday, after our soothing spa, we deserved another feast to complete this relaxing journey. Brasserie de l’Opéra was randomly chosen as it was near our hotel again; yet, it turned out the food, architecture, services and decoration all exceeded our expectations!
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| We ordered prawn risotto, a set menu (caesar salad, chicken with mushroom sauces, and strawberry tart)… oh la la the dessert was amazing! The mille-feuille-like tart was crunchy, the strawberries were fresh and sweet and the custard was sweet enough to link everything perfectly… It must be one of top 3 desserts I had during my trip to France this time!! |
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| Both of us loved this Tarte aux fraises so much 💕 |
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| Monument Aux Morts (a park in memory of the victims during the wars) |
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🏠Accommodation: Hôtel Les Nations The Originals Boutique VICHY
Address: 13 Bd de Russie, 03200 Vichy, France
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| I like this boutique hotel. The interior design was simple but cute, with an elephant on the wall. The room was spacious for two people, clean and well-equipped. Its location was also convenient, 15-minute walking distance from the railway station, and easy access to the parks, Vichy Célestins SPA and the city center. Highly recommend it if you are aiming for decent price boutique hotel in Vichy!! |
✨Napoleon III Park/ Parc Napoleon III
Finally, I would like to recommend Parc Napoleon III. It’s a huge park along the Allier river. Our hotel was very close to the park, so after checking in, we took a walk here and appreciated the greenery scenes. Vichy is quite small, but they have reserved a lot of space for nature. Don’t miss this natural jewelry if you ever come to Vichy!
I was very fortunate to know Alex seven years ago and keep the friendship till now. I also really appreciated that she spent a weekend traveling with me in Vichy. This trip reminded us of our trip to Austria and Northern France; no much difference… still talking a lot, sharing good food and enjoying the moment 😄! Next time, maybe we’ll explore somewhere in Asia together!!
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| Salut Vichy 👋 |