A Historic City In The Highlands Of France Boasts Coveted Healing Spas And Mineral Springs

The natural mineral spring water in Vichy has been luring visitors to central France for centuries. The historic city is one of the Great Spa Towns of Europe (designated by UNESCO), and its sparkling water is bottled and sold around the world. The center of the small city is famous for its 19th-century architecture, including grand villas and the Art Nouveau-style Vichy Opera House. They are surrounded by narrow streets and the Allier River, which is a tributary of France's longest river, the Loire. It's no wonder people flock to this isolated part of the Massif Central.

Vichy was originally settled when the Romans discovered its thermal springs. Some of the earliest thermal baths, although a bit rudimentary, were created for two of Louis XV's daughters. The luxurious spas were later developed after Napoleon I installed fountains that delivered the spring water throughout the city. A casino, a riverside promenade, hundreds of hotels, and beautiful parks followed. By the early 1900s, nearly 100,000 people were visiting Vichy each year. It was the summer destination in France.

That, of course, changed during World War II. The Vichy regime, which collaborated with Nazi Germany, was established in 1940. It took decades for serenity to return after the war. But the city's spas were eventually restored and modernized. Vichy's mineral springs are once again a coveted vacation spot.

As soon as spring arrives, Europeans start leaving the cities en masse. Vichy, in the center of France, is about three hours south of the heart of Paris by train. The beautifully authentic, non-touristy Lyon (France's third-largest city) is only two hours by train. Some people visit Vichy for a long weekend. Others plan full vacations to use the city's baths, showers, massage treatments, resorts, and thermal springs. Still others whose doctors have prescribed the spas for medical treatments sometimes stay for weeks — yes, weeks — at a time.

Vichy Célestins Thermal Spa is one of the largest spas in Europe. The spa, at the Vy Resort, is near the edge of Parc Des Sources, the oldest park in the city. It has a hammam, hydrotherapy, and massages. It also offers a Digital Detox Cure package that starts by taking away your digital devices, making it one of the best vacation destinations with no cell service.

Thermes Les Dômes and the Callou Thermal Spa are two other popular spas in Vichy. Thermes Les Dômes, flanked by two neo-Byzantine towers, focuses on health restoration, such as weight loss and rheumatology. The Callou Thermal Spa is wheelchair accessible. It also features mud baths. Regardless of your treatment preference, there are plenty of pools to soak in at each of these spas.

After spending a lot of time immersed in the magical waters at the local spas, it's time to discover the rest of Vichy. Parc des Sources is considered the heart of the city. The park is filled with hundreds of chestnut and plane trees. You can walk around them while exploring under the iron Galerie Couverte. Also, at the park's Hall des Sources, you can taste the water from the Célestins spring. From there, the Grand Casino, at the southern end of the park, is just a short walk away. At the large complex, you can try your luck on the slot machines, sip a coffee at its large outdoor café, or attend a performance at the Vichy Opera House, whose summer season begins in mid-May. A unique church, the combination of the historic St. Blaise and the Art Deco Notre Dame des Malades, stands just beyond the park. The church is worth a visit just to see its Black Virgin Mary and stunning stained-glass windows.

Then you'll want to head toward the river. On nice days, the banks of the Allier River will be crowded. More parks, from Parc des Bourins in the south to Parc Napoléon III more towards the north, line the right bank of the river. They are full of green lawns, jogging paths, and playgrounds. Open-air restaurants, such as Le Mirage Vichy and Tahiti Plage, offer cold beverages and shady umbrellas. There are even sandy beaches with wooden pontoons floating atop the water, in case you feel like taking a swim. No wonder Vichy's water is so famous.