Understand
[edit]
Vichy is a town in the department of Allier, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, in France.
The town is near the centre of France, at the foothills of the Massif Central.
- 1 Tourist and Spa Office (Office de Tourisme et de Thermalisme), 19 rue du Parc (follow the signs (Palais des Congrès-Opéra/Tourist Office) from the arrival in the city centre), ☏ +33 825 77 10 10, toll-free: +33 4 70 98 71 94. Jan-Mar and Oct-Dec: M-Sa 09:30-12:00 and 13:30-18:00; Apr-Jun and Sep: M-Sa 09:30-12:00 and 13:30-18:30 and Su 15:00-18:00; Jul Aug: M-Sa 09:30-19:00 and Su 14:30-19:00. Accessible, without assistance, to people with reduced mobility. Guided tours around the history and heritage of the city.
History
[edit]The 1860s were a rich period for Vichy, thanks to the stays of Napoleon III which allowed the creation of parks, thermal roads and the arrival of the railway. The tourist activity reached a national notoriety until the beginnings of the First World War then in the interwar period. It is also known for having been the seat of government of Marshal Philippe Pétain from 1940 to 1944.
After decolonization, the projects carried out by the last four mayors (Pierre Coulon from 1950 to 1967, then Jacques Lacarin until 1989, Claude Malhuret from 1989 to 2017 and Frédéric Aguilera since 2017) made it possible to modernize the city, in value from the city centre to the banks of Allier.
Get in
[edit]By car
[edit]The town is accessible by several roads:
- A71 and A719 motorways to Montluçon and Clermont-Ferrand
- Departmental road D 2209 from Gannat or Varennes-sur-Allier
- Departmental road D 1093 from Bellerive-sur-Allier, Randan or Clermont-Ferrand
- Departmental road D 906 E from Abrest, Saint-Yorre, Thiers, Le Puy-en-Velay
- Departmental road D 6 from Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule
By train
[edit]- 1 Gare de Vichy Station Square (follow signs "Train station" from the bridge of Bellerive Cusset or the northern districts). M-Sa 05:30-22:50, Su 08:20-22:50. Accessible, without assistance, to people with reduced mobility except access to the platform leading to track D. Wirelessfree. Presence of at least one elevator from the hall or from behind the station to the underpass or the platform to tracks B and C. The service is provided by trains with compulsory reservation in the direction of Paris (2 hr 55 min) and TERAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes in the direction of Lyon (about 2 hours), Clermont-Ferrand (30 min) or even Moulins (35 min).
The duration of a train journey is better than by road; Vichy and Clermont-Ferrand are linked in 31 minutes with an intermediate stop in Riom and more rarely another stop in Gerzat, which is only indicated by the TER.
By coach
[edit]- 2 Bus station (Gare routière) (access from rue Voltaire or rue du Maréchal Joffre, south of the train station), ☏ +33 4 70 98 41 33. the bus station has been the connecting and departure point for regional or departmental coaches. A place, however, poorly marked. The timetables for the next regional coaches are displayed on the Main Line departure screens, those for departmental coaches at the Kiosk when it is open or at the main and south exits.
Possible destinations:
- regional coaches: Montluçon, Saint-Germain-des-Fossés, Thiers, Ambert
- departmental coaches: Gannat, Chantelle, Le Mayet-de-Montagne, Maringues
By car
[edit]The city has long been isolated from the main roads. The nearest motorway, the A719, is over 3 miles from the city centre.
Zones 30 cover an acceptable perimeter in the city centre, between rue de Paris, rue Georges-Clemenceau and avenue Doumer, as well as on certain streets outside the city centre (main street and not mesh streets!) There are only two meeting areas, where pedestrians have priority over other users: on an access to a car park in the east of the city near the urban boulevard (since 2013) and on the back alley of the boulevard du Maréchal-de-Lattre-de-Tassigny (since 2014).
Not all places in the municipality are always correctly marked. Hotel signage is shown in yellow on dark brown signs and notable restaurants in white on the same signs.
Parking
[edit]A paid parking zone - there is no entry or exit sign for a paid parking zone (except on Quai d'Allier) - covers the city centre, from the Parc des Sources to Vieux Vichy and the SNCF train station: places are paid from Monday to Saturday from 09:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 18:00 (free on Sundays and public holidays), within the limit of 3 or 7 hours depending on the zone. The first twenty minutes have been free since 2018 in these areas.
Parking is prohibited in line with the traffic signs on the side indicated and by two continuous yellow lines drawn on the ground (non-regulatory marking).
There are four underground paid car parks (the number of spaces available is displayed at four city entrances. Look for signs directing you to them.
Get around
[edit]
Urban transport
[edit]- MobiVie public transit. M-Sa 18:20-20:00; Sundays and holidays: 10:00-12:00 and 14:00- 19:10. Urban transport network serving Vichy and five towns in the agglomeration (Abrest, Bellerive-sur-Allier, Creuzier-le-Vieux, Cusset and Hauterive). €1.25 per trip (if bought in a bus) €3.4 per 24 hr - depending on buses and stops..
The bus network is made up of eight lines. Line A goes from the Ailes district to the city centre, to the train station and to Cusset with a bus every 20 minutes (and is operated by electric buses). Lines B and C serve the city centre, the station and the hospital, with a bus every twenty minutes; line B continues to Bellerive-sur-Allier and line C to Cusset or the aquatic stadium. Line D, north-south, serves the market and the media library. Line E goes around the parks, but with irregular frequency. Only lines A and B run on Sundays and public holidays.
The information available to travellers is provided on almost all the stops. It is not always kept up to date: at certain stops, it is partially obsolete, or even non-existent (responsibility for the agglomeration).
By bike
[edit]Cyclists are particularly vulnerable. If you cycle in Vichy, you must exercise extreme vigilance. There are, however, some cycling facilities, in particular along the Esplanade du Lac d'Allier, on the Quai d'Allier, and the paths along the River Allier on the Napoléon-III and Kennedy parks, or along the 'Allée des Ailes or on the Pont de l'Europe.
The department of Allier has marked out cycle routes (towards Cusset, Lapalisse, Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule, Randan by SNCF bridge over the Allier or by the left bank). Partly using busy lanes, it is the cyclists' responsibility to be careful.
In this city, zones 30 have the major drawback, on one-way roads, of being closed to reverse traffic, for obscure safety reasons (with the one and only exception of avenue de Gramont between boulevard Gambetta and rue de la Gare). A simple forbidden direction in zone 30 does not allow you to go up a street and requires you to take a detour.
A bicycle rental service is available in summer:
- 3 Vichy Rosalie (shortly before the Bellerive bridge). Only in season. Rental of four-wheeled bicycles.
It is possible, provided you use an app, to borrow one of the city's free-service bikes, a rental service for classic or electric bikes. The first hour is free, the bike can be rented for half a day, a day, two, five days, a week, 1, 3, 6 or 12 months.
- Vi Vélo (bike rental from the urban community), 1, place de la Gare (MobiVie kiosk, south of the train station). Deposit of €200 for a bicycle, or €600 for an electric bike. Present an identity document, proof of address and a means of payment for the payment of the deposit. €4 for a classic bike, €6 in winter (from November to April) or €7 in summer (from May to October) for an electric bike for half a day; respectively €6, €10 and €8 per day; reduced rates for MobiVie, Trans'Allier or TER commercial subscribers..
Self-service bicycles are available through the use of a mobile application. The return of the bike is at the same station. The first 30 minutes are free, then €1 to one hour, €2 to 2 hours, €3 up to 3 hours, €6 up to 12 hours (if not back after 12 hours, the deposit of €200 is taken). Three bike stations (out of the five existing in the agglomeration) are located:
- SNCF station — at the west exit of Vichy station, on the forecourt leading to avenue des Célestins.
- Lardy university hub — next to existing bicycle parking lots, behind the Lardy university hub, accessible from avenue des Célestins.
- Rue Wilson — on a speed reducer on rue Wilson between rue Franckin-Roosevelt and the promenade in Parc des Sources.
- 4 Hydrogen bike station. Hydrogen bicycles, benefiting from greater autonomy than an electric-assisted bicycle and a very short recharging time. Information at the bike village at the bottom of the Quai d'Allier.
There are sufficient parking spaces for bicycles, including: Saint-Louis church, rue de Paris, Darragon stadium, boulevard du Maréchal-de-Lattre-de-Tassigny, ten places north of Napoleon III park , 40 spaces south of Kennedy Park, rue Jean-Jaurès, rue Wilson.
On foot
[edit]Rue Montaret, one of the pedestrian streets of Vichy, in June 2020 Rue Montaret is one of the many pedestrian streets in downtown Vichy. The city is made for foot traffic in the city centre.
Like some of the city's shopping areas (Paris, Georges-Clemenceau, Foch), these pedestrian streets are characterized by a special coating.
Pedestrians, and only them (except derogation), may use the following lanes: passages between rue Georges-Clemenceau and rue Wilson (Giboin, Opéra, rue Roosevelt, Amirauté, rue Sornin), rue Montaret, rue de l'Hôtel-des-Postes, rue du Commerce, passage de la Comédie, passage du Sélect.
See
[edit]Museums are mostly concentrated in the city centre. The neighbourhoods on the outskirts are irrelevant.
In Old Vichy
[edit]
- 1 St. Blaise Church. Built in the 17th century and enlarged between 1925 and 1931. Joined historical monuments in 1991. Masses.
- 2 Birthplace of Albert Londres, rue Besse. From the middle of the 19th century, it was renovated in the 2010s.
- 3 Rue Hubert-Colombier (access from the street from the Porte Saint-Julien and instead Allier). 120 m long, this route includes many villas listed as historical monuments.
Around the parks
[edit]- 4 Castel Franc (House of the Bailiwick), Verrier Street. Built at the end of the 15th century on the old ramparts of Vichy, it housed the town hall in the early 19th century. Listed as historical monuments in 1926.
- 5 Celestine monastery, boulevard of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Former convent of the Celestine, built in the early 15th century at the initiative of the Duke Louis II of Bourbon. Listed as a historical monument in 1927 for the only remaining building, it also owes its name to the Vichy Célestins brand of waters.
- 6 Pavillon Sévigné, boulevard du Président John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Former hotel named after Madame de Sévigné who would have stayed there during her cures in the spa town and private residence of Marshal Pétain during the Second World War. Today it is a private residence.
In the spa district
[edit]- 7 Centre thermal des Dômes. Located near the Palais des Sources, it was built between 1899 and 1903 by Charles Le Cœur and Lucien Woog.
- 8 Hall des Sources. All springs in the city arrive in this building.
In the city centre
[edit]- Les Passages. Passage Giboin, passage de l'Opéra, rue Roosevelt, rue Burnol, passage de l'Amirauté, rue Sornin, rue Montaret - The passages mask the link between the city centre and the spa district. These are predominantly pedestrian streets connecting rue Clemenceau, a shopping artery, to the Parc des Sources by crossing rue Wilson (with the exception of rue Montaret which leads to rue Lucas).
- 9 Chapelle des Missions, avenue Thermale (closest stop: Bains Callou (line A), near the Museum of African and Asian Arts). Built in 1929 and blessed in 1930, this chapel, attached to the diocese of Moulins, contains a Virgin of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. Masses every day.
- 10 Church of Saint-Louis, avenue Doumer (square on the rue Clemenceau side (Clemenceau (line A) or Doumer (lines A, B, C, D and G) bus stops). The building, built by Jean Lefaure between 1861 and 1865, is not protected from historical monuments . Masses.
- 11 Maison du Missionionnaire, rue Mounin. Catholic accommodation and catering for French and foreign missionaries.
Outside the city
[edit]- 12 Côte Saint-Amand. Sensitive natural areas of the Allier - Site des Hurlevents (telecommunications tower and orientation table) rue Louis Neillot, Le Vernet (follow Le Vernet by D 126 and D 270 then Les Hurlevents). The site des Hurlevents offers a panoramic view of the south of the city. Altitude 432 m.
Cultural infrastructure and museums
[edit]- 13 Museum of African and Asian Arts (Musée des Arts d'Afrique et d'Asie), 16 avenue Thermale (nearest stop: Bains Callou (line A) or follow the signs), ☏ +33 4 70 97 76 40. Collections relating to Africa and Asia .
- 14 Vichy Opera Museum (Musée de l'Opéra de Vichy), 16 rue du Maréchal Foch (follow the signs where they are present, from the place Victor-Hugo), ☏ +33 4 70 58 48 20. Tu- Su 14:00-18:00. This museum preserves and showcases the archives of the Vichy opera house. €5 (€4 for under 25 and over 60 years).
- 15 Musée Valery-Larbaud, 106-110 rue du Maréchal Lyautey (nearest bus stop: Médiathèque (line D)), ☏ +33 4 70 58 42 50. Discovery of the books of the writer Valery Larbaud, on the second floor of the library municipal council of the same name.
- 16 Musée surrealiste François-Boucheix, 7 rue Sornin (from Place Victor-Hugo, follow the museum name sign and continue on foot), ☏ +33 4 70 31 49 92. Exhibition of works by an artist from Auvergne.
- Municipal museum (Valery-Larbaud cultural centre), 15 rue du Maréchal Foch, ☏ +33 4 70 32 12 97.
Do
[edit]The priority for tourists to the city of Vichy is to take advantage of the banks and the promenade along the river for pedestrians and cyclists.
- 1 Célestins Beach, parc Kennedy. access to the Allier River, covering approximately 1,750 m². Possible information in the information box. Around the beach, the redeveloped paths now invite you to walk. Several play areas nearby.
Via Allier and loops - 27 km long, linking Saint-Yorre to Billy via Hauterive, Bellerive-sur-Allier and Saint-Germain-des-Fossés, along the Allier river as closely as possible. The route is signposted from start to finish. In addition to this greenway, three loops have been created, two of which pass through Vichy:
- the loop of the Lake (6.3 km), circling the river via the banks developed between 2007 (along the boulevard du Maréchal-de-Lattre-de-Tassigny), 2014 (banks of Allier on the right bank) and 2019 (banks of Allier on the left bank, in Bellerive-sur-Allier),
- the Isles loop (12.7 km), between the Bellerive bridge and Hauterive via Abrest, the SNCF footbridge, Bellerive-sur-Allier and its banks renovated in 2019.
Parks
[edit]Since July 2015, access to the parks on the banks of Allier has been marked with signage to help you find your way around.
- 2 Parc des Sources. In the centre of Vichy, between the spa district and the Passages district, separated by rue Wilson. Listed as a historic monument in 1994
- 3 Parc Napoléon III (by bike, straight into the speed bump from Quai d'Allier; on foot, all roads from the city centre, crossing Boulevard des Etats-Unis).
- 4 Parc Kennedy (by bike, cross the D 2209 or on foot at the pedestrian crossing or by the underpass).
- 5 Parc des Bourins (near Avenue de France, just after Kennedy and Soleil parks). Located to the south of the town, this park includes the bandstand, protected from historic monuments.
- 6 Parc des Célestins. A little more closed and away from the parks on the edge of Allier, it links Boulevard Kennedy to Rue du Maréchal-Lyautey.
Sports
[edit]- 7 Parc Omnisports Pierre-Coulon, avenue de l'Europe, Bellerive-sur-Allier (north entrance via Pont de l'Europe and avenue de l'Europe (D 6E)), ☏ +33 4 70 59 51 00. A 120-ha wooded space on the shores of Lake Allier, built in the 1960s, with outdoor equipment and a fitness trail.
- 8 Golf du Sporting Club de Vichy, allée René Dumont, Bellerive-sur-Allier (access via avenue de Vichy and allée Georges-Baugnies; follow the sign "Sporting Club complex golf"), ☏ +33 4 70 32 39 11. It includes an eighteen-hole course.
- 9 Golf de la forêt de Montpensier, Domaine de Rilhat, 03700 Serbannes (through the centre of Bellerive-sur-Allier, follow Serbannes, Aigueperse, second exit at the new roundabout of the southwest bypass (D 417) and direction Rilhat), ☏ +33 4 70 56 31 00, [email protected]. Golf 9 and 18 holes in the forest of Montpensier.
Learn
[edit]Vichy has a range of establishments where you can study French. A specialized school has been present since 1964:
- Modern Languages and Media Approach centre (CAVILAM) (Alliance française, Centre d'approche des langues vivantes et des médias), 1 avenue des Célestins, ☏ +33 4 70 30 83 83. Allows the learning of French by foreign students.
Buy
[edit]Shopping
[edit]Due to its status as a spa and tourist town, many shops are open on Sundays.
- 1 Les 4 Chemins, 35, rue Lucas (bus stops: Victoria or Quatre Chemins (line A) and follow the signs to the parking lot Les 4 Chemins), ☏ +33 16 825 60 03. M 14:00-19:30, Tu-Sa 09:30-19:30, Su 14:30 - 19:00 (opening hours of the shopping centre and all its shops, with some special exceptions). Accessible, without assistance, to people with reduced mobility Presence of at least one elevator. Tthis shopping centre in the city centre includes 19 shops (ready-to-wear, couture, etc.) and a cinema (seven theatres).
Other stores on the outskirts:
- 2 Ailes shopping area, allée des Ailes (north of the city, follow directions to Clermont-Ferrand and Montluçon then at the Robert-Schuman roundabout). The stores are open from Monday to Saturday. - Set of shops (ready-to-wear, shoes, sport).
- 3 Cora hypermarket (north of the city, follow the directions Clermont-Ferrand and Montlucon then at the roundabout Robert Schuman), ☏ +33 4 70 30 37 37. M-Sa 08:30 - 20:30, Su 09:00-12:30. Accessible, without assistance, to people with reduced mobility. Food products, books, etc.
- Commercial area of Bartins, rue des Bartins (from the north of the city, follow the direction of Cusset).
- 4 Carrefour, rue des Peupliers, Cusset (follow Cusset, then Clermont-Ferrand/Montlucon or billboards), ☏ +33 4 70 31 84 33. M Sa 08:30 - 20:00. Accessible, without assistance, to people with reduced mobility Presence of ascending and descending escalatorson parking lot only. Shopping centre with 10 stores. Sale of food products, books, etc.
Markets
[edit]- 5 Le Grand Marché (Grand Market), place Pierre-Victor Leger, ☏ +33 4 70 30 55 75. Tuesday to Sunday 07:00 - 13:00, Fridays and Saturdays 16:00-19:00. parking around (boulevard de la Mutualité, rue du 4-Septembre, rue Paul-Bert) is free but subject to taking a parking ticket, within the limit of one hour (parking prohibited around Wednesday morning, day open-air market). Accessible, without assistance, to people with reduced mobility with at least one elevator. Range of shops selling local products.
Eat
[edit]Restaurants are mainly concentrated from the city centre to the SNCF station. Some traditional restaurants also offer take-out.
Budget
[edit]- 1 Santa Fe (Bar lounge restaurant), Place de la Gare (north of the SNCF station, park your vehicle in the North car park (paying except after 18:00, on Sundays and public holidays), ☏ +33 4 70 98 21 95.
- Grill Ville, 13 rue de Paris. All-you-can-eat menus and has a terrace overlooking the street.
Fast food
[edit]- 2 BCHEF, 17, rue Burnol, ☏ +33 4 70 57 71 33. open every day. This restaurant offers several choices of sandwiches, bagels, fries, desserts, and has a room on two levels and a terrace in the heart of the shopping triangle.
- Anisse, avenue des Célestins.
- Kebab de Paris, 80 rue de Paris.
Pizzerias
[edit]- 3 La Boîte à Pizza, 81, avenue de Gramont (direction Cusset from the city centre, shortly before a traffic light crossroads).
Mid-range
[edit]- Le 68, 44, Avenue Eugene Gilbert, ☏ +33 4 70 32 85 15. W-Su 12:00-14:00 and 19:00-22:00. menus from €10-34. Alsatian specialties: sauerkraut, Alsatian hamburger.
- 4 Le 7, place de la Gare (north of the station), ☏ +33 9 81 45 00 04. from Monday to Saturday, and Sunday by reservation. Brewery. Terrace. Monday to Friday, menus from €12 to 17; Menu €20-29 and card..
- 5 Alexandria, A46, place Charles de Gaulle, ☏ +33 4 70 98 40 60. Egyptian specialties.
- 6 L'Atelier de Jérôme, 59, Paris street (at the corner with Avenue de Grammont), ☏ +33 4 70 99 80 46. every day except Thursday, from 12:00 to 14:00; the evening on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 19:00 to 22:00. Close to the train station and the city centre, it offers traditional specialties. Terrace.
- 7 Brasserie du Casino, 4, rue du Casino, ☏ +33 4 70 98 23 06. In front of the entrance to the artists of the opera.
- 8 Le Bungalow, 1, quai d'Allier, ☏ +33 4 70 98 51 93, [email protected]. Th-M 12:00-14:00. Multiple cards and menus from €14.50 to €48.6. - The western facade of the restaurant offers a panoramic view of the river from the banks. With regional specialties.
- 9 Les Caudalies, 9 Besse Street, ☏ +33 4 70 32 13 22. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 12:00- 14:00 and 19:00- 21:30 Wednesday 12:00-13:45; Sunday 12:00-14:00. “Young vintages” menus €16 and 19; “Jéroboam” (Tuesday to Friday except public holidays and lunch) €24.50 and €29; “Methuselah” €35 and €41; “Balthazar” €46.50 and €52.5 ; “Nebuchadnezzar” €65 and €95 ; event menus and menu. - Gourmet and bistronomic restaurant located at the gates of Vieux Vichy, run by two chefs.
- 10 Chez Lucien, 11, rue Burnol, ☏ +33 4 70 99 57 32. This restaurant offers take-out pizzas. Terrace.
- 11 Les Copines, 28 Montaret Street, ☏ +33 4 70 99 30 78. M-Sa 11:30-19:30, Su 14:00-19:00. This restaurant offers homemade soups, juices, pies and salads. Terrace.
- Le Derby's, 4, rue de l'Intendance, ☏ +33 4 70 97 48 48. Attached to the Midland hotel. menus at €33 and €48.
- Gigi e Giovanni, 58, boulevard du Président John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Italian specialties. Terrace
- Montpensier forest golf course, Serbannes, ☏ +33 4 70 56 33 30. every lunchtime.
- 12 L'Etna, 65, rue de Paris, ☏ +33 4 70 98 47 85. W - Su 12:00-13:30 and 19:30-22:00. This restaurant offers Italian dishes: Italian starters (carpaccio…), pizzas, Italian cheeses. formulas at €27 and €39.5, lunchtime formula (Wednesday to Saturday) at €13.9, pizzas at €12.5 (except Margherita €9.5).
- Le Riad, 46 bis, place Charles de Gaulle, ☏ +33 4 70 97 46 39. open from Tuesday to Sunday. Moroccan specialties.
- 13 La Rotonde, boulevard du Maréchal-de-Lattre-de-Tassigny, ☏ +33 4 70 97 85 42. from Wednesday to Sunday, noon and evening; Le Bistrot (open from April to October) from Wednesday to Sunday, noon and evening (except Sunday evening). Built in 1963 on Lake Allier, the restaurant was renovated in 2009. Panoramic view of the river. The Bistrot is on the ground floor. at the Table de Marlène: “Éphémère” (weekdays only) €33 , “Inspiration” €38 to 48, “Harmonie Gourmande” €59 to 69; at the Bistrot: formulas from €19.50 to €29..
- 14 La Table d'Antoine, 8, rue Burnol, ☏ +33 4 70 98 99 71. from Tuesday noon to Sunday noon except Thursday evening (October-March); Home to 12:15 - 13:00 and 19:30 - 20:30. Restaurant of one of the jewels of French gastronomy. €16.90 to 73.9 and card (from €26.90 to 38.9).
- 15 La Truffade, 16 rue Ravy-Breton, ☏ +33 4 70 98 28 57. Tu-Su: 12:00-13:00 and Th-Sa 19:30 - 20:30. menus at €17, 28 and 31 + card.
Splurge
[edit]- 16 Maison Decoret (Relais & Châteaux), 15, rue du Parc, ☏ +33 4 70 97 65 06. Regional gastronomy cared for by a chef from Michelin-starred restaurants in the Massif Central. Weekday lunch €45, dinner €75-195.
Drink
[edit]Bars and cafes
[edit]- 1 Au Bureau, 35, rue Lucas, ☏ +33 4 70 96 04 11. Monday to Thursday and Sunday from 11:00 to 23:00, Fridays and Saturdays until 00:30.. In the city centre, near the Quatre Chemins shopping centre on the site of the old casino. London pub-brasserie. Broadcasting of sporting events. Terrace.
- Brasserie de l'Opéra, 6, passage Noyer, ☏ +33 4 70 98 36 17.
- 2 Brasserie Le Club Pélican, 107, avenue des Célestins, ☏ +33 4 70 98 27 51. M-Sa 08:00-02:00. Café, bar and restaurant opposite the station. Terrace.
- 3 Casino Vichy Grand Café, 7 rue du Casino, ☏ +33 4 70 97 07 40. Casino. Outdoor terrace, south of the Parc des Sources.
- 4 Joséphine, 30, rue Lucas, ☏ +33 4 70 98 08 14. Crêperie
- Keck's, 16, rue d'Allier, ☏ +33 4 70 59 32 19. Gourmet café.
- 5 L'Académie, 3, Station Square, ☏ +33 4 70 31 17 50. Daily 17:30-02:30, restaurant Tu- Sa 19:00-00:30. Bar, brasserie and pool tables close to the station. Terrace.
- 6 Le Gaulois, 105, avenue des Célestins, ☏ +33 4 70 97 93 75. M 10:30-01:00, Tu-F 10:30-14:00, Sa 15:00-02:00. Bar and restaurant, opposite the station. Terrace.
- 7 Le Morny, 34, rue Lucas (near the Quatre Chemins shopping centre), ☏ +33 4 70 97 88 83. Bar, café.
- 8 Le Petit Pot, 36, rue Lucas (near the Quatre Chemins shopping centre), ☏ +33 4 70 98 29 62. Bar, café.
- 9 Le Saintonge, 32, rue Lucas, ☏ +33 4 70 98 52 23. Bar, café.
- 10 Le Vichy, 15 Burnol Street, ☏ +33 4 70 96 38 14. M-W 08:30-20:00, Th- Sa 08:30 - 23:00, Su 11:00-23:00. Coffee, drinks and ice cream. Outdoor terrace (on the street).
Nightclubs
[edit]- Le Flamingo, 19 passage du Commerce, ☏ +33 4 70 31 36 94.
- Le Star Dance, route d'Hauterive, Abrest, ☏ +33 4 70 31 36 94.
Performance
[edit]- 10 Palais des Congrès-Opéra. Several concerts and shows. Rencontres Lyriques Européennes since 2004.
Sleep
[edit]The hotel offer in the city remains substantial; there is a five-star hotel in the spa district.
Budget
[edit]- 1 Ibis Styles, 13, avenue Pierre Coulon, ☏ +33 4 70 98 18 48. Three-star hotel near Lake Allier with carpark. Free.
Mid-range
[edit]- 2 Chambord, 82-84, rue de Paris, ☏ +33 4 70 30 16 30. A two-star hotel close to the SNCF train station. L'Escargot qui Tette restaurant overlooking the street, with local specialties, open for lunch, from Tuesday to Sunday.
- 3 Ibis, 1, avenue Victoria, ☏ +33 4 70 30 53 53. Three-star hotel near the city centre and parks, near the Callou thermal baths. Restaurants with terrace.
- 4 Kyriad Central Hotel, 6, avenue du Président Doumer, ☏ +33 4 70 31 45 00. Three-star hotel near the city centre. Restaurant 032 with terrace.
- 5 Midland, 4, rue de l'Intendance, ☏ +33 4 70 97 48 48. Three-star boutique hotel with 1900 architecture, in the city centre. Derby's restaurant (open from 12:00 to 14:00 and 19:15 to 21:00 except Sunday evening), with menus from €35 to 50 and card, with a vegetarian menu at €19. Homemade dishes.
- 6 Les Nations, 13, boulevard de Russie, ☏ +33 4 70 98 21 63. classic room from €65, suite from €98. - One of the last hotels of the 19th century still in operation, three stars. Restaurant La Table Les Nations, with menu at €26 and à la carte. ,
- 7 Nice Flore, 129, boulevard des Etats-Unis, ☏ +33 9 86 52 27 40.
- 8 Pavillon d'Enghien, 32 rue Callou, ☏ +33 4 70 98 33 30. depending on the season: low season (from February to April and from October to December) from €87 to 120; high season (from May to September) from €97 to 130 for one person; half or full board possible; breakfast €11.4. Near the Callou thermal baths and the Dômes thermal centre. 21 rooms, Wi-Fi. Restaurant Les Jardins d'Enghien (open Tuesday to Sunday noon) from €19 to 32.
Splurge
[edit]- 9 Aletti Palace, 3, place Joseph Aletti, ☏ +33 4 70 30 20 20. In the immediate vicinity of the opera house. 4 stars. Accessible, without assistance, to people with reduced mobility. from €92 per night for one person, €103 per night for two people.
- 10 Hôtel Mercure Vichy Thermalia, 1, avenue Thermale, ☏ +33 4 70 30 52 52. Close to thermal establishments (including the thermal centre of Dômes) and the Parc des Sources. Outdoor car park accessible from avenue Thermale or underground car park Les Dômes accessible from boulevard des Etats-Unis. 4 stars
- 11 Vichy Spa Hotel Les Célestins, 111, boulevard des Etats-Unis, ☏ +33 4 70 30 82 00. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Cures and treatments on site. Restaurant: Le N3, with menus from €36 and Vichy Célestins water cuisine. Bar: The Blue Note. room from €169, presidential suite from €1,202.
Campsites
[edit]The campsites are located mainly on the edge of Allier, in Bellerive-sur-Allier, Abrest or Saint-Yorre, in the immediate vicinity of Vichy.
- Les Acacias campsite, rue Claude Decloitre, Bellerive-sur-Allier, ☏ +33 4 70 32 36 22. 4-star campsite with rental of mobile homes.
- Beau Rivage campsite, rue Claude Decloitre, Bellerive-sur-Allier, ☏ +33 4 70 32 26 85. 4-star campsite by the river.
- Camping Les Isles, rue Claude Decloitre, Bellerive-sur-Allier.
- Croix-Saint-Martin campsite, 99 avenue des Graviers, Abrest, ☏ +33 4 70 32 67 74. 3-star campsite with rental of mobile homes.
- Camping La Roseraie, route de Randan, Brugheas, ☏ +33 4 70 32 43 33. Camping prohibited for under 21s.
- Camping La Gravière, rue de la Gravière, Saint-Yorre (access by the city centre of Saint-Yorre by crossing the Allier or by Hauterive and the department of Puy-de-Dôme), ☏ +33 4 70 59 21 00.
Connect
[edit]- 2 La Poste (post office), Place Charles de Gaulle. M-F 09:00-12:30 and 13:30 - 18:00, Sa 09:00-12:30. Accessible, without assistance, to people with reduced mobility.
Mobile network coverage
[edit]Vichy is well covered by mobile networks; you can browse the Internet with a 3G connection, if your plan allows it and if your phone is compatible.
Internet access
[edit]- Wi-Fi (WIF4EU-VICHY). The city offers a Wi-Fi connection between the station districts and the city centre.
Some bars and restaurants offer Wi-Fi provided by a mobile operator or an independent provider.
Stay safe
[edit]If you feel insecure, or in case of theft, contact the police or the gendarmerie.
- National Police 35, avenue Victoria, +33 4 70 96 11 11 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - If you have lost or have been stolen identity documents.
- Municipal police 14, place de l'Hotel de Ville, +33 4 70 30 17 28 - In the event of loss of various objects in the municipality (for passports, contact the civil status department at the town hall).
- National Gendarmerie 16, avenue de Gérardmer, +33 4 70 30 42 50
In addition, the city has a video protection system, particularly in the city centre, around the station and at city entrances (bridges over the Allier and the Ailes district).
Go next
[edit]- Cusset (3 km by D 2209) - A neighbouring town of about 12,800 inhabitants, with many vestiges of the medieval period in the city centre. The urban boulevard, built by the urban community, marks the passage from the city of Vichy to that of Cusset, mainly via the D 2209.
- Bellerive-sur-Allier (to the west on the left bank of the Allier) - From Vichy, crossing the Bellerive bridge (D 2209) or the Europe bridge (D 6 E and D 6), you enter in the town of Bellerive-sur-Allier. This small town, populated by 8,500 inhabitants, also offers a good standard of accommodation and restaurants.
- Abrest (follow the D 906 E (direction Thiers), 3.5 km) - This town of2,900 inhabitants, halfway between Vichy and Saint-Yorre, whose name means "tree", is located on both banks of the Allier. Through the Dollots district, see the Chaussins castle, the only building listed as historical monuments.
- Saint-Yorre (follow the D 906 E (direction Thiers), 8 km away) - It is in this town of nearly 2,600 inhabitants that Saint-Yorre is known for its mineral water rich in bicarbonates.
- Lapalisse (more than 20 km north-east on the D 2209 and D 907) - Lapalisse is on the historic route of the national road 7. Castle.
- Montagne bourbonnaise (after Cusset via the D 25 (Châtel-Montagne), D 62 (Le Mayet-de-Montagne) or D 995 (Ferrières-sur-Sichon)) - As soon as you climb up Cusset, especially via the route de Molles, panoramic view on the agglomeration.
- Clermont-Ferrand (more than 50 km to the southwest) - The former regional capital complements what Vichy has to offer. It takes an hour by car to reach this city of 142,000 inhabitants within an urban area of nearly 500,000 inhabitants; you can also take a train which is twice as fast.