Vichy-Célestins – Parc du Couvent des Célestins
Vichy-Célestins is nestled in the spa town of Vichy, on the banks of the Allier River, in the historic province of Bourbonnais.
The Célestins spring is one of fourteen hot and cold springs that bubble up in this region, in the foothills of the chain of the dormant volcanoes of Auvergne. The Vichy-Célestins spring was located on the grounds of the former Celestines convent founded at the beginning of the 15th century under the patronage of Duke Louis II of Bourbon, whose sister Jeanne was the wife of King Charles V.
The monastery was destroyed in the 17th century, and its remains were razed during the French Revolution. Only one fortified building escaped destruction and was later converted into a gardener’s cottage. Perched on a natural terrace offering breathtaking views of the Allier River, this modest building with its steeply pitched double roof is a superb example of 15th-century Bourbonnais fortified architecture. It was recently restored and listed as a historical monument.
Source Vichy-Célestins
Archaeological excavations have uncovered evidence that Vichy was already renowned as a spa town during the Gallo-Roman period, around 2,000 years ago.
The name Vichy evolved from vicus calidus, which basically translates as the town of hot springs.
Vichy gained considerable fame as a fashionable spa destination in the 18th century, following a visit by King Louis XIV.
However, it was in the mid-19th century that Vichy’s reputation reached its peak, when Napoleon III made it his regular retreat to alleviate his rheumatism, gout, and dermatitis.
Thus, to showcase the famous Vichy-Célestins spring, an elegant neoclassical building was constructed in the Parc des Célestins.
Located below the site of the former convent, this architectural gem was listed as a historical monument in 1986.
The Vichy-Célestins spring flows continuously at a temperature of 17.3°C, which qualifies it as a “cold spring.”
Its natural carbonation gives it its distinctive character. Renowned for its digestive properties, Vichy-Célestins water contains 5 to 7 grams of mineral salts per litre, including 90% sodium carbonate, as well as calcium, magnesium, and trace elements derived from its volcanic soil.
Traditionally used during drinking cures in Vichy, this water is valued for its therapeutic benefits in treating liver, kidney, and stomach ailments.
The spring was officially declared to be of public interest on January 23, 1861.
Today, the Vichy-Célestins spring is primarily owned by the Roxane Group, with additional shares held by the Japanese pharmaceutical company Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co.
However, the building, the grounds, and the spring itself remain the property of the French state.
The therapeutic properties of Vichy-Célestins’ water have earned it international renown, leading to its export worldwide. More than 40 million bottles are sold each year.
Department of Allier – Vichy – Auvergne region
Coordinates: Lat 46.119802 – Long 3.423574
