Vichy — The Forgotten Register

Your quest for the Forgotten Register begins in the Parc des Sources, in front of Vichy's Grand Kiosque. Built between 1902 and 1903 by Charles Le Caisne and Lucien Woog, this octagonal historical monument, 12.50 m in diameter, could host a 20-musician orchestra. Inaugurated on June 29, 1903, it was the heart of the city's musical life, offering up to 150 annual concerts before 1939. Restored in 2005, it testifies to the Belle Époque's spa splendor. Here, among the metal columns, the first clue awaits you, linked to melodies of yesteryear.

Continuing your exploration of Vichy's heritage, you reach the Opéra, built between 1861 and 1865 by Louis Duchêne. Inspired by the Opéra de Paris, this 550-seat historical monument saw Napoleon III attend a performance in 1862, an event that marked Vichy's history and boosted its rise. After closing from 1940 to 1944, it reopened in 1945 and has since hosted 1,200 shows. The Forgotten Register left a trace there, hidden within the sumptuous décors that witnessed so many personalities and intrigues over the centuries.

Your journey then takes you to the Hôtel du Parc, built in 1908 by architect Henri Décoret. This Art Nouveau thermal hotel, with its 150 m long, 5-story facade, initially had 200 rooms. It hosted the British royal family in 1939 and figures like Mistinguett. Transformed into a hotel residence in 2010 after major renovations, it represents the pinnacle of luxury in spa towns. One of the Register's passages refers to a key event that took place there, a clue hidden in the architectural details or the memories of its illustrious guests.

The Hall des Sources, inaugurated in 1902, is a crucial step in your investigation. This 3,000 m² glass and metal structure, also designed by Charles Le Caisne, houses 8 thermal springs, including the 70°C Source Lucas. Over 500,000 annual visitors drink 1 million liters of water, perpetuating the tradition of cures. Although access is free, the site closes for cures from 3 pm to 4 pm. A document related to one of the springs is essential to progress. The Synagogue of Vichy, built in 1889 in a Romanesque-Byzantine style, is another historical monument of the city. Damaged in 1941, it was restored in 1950. Its 200-seat capacity makes it the only synagogue in Allier to have survived the Shoah. The Forgotten Register could reveal a valuable testimony there, a fragment of the history of Vichy's Jewish community.

Heading towards Vichy Train Station, rebuilt in 1932 in an Art Deco style after its opening in 1854, you find a clue linked to the development of thermal tourism. Napoleon III disembarked there in 1861, boosting the rise of the classified spa resort. Vichy City Hall, built in 1822 and enlarged in 1925, was the seat of the Vichy regime from 1940 to 1944 under Pierre Laval. Its facade bears the inscription guiding you. Finally, the Pont de Bellerive, the first suspension bridge in Auvergne built in 1837-1839, offers a perspective on the Allier, a direct link between Vichy and Bellerive-sur-Allier. Each site, from the classified historical monument Synagogue to the station served by 20 TER Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes per day in 2023, forms a piece of the puzzle, allowing you to reconstruct the Forgotten Register and understand Vichy's complex and rich history.