Vichy

Vichy (Occitan: Vichèi) is a commune in central France, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, along the Allier river. It is the commune in the department with second largest population after Montluçon. It is in the historic province of Bourbonnais.

Vichy
Vichy and the Aller river.
Coat of arms
Location of Vichy
Vichy Show map of France Vichy Show map of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Coordinates: 46°07′40″N 3°25′36″E
Country	France
Region	Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Department	Allier
Arrondissement	Vichy
Canton	Chief town of 2 cantons: * Vichy-1 * Vichy-2
Intercommunality	Vichy Communauté
Government
• Mayor (2014-2020)	Claude Malhuret
Area 1	5.85 km2 (2.26 sq mi)
Population  (2014)	25,279
• Density	4,300/km2 (11,000/sq mi)
Demonym	Vichyssois
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	03310 /03200
Elevation	243–317 m (797–1,040 ft) (avg. 280 m or 920 ft)
Website	www.ville-vichy.fr
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

History

Vichy has lots of Spas and resorts. This site was inhabited before the Roman conquest of Gaul.^[1]

In 1861, Napoleon III visited Vichy several times.^[2]

During World War II, it was the capital city of Vichy France.^[3]

Geography

The commune of Vichy is on the southern part of the Allier department. The city is on the right side of the Allier river.

The commune has an area of 5.9 km² (2.3 sq mi),^[4] and its average altitude is 280 m (920 ft); at the city hall, the altitude is 268 m (879 ft).^[5]

The distances from Vichy to other cities are:

• Paris, the national capital - 406 km (252 mi);
• Lyon, the regional capital - 164 km (102 mi);
• Reims - 481 km (299 mi);
• Bordeaux - 417 km (259 mi);
• Toulouse - 418 km (260 mi);
• Montpellier - 395 km (245 mi);
• Strasbourg - 528 km (328 mi);
• Nantes - 520 km (320 mi);
• Marseille - 474 km (295 mi).

Vichy and its neighboring communes

Vichy is surrounded by the communes Creuzier-le-Vieux, Cusset, Le Vernet, Abrest, Bellerive-sur-Allier and Charmeil.

Climate

The Köppen climate classification type for the climate at Vichy is an "Oceanic climate" (also known as Maritime Temperate climate) and of the subtype "Cfb".^[source?]

Population

The inhabitants of Vichy are known, in French, as Vichyssois (women: Vichyssoises).^[6]

With a population of 25,279,^[7] Vichy is the second largest city of the Allier department. It has a population density of 4,321 inhabitants/km².

Evolution of the population in Vichy

Administration

Vichy is a subprefecture of the Allier department since 1941; before that year, the subprefecture was in Lapalisse. It is also the capital of the arrondissement of Vichy and the administrative centre (French: chef-lieu) of two cantons:

• Vichy-1 formed by 3 communes and part of Vichy, with 18,420 inhabitants (2014).
• Vichy-2 formed by 2 communes and part of Vichy, with 18,763 inhabitants (2014).

It is part of the intercommunality Vichy Communauté.

Sister cities

Vichy is twinned with:^[8]

• Wilhelmshaven, Lower Saxony, Germany
• Bad Tölz, Bavaria, Germany
• Rhein-Neckar-Kreis, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
• Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland
• Logroño, La Rioja, Spain
• San Giuliano Terme, Tuscany, Italy

Gallery

• 
  City hall of Vichy.
• 
  Rue de l'hôtel des postes, pedestrian street.
• 
  The Allier river in Vichy.
• 
  Saint-Blaise church, Vichy.
• 
  Castel Franc, Vichy.

Related pages

• Arrondissement of Vichy
• Communes of the Allier department
• Capital of France