Celestines Spring

There are those who’ve tasted it once and can’t live without it! Then there are those who only know it from the TV commercial with the catchy slogan: “Vichy Célestins, elle me va bien” aka “Vichy Célestins, just what I need!”. Well, it doesn’t rhyme in English, but you get the point. The Celestines Spring, declared of public interest in 1861, is the most famous one in Vichy. Its extraordinary history dates back to the 15th century, when monks from the Celestines order, living in the monastery right above, stumbled upon it by chance in an opening in the rocks right by the river. The water was fizzy and had a very distinct taste – the monks were thrilled and cleared the area for easier access. Talk about a lucky break, considering how popular this cold spring water has become – you can now find it on shelves worldwide! You can taste it for free right here, in this beautiful 1900s neoclassical pavilion. The Vichy Célestins water is said to be a natural remedy for insomnia, fatigue, and even headaches, just like aspirin. In fact, many athletes come all the way here to drink it and relieve their cramps. With over 60 million bottles sold every year, the Célestins spring water is now at your fingertips. So go ahead and take a sip (or two, if you feel particularly thirsty)!