Hospital Spring

Vichy has a total of nine springs, including the Célestins, Chomel, Lucas and Grande Grille. And remember, there are some whose water can be consumed from drinking fountains for medicinal purposes. Among them is the Hospital Spring. Rich in carbonic acid and reaching a temperature of around 34°C, this spring is not exactly a newcomer. It is said to have been first tapped by the Gallo-Romans, between the middle of the 1st century BC and the middle of the 3rd century AD, to supply their baths. Though times change, some things stay the same – take the age-old appeal of self-care and wellness for example! When the old Vichy Thermal Hospital opened in the 1700s, the spring was immediately put to good use to keep the establishment up and running. So much so, in fact, that its nickname, “Gros Boulet” (the Big Cannonbazll), a nod to its powerful flow, eventually gave way to the more formal “Hospital Spring”, which has stuck around ever since. In 1861, it was declared a public-interest property and, in 1946, it got this charming beige rotunda designed by architect Aublet; it came to replace an earlier Art Nouveau pavilion dating from 1907. Its waters have been bottled and sold for many years, same as those of the Grande Grille spring. The Hospital Spring became city property in March 2021 and is now managed by the Compagnie Fermière de Vichy. You can sip its goodness at the Hall des Sources drinking fountains, the Callou thermal spa, or the drinking fountain right above the spring itself!