As part of a current project on writing a textbook on hydrotherapy, I visited Vichy, France, to learn more about hydrotherapy. Hydrotherapy has been used at this location since Roman times and probably much longer. At Vichy, you see that water is appreciated for its medicinal and healing properties, both from being taken internally by drinking and also used externally in the form of steam, shower and hydrotub treatments. Another therapeutic use of water in Vichy, is as part of the natural beauty of the area near the Hall of Waters and the three treatment facilities in the form of ponds, stream, water fountains and a river. The ancient tradition of the appreciation of water for health, wellness, healing and rejuvenation is very much alive today in Vichy.
Vichy, France is the origin of the Vichy Shower, a hydrotherapy treatment that is now very popular in spas around the world.
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In Vichy, France, which is famous for its natural mineral water springs and spa/wellness facilities, there is a very large park/grounds near the center of town. Located here are the Domes building, the Hall of Waters and the three spa/wellness facilities. They are all located a few minutes walking distance from each other. |
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| When you are in the Domes building, you get a deep sense of the appreciation that people have there (and have had for centuries) for the role of water for health and healing and how water is an essential part of the beauty of Nature. There is a cultural theme in Vichy about connecting in water in many different ways. |
| The Domes: The blue rectangular areas along the side of the higher area of the build are murals of various water themes, like mermaids, dolphins................. Link |
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Mural inside the Dome: This shows people in line to get mineral water from a natural source. |  |
| Mural inside the Dome: Detail of mural. |
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Mural inside the Dome: Mural on the opposite side showing women enjoying water in a natural setting. |  |
| Water fountain inside the Dome: The murals on the walls are on the second level to the left and right of the water fountain. |
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This was an important Roman spa/baths at one time and this photos shows a Roman stone sign similar in a sense to the Vichy sign above. |  |
3 Famous Spas in Vichy, France
There are 3 main spa/wellness facilities in Vichy, France, all of which are located within a short walk of each other as well as the Hall of Waters.
| Spa: Centre Thermal des
Domes
This spa/wellness facility is where most people go to get spa/wellness treatments. Some of the programs are for relaxation and beauty and some are specific medical conditions. Treatment programs for specific medical conditions are prescribed by doctors and usually paid for by French health insurance programs. What is so unique to the treatment programs is that they use only the thermal mineral waters from sources next to the facility (See the Hall of Waters). The waters are used not only for the hydrotub, shower and steam treatments, but are used medicinally and specific amounts are prescribed to be taken internally for specific conditions. Water used for healing is the main theme in combination with traditional massage physical therapy techniques. |
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| Spa: Vichy Les Celestins
This is the luxury spa and offers similar treatment programs as the Centre Thermal des Domes. It is only a 10 minute walk from the Centre Thermal des Domes. It is a very modern, beautiful facility and considered a "5 Star" spa/wellness center. The treatments I got here were not better than at the Centre Thermal des Domes, but it definitely had a beautiful interior design. As in the other spa, only the natural thermal mineral waters are used in the spa for all treatments and hydrotherapy is the main theme upon which all the treatments are based. When you come out the door of this spa, the Hall of Waters is a five minute walk to the left. |
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| Wellness Center: Thermes de
Vichy Callou
The Thermes de Vichy Callou is not a spa but medical treatment facility based on hydrotherapy and physical therapy including massage. It is similar to the Centre Thermal des Domes, but it is not open to the public and you must a prescription from a medical doctor for programs there. Most of these programs are paid for by insurance. When you go in, there are several desks where a client meets with an administrator to go over the programs, do the necessary paper work on the payment/insurance and then the client proceeds to the treatment area. The entire building is for treatments with the administrative area located as you go through the door in the bottom left of the picture. They have done scientific research to verify the results of some of the treatment programs. You see some of the medical benefits they have found that result from the treatment in a sign that is located in the Hall of Waters Benefits As in the other spas, only the natural thermal mineral waters are used in the spa for all treatments and hydrotherapy is the main theme upon which all the treatments are based. At the Thermes de Vichy Callou, there is even a greater emphasis on the specific medicinal value of the different natural mineral waters. The spa Thermes de Vichy Callou is almost directly across from the wellness center and the Hall of Waters is a five minute walk. |
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Hall of Waters: Vichy, France The Hall of Waters is next to the Domes and very close to the all three spa/wellness centers. |
| The Hall of Water is connected to the source of five different thermal mineral springs. The Hall of Waters is open from early morning to late evening and anyone can come here and get water from any of the five mineral springs. It is free and there is not limit on how much water you take. There is information on the history the use of water for health and healing as well as information on the health benefits of drinking the water. There is also information on each of the three spa/wellness centers and what treatment programs they offer. All of the information is in French (to be translated soon). |
| Hall of Waters:
Vichy, France
Five different natural thermal mineral waters are available here. |
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Someone enjoying drinking one of the mineral waters. |  |
| Celestins Mineral
Water: This is the famous "Vichy" water which is
bottled and sold around the world. It is naturally
carbonated and has a great tastes, especially coming directly
from the source!
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Lucas Mineral Water: The information above the name of the water states the temperature, pH of the water and other information. You can buy a cup with measurements in milliliters (shown in photo) as you enter the building for about 25 cents. |  |
| Grille Mineral Water: |
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This is the source of spring for the Grille mineral water inside the Hall of Waters, next to the water fountains. |  |
| Chomel Mineral Water |
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This is the source of spring for the Chomel mineral water inside the Hall of Waters, next to the water fountains. |  |
| Sign in Hall of Waters describing the benefits of the mineral waters (in French) |
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Close-up of Benefits
(very general translation). Benefits for:
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| Sign for the Centre Thermal des Domes in Hall of Waters. List the various treatments and treatment programs |
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Some of the history of Vichy, France |  |
Copyright © 2007
Richard Eidson. All rights reserved.
Revised: October 05, 2007
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