Traveling in France #3

We recently traveled south from Paris to Vichy to visit good friends Jean-Charles and Eliane.  They are gracious hosts and we had a wonderful time.

Eliane and Jean-Charles

The time in Vichy was packed with activities and wonderful meals.  Future blog posts will provide an in-depth look.  For now, here is a taste of Vichy.

Vichy is a spa town known for its curative water.  Below is one of the sources where you can drink the water. 

During the mid-1800's, the French Emperor, Napoleon III, visited Vichy and the town experienced a boom.  Vichy's golden age is celebrated annually and we visited Vichy during the celebration. 

The celebration was well-attended, including many people dressed in period clothing.  Plus, we heard wonderful music from the period, mostly Offenbach.

We enjoyed some fantastic food in Vichy.  Our meals were lovingly prepared by Eliane, who is a superb chef.  Here is a sample.

Vichy is also known for something else.  Because Vichy is a spa town, it has many hotels.  So, it was selected as the seat of the French government during the German Occupation, 1940-1944, during WWII.  Below is a building in Vichy that played an important role during WWII.

Can you name the two people who lived there?  (The answer will be shared in a future post.)

Thanks for visiting Vichy with us.  More to come.