Vichy

Vichy () 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.

History
Vichy has lots of Spas and resorts. This site was inhabited before the Roman conquest of Gaul.Gros, J.F. (1884).  "Vichy in History," Vichy and environs, pp. 83-54.

In 1861, Napoleon III visited Vichy several times.Prince, Danforth et al. (2011).  Frommer's France, p. 473.

During World War II, it was the capital city of Vichy France.Vinen, Richard. (2007).  The Unfree French: Life Under the Occupation, p. 45.

 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 , and its average altitude is ; at the city hall, the altitude is .

The distances from Vichy to other cities are:
 Paris, the national capital - ;
 Lyon, the regional capital - ;
 Reims - ;
 Bordeaux - ;
 Toulouse - ;
 Montpellier - ;
 Strasbourg - ;
 Nantes - ;
 Marseille - .

+ Vichy and its neighboring communes 350px|Map of the commune of Vichy

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".

Population
The inhabitants of Vichy are known, in French, as Vichyssois (women: Vichyssoises).

With a population of 25,279, Vichy is the second largest city of the Allier department. It has a population density of  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 () 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:
  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

Related pages
 Arrondissement of Vichy
 Communes of the Allier department
 Capital of France

References

Other websites

 Ville de Vichy council website 
 Official Website of the Tourist Office of Hydrotherapy and Vichy

Category:Former national capitals
Category:Subprefectures in France
Category:Capital of France
Category:Communes in Allier