Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Petit Casino de Vichy, built in 1926 by architects Antoine Chanet and Jean Liogier, is a rare French example of an Art Deco-style casino. Originally designed as a place of entertainment, it is distinguished by its concert hall and a staircase decorated with windows by Francis Chigot, representing Comedy, Tragedy and Music. These artistic elements, as well as its architecture, bear witness to the aesthetics of the 1920s, despite the partial reconstruction of its facade after the Second World War.

The building was transformed into a cultural centre in 1965 and renamed in honour of Valery Larbaud, a writer born and dead in Vichy. This change of vocation has helped preserve its artistic and architectural heritage, while offering it a new cultural usefulness for the city. The Valery-Larbaud Cultural Centre was listed as a historical monument by order of 10 August 2000, thereby recognizing its heritage value.

The protected elements specifically include the Chigot stained glass hall and staircase, emphasizing the importance of these components in the history of the monument. Today, the cultural centre remains an emblematic place in Vichy, mixing historical heritage and cultural dynamism, while paying tribute to one of the city's illustrious sons.

The location of the monument at 15 rue du Maréchal-Foch makes it a central point in the urban landscape of Vichy. Its transformation into a cultural space also reflects the changing needs and uses of historic buildings in the 20th century, from pure entertainment to a broader educational and artistic mission.

Architects Chanet and Liogier, as well as glass painter Francis Chigot, left a lasting mark on this monument. Their collaboration has created a functional and aesthetic building where art and architecture respond to provide a unique experience for visitors.

Finally, the protection of the Petit Casino as a historic monument in 2000 guaranteed the preservation of its most remarkable elements. This official recognition has also helped raise public awareness of the importance of preserving the testimonies of Art Deco architecture in France, often threatened by urban transformations and conflicts.

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