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Origin and history

The source of the Celestines, located in Vichy in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, derives its name from the former convent of the Celestines built in 1410, of which only a few remains. As early as the 17th century, this source attracted personalities such as Madame de Sévigné, who had come to curate in 1676, and its water was already sold in sealed bottles towards Paris. The source was declared public interest by imperial decree in 1861, marking its growing importance in the French thermal landscape.

The neo-classical building housing the spring, built in the 19th century, is accompanied by a stone pavilion and orangery, added at the beginning of the 20th century. These buildings, which were listed as historical monuments in 1986, illustrate the refined architecture of the era, with elements such as arches in the middle of the hangar, bas-reliefs and wood mesh decorations. The source, owned by the State, has been exploited industrially since the 19th century, with a mineral water bicarbonate sodium, bottled and exported worldwide.

The water of the Celestines, springing at 17.3 °C, is one of the "cold springs" of Vichy, opposed to hot springs like Chomel or Grande-Grille. It is treated by dewatering and regasification before bottling, while maintaining its mineral salt richness. In 2008, the Vichy Célestins brand was sold to Roxane Group and a Japanese pharmaceutical company, while industrial exploitation, based in Saint-Yorre, produced millions of bottles annually, exported to more than forty countries.

The park and buildings, designed by architects like Lucien Woog, reflect a blend of neo-classical elegance and thermal functionality. The central pavilion, oval, is decorated with patterns reminiscent of water, while orangery completes the architectural ensemble. Today, the source remains a symbol of Vichy's thermal heritage, combined with international wellness centres, such as those opened in Qatar and Morocco in 2018.

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