Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The thermal centre of the Domes, also known as the Great Thermal Establishment, is an emblematic monument of Vichy, built between 1899 and 1903 in the last quarter of the 19th century. He played the golden age of the French spas, inspired by the German and Austrian models then at the forefront. Its eclectic architecture combines an octagonal dome with Arabic accents, a flaming sandstone drum, and facades decorated with multicolored stained glass windows. The interior houses paintings by Alphonse Osbert and period medical equipment, such as the mechanical therapy room.

The decision to build this new establishment was taken in 1898 by the Compagnie Fermière, led by Charles Fère, accompanied by engineer Guérin and architect Charles Le Coeur. After four years of work, the inauguration took place in 1903. An extension was added in 1934, including two castles stylized in fortified towers. Partially classified in 1989, the site retains remarkable elements: decorated entrance hall, glazed earthenware luxury cabins, and first floor gallery.

In 2021, France Thermes, the site manager until 2030, launched a renovation project to make it a "health prevention centre", with a delivery planned for 2024. This project is a continuation of a centuries-old thermal tradition in Vichy, while adapting the establishment to contemporary health and heritage issues.

The protected elements include facades, roofs (including the central dome), the entrance hall and its decor, as well as luxury bath cabins decorated with aquatic motifs (nenuphars, iris). The dome, a symbol of the building, is directly inspired by the oriental baths, while the interior facilities testify to the medical advances of the early twentieth century.

Situated between Thermale Avenue and U.S. Boulevard, the property is integrated into a spa district, reflecting the seaside town planning of the time. Its history is related to that of the Compagnie Fermière, which managed the thermal baths of Vichy, and to the rise of thermal cures as a social and medical practice in Europe.

Today, the Grand thermal establishment of the Domes remains a major testimony of French thermal architecture, combining heritageization and modernization to perpetuate its initial use in a contemporary setting.

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