Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Manon villa is an emblematic construction of Vichy's seaside architecture, built at 10 rue Hubert-Colombiar in the Allier department. It is part of a private property set initiated at the end of the 19th century, marked by a sanded and closed road, reflecting the thermal prestige of the city at that time. The building, completed in 1900, is distinguished by its classic model, its twin doors, and a central window illuminating the stairwell, typical of the eclectic style in vogue.

Hubert Colombier, a stickman at the Cusset court and owner of the Vichy bank, was behind this ambitious real estate project (1897–1900). The Manon villa, intended for rent, completes an ensemble dominated by its main residence, the villa Jurietti. Its interrupted pediment and architectural details bear witness to the latest constructions of the southern area of Vichy, before the transition to the 20th century.

Partially classified as historical monuments by order of 2 May 1988, the Manon villa sees its facades and roofs protected for their heritage value. This status underscores its role in the urban history of Vichy, the flagship city of French thermalism, as well as its link with architect Percilly, the project's project manager. The ensemble illustrates the rise of bourgeois residences linked to the golden age of spas.

The precise location of the villa, in the heart of a residential area designed as a private enclave, reflects the social codes of the time. The chain closing the way symbolizes a form of exclusivity, reserved for an easy clientele who come to enjoy the thermal cures. Today, its inscription in the title of historical monuments makes it a landmark of the Victorian architectural heritage.

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