In the past, Vichy was known by the name Aquis Calidis. Its waters have a reputation of being almost capable of miracles, which attracted well-known figures such as Madame de Sévigné, Louis XV’s daughters Victoire and Adélaide, and the Duchess of Angoulême. Maria Letizia Bonaparte, ‘Madame Mère’, discovered the city in 1799, and saddened by how dilapidated it was. She pushed her son, Napoleon I, to get the State to put some investment into the town. Farming of a thermal estate thus began in 1816. Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte, who became Napoleon III, stayed there five times for health reasons between 1861 and 1866. He chose to turn this modest spa resort into one of the thermal capitals of Europe capable of rivalling Baden-Baden and Karlsbad. He had a train station built there, dyked the river Allier, created eight spa roads, had land acquired by his uncle developed into large parks, opened a Casino, the Saint-Louis Church and a new town hall. The town is adorned with a harmonious combination of hotels and villas against a green backdrop.  Byzantine, Moorish, Venitian, Neo-Gothic… it is a hybrid mixture of rich contrasting styles, an eclectic combination of architecture which stupefies and enchants visitors and transports them into another world.