This boulevard recalls the importance of Russian spa visitors to Vichy in the early 20th century, a period that saw the emperor's stables and coaching inn replaced by a series of villas in a variety of styles, many of them commissioned by doctors.
The villa at N° 31, built in 1912 in the neo-classical style, bears the name of the architect S. Henriquet, although the drawings used for its construction were actually initialled by A. Percilly. Les Arcades (N° 29), an annex of the Hôtel Lutetia (rue de Belgique), was built in 1927 by Moulin architect M. Mitton. On the other side of the street, the Tourelle (N° 18), built in 1884 by H. Vianne for the Roubeau family, owners of the Hôtel des Ambassadeurs, is the oldest villa on the street.
Castel Fleury, built by A. Percilly in 1905, is at N° 27. Its neo-classical façade hides a far more modern interior, designed by Louis Majorelle, a famous Art Nouveau artist and furniture designer. Castel Gothique (1910) at N° 25), on the other hand, built in 1910 by S. Henriquet, clearly reflects the architect 's predilection for the neo-medieval style.
Finally, spanning Nos 17 to 21, three villas were built in 1911 as annexes to the Hôtel des Ambassadeurs, offering greater freedom to guests who so wished. To facilitate service delivery, the buildings were linked to the hotel by an underground passage. They were modernised by architects P. Mouret and M. Chimkevitch in 1927.
Rates
Free entry but parking fee is compulsory.
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