The Lardy spring, drilled in 1844, bears the name of one of its two discoverers, Henri Lardy, in partnership with his brother-in-law Pierre Ménot Saint-Ange; the water was also nicknamed "Vichy tea" due to its reputation for being easily digestible.
The 1848 griffin sculpture was placed in a circular basin made of Volvic lavastone, topped with a glass bell jar, and soon covered with a kiosk. Another thatched-roof kiosk sheltered drinkers, while a third covered the bottling operations. These pavilions were removed in 1902, when the current gallery was built by Antoine Percilly. The drinking gallery was redesigned in the fashionable Art Deco style in 1925, when the Généreuse spring started to be piped in. In the late 19th century, various buildings were converted, both for the production of salts and lozenges and to provide entertainment for visitors (bandstand, Ludo game, billiards, restaurant, etc.).
In 1864, Madame Lardy had a small spa establishment housing some thirty or so cubicles built just below the spring. Purchased later by the Compagnie Fermière, together with the spring and its grounds, this was replaced by the third-class thermal baths, built by Charles Letrosne in 1937. After its closure in 1965, this building was converted into a university centre in 2000.
Accessibility
Accessible for self-propelled wheelchairs
Rates
Free access.
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Openings
All year 2026 - Open everyday
