Passage Clémenceau

Historic site and monument
Historic patrimony
Historic district
Road
19th C

Passage Clémenceau, 03200 Vichy

- See opening hoursWarning: Unsecured hours
- - 04 70 98 71 94
  Contact Passage Clémenceau
  * : champs obligatoires
  Period
  From
  to
  Civility ^*
  Name ^*
  First name ^*
  Email ^*(Ex: nomprenom@mondomaine.fr)
  Phone
  Message ^*
  I would like to receive information from :
  Office de Tourisme de Vichy
  ^* You may at any time unsubscribe our mailing lists.
  Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the personal information collected via this form is intended for the service provider indicated on the relevant website page and the website publisher, who are responsible for processing it within the limits of their respective remit. This information is necessary to manage requests from various contacts at the two establishments, including receiving them electronically, forwarding them to the relevant departments, recording requests and responses to contacts, and compiling statistics on departmental activity. For more information, please see the privacy policy.
  Thanks. Your message has been sent.
  Une erreur est survenue lors de l'envoi du formulaire.

Passage Clemenceau stands on the spot formerly occupied by a famous Vichy department store, "Bazar de Vichy", established during the mid-19th century in a rapidly developing commercial district, close to the rail station and the market.

In those days, the area housed a number of permanent stores catering to local residents, gathered within a large bazaar where you could find clothing, accessories, novelty items and everyday goods. From the 1890s onwards, the Bellam-Combet family gradually transformed this bazaar into a full-scale department store. A new building, constructed in 1894, underwent several phases of extension and modernisation, notably in 1896 and 1911, with the creation of a gallery illuminated by a vast glass roof embellished with decorative stained-glass panels. Looking to emulate the famous department stores in Paris, for a time, this was one of Vichy's largest shopping complexes, before finally closing its doors in 1949. Architects Gilbert Brière, Pierre Lefort and Henri Pailler were then commissioned to draw up plans for a public arcade 94 metres in length, with the structural framework and glass roof being retained to house twenty shops. Having closed and then fallen into disrepair over time, since 2020, the arcade has been the site of major renovation works, including the restoration of the glass roof and shop fronts. The discovery of early 20th century murals led to a restoration campaign supported by the Fondation du Patrimoine. These interventions are now helping to drive the revival of this iconic hub of Vichy commerce.