Topic: Vichy

Vichy , city (1990 pop. 28,048), Allier dept., central France, on the Allier River. Vichy's hot mineral springs have made it one of the foremost spas in Europe. In addition to bottled Vichy water, pharmaceuticals, clothing, and cosmetics are manufactured. The Vichy government was the regime set up there by Marshal Henri Pétain in July, 1940, subsequent to the Franco-German armistice of June 22. Its effective control extended only to unoccupied France and its colonies. The Third Republic was voted out of existence by a truncated parliament, and a new constitution established a corporate... Read more