Just for the record, here is what those touristy brochures have to say about Vichy. One would think it is all spas, lakes and Napolonic gloire. As you will see, however, that is only half the story.
http://www.vichy-spa-hotel.com/vichy
Of course, if you know anything about history, you know that Vichy was the happy seat of government during World War II under Marshal Philippe Petain after France waved the white flag of peace to Germany. It was only here and the surrounding region of the south that you could still dine on filet au boeuf without being overwhelmed by those Der Wienerschnitzel and sauerkraut chains.
So why not catch a whiff of history as it repeats itself in places like Paris and its surrounding environs like Trappes?
Why be miserable in Paris when you can be happy in Vichy?
So where to stay? I recommend the Hotel du Parc, which was the hqs of Petain. If you are lucky, you can rent the Petain suite on the third floor.
As for sites to visit, my favorite is the hqs building of Pierre Laval, who was Petain's prime minister. Also not to be missed is the hqs of Laval's Milice (the paramilitary force that chased after the French Resistance). This is located at the old Communist Party headquarters at 44 rue Le Peletier and at 61 rue Monceau.
If you dig music, a great place to listen to the Blues is the Vichy Opera House, where you will see this plaque-a testament to double talk:
Translation:
"In this hall on 10 July 1940
80 parliamentarians by their vote affirmed their attachment to the Republic, their love of liberty, and their faith in victory, thus ending the Third Republic."
Not exactly, That was 80 out of 649 votes when the National Assembly voted to bestow power on Petain thus ending the Third Republic.
But of course, the ghosts of Petain and Laval are now replaced with new faces like President Francois Hollande and Interior Minister Manuel Valls. The latter is quite an interesting chap. By day, he visits the scenes of riots and condemns the rioters proclaiming that such conduct is inacceptable. Then by night, he rushes off to iftar dinners where he lavishes praise on his hosts. But then again, he is just following in the grande tradition of the above plaque, n'est pas?
http://galliawatch.blogspot.com/2013/07/manuel-valls-at-paris-mosque.html#links
Valls on left. Bigfoot in rear
So come see a piece of history at Vichy. We'll try to keep the light on for you as long as possible.
Personally, after a few visits there, I never cared for the French, as a people or as a country. I would never go there again.
ReplyDeleteI'm reading the Last Lion about Churchill now. I'm at the part where the collapse of the French army near the beginning of WWII was so devastating and shameful.
No wonder the Muslims find the country so easy to take over.
.