On Friday June 14, Saturday June 15 and Sunday June 16, Vichy will pay tribute to Napoleon III and the theme of the festivities will be “Sports and leisure in the Second Empire”.
FRIDAY JUNE 14
At the Palais des Congrès, Eugénie auditorium. At 8:45 p.m., opening concert with the orchestral and vocal ensemble of Chamlumière which will offer extracts from La Traviata and ten other emblematic extracts from Giuseppe Verdi including Lacrimosa from his requiem. Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes. Prices: €16 and free for children under 12. Reservation at the tourist office, 19, rue du Parc or online ticketing: vichymonamour.fr
At the Palais des Congrès, Berlioz salon. At 20 hours, “At the Emperor’s table”, a musical and dancing dinner, punctuated by demonstrations of ballroom dancing. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Single price: €80. Reservations required at the tourist office, 19, rue du Parc or at the online ticket office: vichymonamour.fr (limited number of places).
SATURDAY JUNE 15
Napoleon III Park. From 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Imperial Park, between the chalets and the bust of the Emperor, nearly 200 costumed figures will offer entertainment: music, games, dancing, camps, demonstrations and reconstructions. Six districts represented: military, bourgeois, artisans, gourmets, children, riders (free and open access). Presentation of salon weapons, Flobert percussion system with members of the Cusset Shooting Club, at the military headquarters. Duels, demonstrations and initiations to the handling of weapons, in the bourgeois quarter and the military quarter. Presentation of the velocipedes by the Association of Heritage Bicycles and initiation. Initiation and demonstration of combat cane by members of the Stade Clermontois, combat cane section, at the military quarters. Sports afternoon with gymnastics, ball exchanges, canoeing (performance times depending on attendance; free and open access). Old-fashioned farm with chickens, ducks, geese, rabbits, goats and sheep, old agricultural tools, educational activities and creative workshops (all ages 3 and up, free access).
From 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Hunting atmosphere by the Percevent team: presentations with riders, dogs and hunting horns, in the riders’ quarters.
At 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Polichinelle Theater with Pierrot’s stroll And The eventful walk. Duration of the session: 30 mins. From 3 years. (free and open access, seats subject to availability).
Palais des Congrès, Arlequin Gallery and Salon Relais des Parcs. From 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Exhibition “Fashion, leisure and sports under the Second Empire” (free access).
Rotonde Beach. At 10 o’clock. Bathing of the Empress, reconstruction. Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes (free and open access).
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Music kiosk at the L’Hôpital source and in the Hall of sources. From 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.: ballroom dance workshop with a Quadrille and Quadrille Galop (new). From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.: group dances (columns, fantasies). (Free, reservation required at the tourist office, 19, rue du Parc or at the online ticket office: vichymonamour.fr).
Terrasse de Vichy Célestins Spa Hotel, 111, boulevard desUnis. From 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., “Le Thé de l’Impératrice”, tea and pastries to the sound of instruments and singers from Chamlumière. Free access, but compulsory consumption (in the event of bad weather, retreat to the establishment’s bar).
At the Palais des Congrès: room 1, Berlioz salon; room 2, Napoleon III lounge; room 3, Clock Room. At 20 hours, “At the Emperor’s table”, a musical and dancing dinner, punctuated by demonstrations of ballroom dancing. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Single price: €60. Reservations required at the tourist office, 19, rue du Parc or at the online ticket office: vichymonamour.fr (limited number of places)
SUNDAY JUNE 16
Napoleon III Park. From 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Imperial Park, between the chalets and the bust of the Emperor, nearly 200 costumed figures will offer entertainment: music, games, dancing, camps, demonstrations and reconstructions. Six districts represented: military, bourgeois, artisans, gourmets, children, riders (free and open access). Presentation of salon weapons, Flobert percussion system with members of the Cusset Shooting Club, at the military headquarters. Duels, demonstrations and initiations to the handling of weapons, in the bourgeois quarter and the military quarter. Presentation of the velocipedes by the Association of Heritage Bicycles and initiation. Initiation and demonstration of combat cane by members of the Stade Clermontois, combat cane section, at the military quarters. Sports afternoon with gymnastics, ball exchanges, canoeing (performance times depending on attendance; free and open access). Old-fashioned farm with chickens, ducks, geese, rabbits, goats and sheep, old agricultural tools, educational activities and creative workshops (all ages 3 and up, free access).From 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Horse riding: demonstrations and introductions to side-saddle riding with Hélène, federal instructor. Six people per time slot (registration required at the Cavaliers district stand).
From 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Hunting atmosphere by the Percevent team: presentations with riders, dogs and hunting horns, in the Cavaliers district.
At 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Polichinelle Theater with Pierrot’s stroll And The eventful walk. Duration of the session: 30 mins. From 3 years. (free and open access, seats subject to availability).
From 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. The musicals of the park with Chamlumière: music suitable for dancing with children (2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.); emblematic music with soloists, choir and the small symphony (3:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.). (open and free access).
Palais des Congrès, Arlequin Gallery and Salon Relais des Parcs. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: exhibition “Fashion, leisure and sports under the Second Empire” (free access).
Rotonde Beach. At 10 o’clock. Bathing of the Empress, reconstruction. Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes (free and open access).
Music kiosk at the L’Hôpital source and in the Hall of sources. From 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Couple dances with waltz, polka and choreography. (Free, reservation required at the tourist office, 19, rue du Parc or at the online ticket office: vichymonamour.fr).
Palais des Congrès, Eugénie auditorium. At 10:30 a.m.conference “Sports and leisure in the Second Empire” by Alain Carteret, with slideshow (free and open access).
In the city. Dance parade in costume and music from the Second Empire with 300 extras, dancers, costumed musicians, and carriages, departing from rue de Paris, at 3:30 p.m. Activities on the Quatre-Chemins esplanade and on the square in front of the Saint-Louis church to arrive at the kiosk at the L’Hôpital source, around 4:15 p.m. (free and open access).
Kiosk at the L’Hôpital spring. From 4:15 p.m. to 5 p.m.closing show with the Imperial Guard of Dijon and the parade dancers (free and open access, 1,000 seats around the kiosk).
Congress Palace. From 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Grand imperial ball hosted by a hundred dancers in costumes. Full price: €7. (Reservation at the tourist office, 19, rue du Parc or at the online ticket office: vichymonamour.fr).
The Napoleon III Festival is preparing its first “off” in Vichy
THE VISITS
Animated tour The Emperor’s court on vacation. Friday 14, Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 June, at 9, 10, 11, 12, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 p.m., departing from Chalet des Roses, 101, boulevard desUnis. Duration: one hour. Prices: full, €12; reduced, €9.50 and free for children under 8 years old. Information and reservations at 04.70.98.71.94. Website: boutique.vichymonamour.fr/
Animated tour Napoleon III, imposter or visionary? Friday June 14, at 3 p.m., Saturday June 15 and Sunday June 16, at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., departing from the tourist office, 19, rue du Parc. Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes. Prices: full, €9.50; reduced, €6.50 and free for children under 8 years old. Information and reservations at 04.70.98.71.94. Website: boutique.vichymonamour.fr/
Animated and dramatized visit to Imperial Confidences. Friday June 14, at 3 p.m., Saturday June 15, at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. and Sunday June 16, at 11 a.m., departing from the tourist office, 19, rue du Parc. Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes. Prices: full, €9.50; reduced, €6.50 and free for children under 8 years old. Information and reservations at 04.70.98.71.94. Website: boutique.vichymonamour.fr/
Costume rental (in the limit of the available stock). Prices for 3 days (cleaning included), for men and women, €50 (deposit €500) and for children, €35 (deposit €150). Information from the tourist office, 19, rue du Parc; Such. 04.70.98.71.94.
Detailed program and plan on the website: vichymonamour.fr then type in Napoleon III Festival program
