Chalet des Roses

Chalet des Roses is a historic villa in Vichy, standing on the banks of the Allier river within the park that once linked the town's imperial residences. The building went up over the winter of 1863–1864 for Achille Fould, finance minister under Napoleon III, as one of four chalets raised along the newly laid-out riverside park. Napoleon III himself bought the plot in early 1862, and it was on his orders that two chalets in an alpine style were built there — one of them the Chalet des Roses standing today.

How do you get to Chalet des Roses?

The chalet sits in Vichy on the Allier, inside the park that connects the former imperial residences, and it's an easy walk from the town centre along the riverside avenues. Vichy has direct train links to Paris and Clermont-Ferrand, and the station is only a short walk or a quick taxi ride from the chalet.

What will you see there?

Chalet des Roses is built in the style known as "savoyard": a rectangular footprint, a roof without setbacks, and a structure combining stone, timber and slate. The name comes from the pink-tinted mortar used on the facades, together with the rose bushes planted in the garden. The building and its grounds capture the residential spa architecture of the 19th century, from the era when Vichy was turning into a fashionable cure town under the patronage of the imperial court.

The chalet has been listed on France's register of historic monuments (monuments historiques) since 1990, a recognition of its architectural and historical value. For more than a hundred and thirty years, until 2018, it stayed in the hands of the Bignon family. In 2021 the property was bought by Anne-Flore Maman Larraufie and Jean-Yves Larraufie, who became the first owners to open the historic house to visitors.

When is the best time to visit?

Spring and summer are the best seasons to explore Chalet des Roses and stroll through the surrounding park, when the garden is in bloom and Vichy's riverside avenues invite a longer walk. It's worth pairing the visit with a look at the other imperial chalets nearby and a walk through the town's historic spa quarter.

Why visit this place?

Chalet des Roses offers a rare chance to see an authentic residence from the Second Empire, tied directly to the circle around Napoleon III. Unlike many monuments from that period, the house stayed in the hands of a single family for decades, which helped preserve its original character before it was finally opened to the wider public only in recent years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who built Chalet des Roses? The chalet was built over the winter of 1863–1864 for Achille Fould, finance minister under Napoleon III, on a plot the emperor had bought himself.

Where does the chalet's name come from? The name is linked to the pink-tinted mortar used on the building's facades and to the rose bushes growing in its garden.

Can you visit Chalet des Roses? Yes. After more than a hundred and thirty years with the Bignon family, the property passed to new owners in 2021, who became the first to open it to visitors.

Is the building a protected monument? Yes, Chalet des Roses has been listed among France's monuments historiques since 1990.