The image of Stephen Roche emerging from the mist to claim a solo victory on the heights of La Bourboule during stage 16 of the 1992 Tour de France left a lasting impression. Since then, the spa town has only hosted an intermediate sprint during the Tour, back in 2008 on the road from Aigurande to Super-Besse when Benoît Vaugrenard was the quickest of the small breakaway group. In the interim, it had hosted a stage finish of the 2005 Tour du Limousin that was won by Samuel Dumoulin.
- Commune in Puy-de-Dôme (63)
- Population: 1,750; 9,600 within the Massif du Sancy municipality; 664,500 in Puy-de-Dôme
- villedelabourboule.fr • puy-de-dome.fr
La Bourboule and cycling
La Bourboule certainly holds a special place in Stephen Roche’s heart, as it was in this Auvergne spa town that the 1987 Tour de France winner and world champion secured his final professional victory. It was, as one might expect, on the roads of the 1992 Tour de France, during a medium-mountain stage starting from Saint-Étienne. The Irishman demonstrated that he still had plenty left in the tank by breaking away on the Col de la Croix-Morand – immortalised by the singer Jean-Louis Murat (a native of La Bourboule) – before winning solo, nearly a minute ahead of his nearest pursuers. Stephen Roche finished his penultimate Tour de France in 9th place.
Sights
Pâtisserie Rozier
Built: 1920.
Features: Clermont-Ferrand architect Louis Jarrier, who left a significant body of work in the spa towns of Auvergne, designed the Art Deco interior. The façade, created by mosaic artists Gentil and Bourdet, combines the themes of water and flowers in a harmonious and lively composition. Inside, the wallpaper and mosaic panelling frame a remarkable set of neo-Louis XVI display cabinets. Deeply inspired by the Art Deco style, the composition is harmonious and lively. There is a diversity not only in the designs, but also in the colours and materials (traditional tesserae, pieces with a glossy or matt finish).
History: The Rozier family, who ran a patisserie in La Bourboule, purchased a building in 1904 and named it ‘Thé du Boulevard’. After the First World War, in late 1919, it was demolished and rebuilt as a two-storey building under the name ‘Maison Rozier’, to serve as a patisserie and tearoom with a dance hall. The entire project, completed in 1920, was the work of Clermont-Ferrand architect Louis Jarrier, in collaboration with mosaic artists Alphonse Gentil and François Bourdet from Boulogne-Billancourt. This patisserie appears to have been a great success right up until the 1930s. In 1956, the building was divided into separate units and has not undergone any maintenance work since. Since its closure in 2006, the building has continued to fall into disrepair until its restoration in 2023, initiated by local authorities and the Fondation du Patrimoine (Heritage Foundation).
Current use: Maison Rozier underwent a complete restoration between 2020 and 2023. Its 14-piece set of Neo-Louis XVI furniture has also been listed since 2018 and was restored by the Atelier Philippe Allemand, known for its work on the Orient Express. Today, Maison Rozier is home to Maison des Fromages AOP d’Auvergne, where the Subirana cheese shop offers the five Auvergne AOP cheeses: Cantal, Salers, Saint-Nectaire, Bleu d’Auvergne and Fourme d’Ambert.
Listing: listed as a Historic Monument in 2001.
Casino Chardon
Construction: 19th and 20th centuries.
History: the Chardon Casino – named after its owner – was built in two stages. In 1892, architect Emile Camut built the eastern section – which is the central part visible today – to replace a wooden building; this section is flanked on its right by a single wing. Purchased by the town in 1910, the casino was leased to a company that undertook to carry out extensions. Restoration work was carried out in 1913, but the extension to the west side of the building did not begin until 1928. Parisian architect Georges Vimort, who had already overseen alterations to the building in 1925, designed the project, which retained the layout of the original building and completed its symmetry, whilst creating interior spaces in the Art Deco style. Apart from the grand staircase in the main hall, which was probably rebuilt in the 1960s, this western section of the casino was renovated and refurbished between 1987 and 1995 to enable it to host conferences.
Listed as: Historic Monument in 2016.
Grands Thermes
Opened: 1877.
History: the Grands Thermes, recognisable by their striking oriental domes, were commissioned in 1876 by the Compagnie des Eaux Minérales de La Bourboule from architect Agis-Léon Ledru. It was important that the architecture be visible and stand out: a symbol of prosperity and a source of inspiration. As soon as visitors arrived at the spa, the change of scenery was meant to be complete. By evoking a Byzantine city perched high above the Auvergne landscape, the stay promised to be sumptuous, with its share of dreams and exoticism. The Grands Thermes underwent a complete renovation between 2023 and 2025.
Features: the Grands Thermes de La Bourboule specialise in spa treatments for respiratory conditions, dermatology, disorders of the oral and lingual mucous membranes, childhood developmental disorders, and post-cancer skin healing.
Choussy Thermal Baths
Construction: 15th and 19th centuries.
History: they are situated on the site of the historic La Bourboule thermal baths, the first of which dates back to 1463; a 2005 reproduction of the lease, in Latin, granting the right to operate the ‘hospices’ of La Bourboule is displayed on the lava-stone refreshment bar in the main hall of the Choussy thermal baths. The current building features an unusual architectural style for a spa establishment, comprising two main sections: a very old section, the result of successive reconstructions over the years (1463, 1810, 1828, 1862), and a more recent section dating from 1964, designed by a pupil of Le Corbusier. Part of the Thermes de Choussy was used from 1860 onwards as a bottling plant for thermal water destined for French and European pharmacies. This activity, which was significant at the time, continued until 1940.
Current status: The Choussy Thermal Baths closed in 2016 and were purchased in 2023 by the La Bourboule town council, which is exploring various options for their future use.
Saint-Joseph’s Church
Construction: 19th century.
History: Saint-Joseph Church, built between 1885 and 1888, epitomises La Bourboule’s rise as a spa resort in the 19th century. Designed by architect Gardin, then mayor of the town, it was inspired by the Basilica of Orcival and features an Auvergne Neo-Romanesque style. Built from white lava and volcanic materials, the building reflects the region’s traditional architecture.
Features: the interior of the church is notable for its 20 capitals, carved in 1941 by Henri Charlier. These works, created using the direct carving technique, depict scenes from the life of Saint Joseph, such as his marriage to Mary and the Annunciation by the angel. These capitals lend a unique artistic dimension to the building.
Note: Saint Joseph’s Church is open all year round, offering visitors the chance to discover its architecture and history. It is also an active place of worship.