Ardes-sur-Couze

This charming village is located on a basaltic headland and has kept several testimonies of its medieval past. The part at the bottom of the city, crossed by the Couze of Ardes, doubled up religious and handmade functions. The upper part of the village was created in the 13th century. Its History is linked to the one of the powerful family of Mercoeur. Ardes-sur-Couze is famous for the bottling and commercialization of the gaseous natural and mineral water Ardesy by the Company of waters of Cezallier.

The “hill” and “cherry tree” springs, located in Augnat near Ardes-sur-Couze, belong to the same category of springs that the Chabetout one. They are known for their richness in lithium, and are used since 1995. The deepest spring is used to supply the bottling factory, and the other one is kept in reserve. A discovery path of the springs has been developed by the Arvie Company and by the Protective association of the Areas and Landscapes of Auvergne.

The Couze of Ardes has its origins in the Cezallier mounts, and ends up in the Allier River, near the city of Breuil-sur-Couze. It is long of 39,5 km and well-known for trout fishing, that is regulated. Enjoy a walk along the Couze Pavin, near the “Robert Dupré’s stadium”. The Chabetout spring is collected in Ardes-sur-Couze. This natural mineral gaseous water is bottled and commercialized by the Waters of the Cezallier Company. Discovered in the Gallo-Roman period, it was first known under the name of Chabetout in the 19th century, and then under Arvie from 1995 to 2008, to end under the name of Ardésy since 2012. In 1858, a channelling and bottling building was established, and a thermal centre with 2 pools and 15 baths were constructed. Further to the lack of interest of the visitors taking the waters there, and to the First World War, the establishments closed. We have to wait until 1988 to see other drillings, and the 1990’s to observe the new commercialization of this water under the name of Arvie. Nowadays, the production, known as Ardésy, is mainly designed to the exportation towards Asian countries, but you can find it in supermarkets in Auvergne.