BOURBON L'ARCHAMBAULT

bourbon l'archambault, a town of central france in the department of allier, on the burge, 16 m. w. of moulins by rail. pop. (1906) 2306. the town has thermal springs known in roman times, which are used in cases of scrofula and rheumatism. the bathing-establishment is owned by the state. a church dating from the 12th century, and ruins of a castle of the dukes of bourbon (13th and 15th centuries), including a cylindrical keep, are of interest. there are a military and a civil hospital in the town. stone is quarried in the vicinity. bourbon (_aquae borvonis_ or _bormonis_) was anciently the capital of the bourbonnais and gave its name to the great bourbon family. the affix archambault is the name of one of its early lords.