Thonon-les-Bains

Thonon is located near the confluence of the Drans River in Lake Leman , the mouth of which is protected by the French state as a national reserve . Behind Thonon the Chablais massif and Mount Blanc rise .

Administratively, the municipality of the Haute Savoie department in the French region of Rhone-Alpes . It is a sub-prefecture of the department.

Historically, the inhabitants of Thonon spoke Franco-Provençal . The name is presumably derived from the name of the Celtic god Teutat ; in antiquity there could be his idol here. Under Peter II of Savoy at the end of the 13th century, the city was surrounded by walls (not preserved). Until 1343, the Viennese dauphins conquered the possession of the surrounding lands among the Savoys.

In addition to the large residence of the Savoy rulers, now non-existent, a small castle called Repail was built on the lake shore in the XIV century. In the XV century it was rebuilt by the first Duke of Savoy , who wished to leave here after the abdication from the throne with his comrades. It was here that they founded the Order of St. Mauritius .

Thonon remained the favorite seat of the Savoy court until the end of the XV century. In 1536 the Bernians won the Vaadt from the Savoys, but they returned Thonon by the Treaty of Lausanne in 1564. At the end of the 19th century, like the whole of Savoy , the Chablé region was annexed to France.

Thonon stands at an altitude of 431 meters above sea level. The cable car from 1888 connects it with the coastal fishing village, over which the medieval tower of Lang rises. About the times of the Savoy dukes reminds Ripail castle , where the last antipope lived and died, and a XVII century mansion built on the site of his wife’s house. The mansion houses the museum of history of Chabla. Church of sv. Hippolyta dates back to the XIV century.

Thonon-les-Bains is related to:

•   Eberbach , Germany
•   Mercer Island , Washington , USA

• Official site (fr.)
• Tourist Information (fr.)