Évian-the-Baths - SpeedyLook encyclopedia

Geography

Situation

The town of Évian-the-Baths is located on the edges of the Lac Léman, in North East of Geneva.

Benchmark

Communes bordering

Nature of the landscapes

Evian is placed at the first rank of the flowered cities holding four flowers with the national classification.

Transportation routes

wearing of Evian, on the Lake Léman
the general Company of navigation on the lake Léman (CGN) (since Thonon-the-Baths or Lausanne)
SNCF railway station

By road

RD1005 (since January 1st, 2007; in the past: Main road 5)

Public transport

Company of Transport of the Agglomeration of Thonon (STAT)

Airport and heliport

Royal Heliport of Evian Spring

Village, Hamlet

Large Bank
Saint-Thomas
Large Bissinges

History

Etymology

The word " évian" would be an expression as old French - eveux , meaning " wet - to indicate a wet ground. In this case, it is about the presence of sources.

Heraldic

The old blazon of the city represented, under the crown Ducale, a cross of Savoy accompanying a fish carrying transversely in its mouth a small perpendicular fish. The currency of the city east Deo and duci fidelis perpetuo (in French: “With God and the Duke perpetual fidelity”). Nevertheless, a popular currency of the city is inspired by fish present on the blazon: “In the life the large ones eat the small ones, but at Evian the small ones are put transversely.”

The emblem of the town of Evian nevertheless was changed recently.

Birth of the City

Located on the way of pilgrimages in direction of the Abbey of Saint-Maurice d' Agaune, Evian was first of all a halt, in particular thanks to its port. It was one of the cities of old the Duché of Savoy and of the province of the Chablais. It was in particular one of the residences of the dukes of Savoy. The city will develop between 11th and the 14th century before returning in sleep and knowing a new golden age with 19th and 20th centuries, thanks to the development of the Thermalisme.

Birth of the Hydrotherapy

The few sources which make surface in Evian are still far from known at the time of the French revolution. Analyzed in 1807 and 1808, the water of Evian shows qualities for the treatment of the urinary tracts. The access to Evian east facilitated by the creation of its port, then the passage of the Trunk road 5 which connects Paris to Milan (1809). A Genevese, Mr. Fauconnet, founds the Company of Mineral Water of Evian in 1823. It acquires the two sources of which most known, the source called Cachat, of the surname which yields them, the March 16th 1827. The company of Mr. Fauconnet, after having gone bankrupt, is taken again and the Hotel of the Baths is built. Come to be added several other establishments, Hotel the four season old, the Hotel of France, the Hotel of the Alps, etc the framework offered by the proximity of the lake allows various attractions (walks in boats, stroll, etc)

Development of the station in second half of the 19th century

The Public limit company of Mineral Water of Cachat, created the December 9th 1859 by investors Paris iens, ensures the sale of the water of Evian. The January 28th 1865, the small town of the edges of the Lac Léman (2200 inhabitants) had posted its new vocation while becoming Évian-the-Baths. Several sources followed the principal one, the Cachat source, and offer their services: Guillot, Bonnevie, Corporau. The experiments and the use of water make it possible to confirm its properties and to specify the modes of administration. At the same time as the Third Republic settles, the transportation routes, road and railway, give the development of tourism and access to the thermal spa.

Splendid (1883) is one of the 20 hotels built to make it possible to increase the capacity of reception of the city. Hébrard draws for the company of Mineral Water one of the most remarkable hotels of the time, the hotel Royal (1909). Many villas are also built and border the lake. A theater and the Casino (also drawn by Hébrard) occupies the curists and the writers of the time (Anna de Noailles, Frederic Mistral, Marcel Proust). The city gains ground by arranging a quay on the lake. The hydropathic establishment, finally, is built near the residence of the Frères Light (1902), which was transformed into Town hall.

The period of the Interval wars

An international tourist population attends Evian between the two wars. Many crowned heads, writers and fashionable people are seen in the city (the Aga Khan, Maharadja of Kapurthala, Albert Lebrun, president of the republic…). The Tour de France cyclist also made there halt on several occasions, the first departure in province of the outer Loop is given to Evian (1926).

Evian after the Second world war

The Second world war has obsolete the hydrotherapy and diverted many tourists towards other destinations. The hotels are transformed into residences, the frequentation drops and the fame grows blurred. The March 18th 1962, the Accords of Evian were signed between the representatives of the provisional government of the Algerian République and the French government, recognizing the independence of Algeria. This event makes it possible the station to again exist, under the impulse of Camille Blanc, mayor of the time, assassinated in the night of the 30 to the March 31st 1961.

Evian was the place of the last top of the G8 accommodated by France, of the 1 {{er}} with the June 3rd 2003.

Culture and Inheritance

Architectural heritage

Medieval period

Contemporary period

Religious monuments

Environmental inheritance

Cultural heritage

Evian has a line of called Funiculaire the small subway éviannais.

The line of train connecting Evian to the Suisse by the east is not any more in service since 1998. But in 2005, an association was created with for objective obtaining the reopening of the line of Tonkin, in agreement with the mayor Marc Francina (who is also member of association) and the general adviser Louis Duret.

the Garden of water pre curious, classified as “remarkable Garden” of France, and protected as a site " Ramsar" , i.e. protected by the Convention from Ramsar;
the Refreshment bar of the source cachat;
the factory of congestion, largest of the world with 5 million units per day, is visited: Industrial tourism;
the arranged walk, and the marina;
Savoy , Boat of 35 m, with lateen sail.

Economy

Statistical data

Demography

Source: CassiniEHESS

Trade

Tourism
Hydrotherapy: Evian, whose factory of congestion made the fame near the general public, shows the double appearance of a town of traditional cure (one milked there problems of urology) and of a dynamic station: she plays the family chart with a fixed price " mom-baby-équilibre" for all the new mothers.
Evian (water)

Tourism

the casino of Evian is classified 20th French casino in 2006.

Large companies

Sports and leisures

Infrastructures

Clubs and associations

Demonstrations

Evian Masters Golf Club and the Evian Masters

Administrative life

Administrative status

Education

School of Détanche
School Tops of Evian
School of the White Wall
Private establishment St Bruno

public College: Banks of Léman
private College Holy Bruno

general-purpose College Anna de Noailles

Lists of the former mayors

Administration on the spot

Twinning

Others

Ligne of Tonkin, railway line neutralized in direction of France (technical term not wanting to say abandoned, but in sleep), but not in Switzerland what makes St-Gingolph a " bottom of sac" , reactivated soon for the pendular traveller and tourist traffic as well as local freight.

Personalities related to the commune

Georges Riond, journalist founder and president of Biennial international of information (1951 to 1976), ORTF

See too

List of the French thermal spas
Line of Tonkin

External bonds

Évian-the-Baths, the official site
Site of the office of tourist of Évian-the-Baths

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