Thônex is a common Suisse of the Canton of Geneva.

Geography

At an altitude ranging between 390 and 431 meters and extending on 382 ha, in the area Arve-Lake in the south east of Geneva, Thônex is one of the 45 Genevese communes. One can divide his territory into 3 parts:

• north, of the road of My-Idea until the way of railroad Annemasse-Water-Sharp: agricultural and market-gardening land, many villas and hospital Beautiful-Idea, in the past gathering the private clinic of Beautiful-Air and the Hospital of Geriatrics;

• the center, to the white road. Many buildings, trade, and some factories (Caran d' Ache, Rolex), some villas;

• south, until the Arve. Agricultural, market-gardening and horticultural land, of the villas and some companies.

Hydrography

Thônex is delimited by three rivers:

• the Foron in the east, fact border with France (high-Savoyard communes of Strong Ambilly and );

• the Seymaz, with the west, fact border with Oak-Bougeries, Oak-Borough and Vandoeuvres;
• the Arve, in the south, makes the border with Veyrier.

History

With prehistory, with the locality “Pierre-with-Bochet”, a “moving stone was” which then had to play a part at the time Celtic. According to the legend, the devil turned over it on itself, with the stroke of midnight in the Christmas Eve. It is a megalithic stone, punt and oval, 2 meters length. Split up and buried during work at last century, she was fortunately exhumed by the mechanical shovel during the installation of the crossroads of Pierre-with-Bochet, in 1968. What remained about it, the head, rests from now on on a small hillock with the known as crossroads.

At the time Roman, a Roman aqueduct brought the water of Voirons, crossing the commune along the street of Geneva. A section of the aqueduct was exhumed during work to the street of Geneva and was placed on the place of Graveson.

The Villette is the center of the commune to the Middle Ages. The lord of the Villette, vassal of the count de Genevois, is a rather important character. He resides in a strong house. There are 2 churches, that of Thônex and the vault seigneuriale of Saint Nicolas's Day to the Villette.

The history of Thônex is closely related to that of Geneva and Savoy. Thônex will be in turn Celtic, Roman, burgonde, franque, genevoisienne, Savoyard, Bernese, Savoyard again, Sardinian, Frenchwoman, to become again Sardinian and finally Genevese in 1816.

In 1203, the first mention of Thônex appears. In 1305, at the time of a feudal war, thestrong one of the Villette is destroyed. In 1536, the Berneses come to deliver Geneva of the Savoyard pressure, destroy the vault of the Villette and abuse the church of Thônex.

During, a noble family, Rossillon, makes build, in the Villette, the White Castle, vast masonry of traditional style which with the characteristic to count as many windows as days ago in the year. It will be demolished in 1851.

At the time of the occupation of Geneva by France in 1798, Oak-Borough, Thônex and Bougeries are joined together to form the commune of the Three-Oak, whose, in 1801, already, the latter is detached.

March 16th, 1816, Savoy yields Oak-Thônex to Switzerland by the treaty of Turin. Oak-borough and Thônex then form only one commune until 1869, where following dissensions, Oak-Borough separates from Thônex.

Others

It is a commune which had very to become a dormitory town, following the example Meyrin or Avanchets. Fortunately, the communal executive encouraged several companies, of which Caran d' Ache to be installed on its territory. Its situation on the axis Annemasse - Geneva, confers an important road transit to him. Nevertheless, the diversity of the stores, the places of relaxation and leisures make that this commune can be regarded as a true city.

It also maintains the close links with the high-Savoyard commune of Strapping man (municipal harmony of Thônex-Strapping man and library).

Thônex is also strongly related to the two other communes belonging to the Three-Oak (Oak-Bougeries and Oak-Borough). Historically, these three communes belonged to the Savoy, the Royaume of Sardinia and France before entering the Swiss Confederation following the Canton of Geneva. These bonds made it possible to build a common sporting center with a skating rink (Under-Mill) but also to develop within the population, the feeling to belong to a place well with share of the city, with its history, its districts and its people. The term used to designate the common people of these is “Chênois”.

Companies

• Caran d' Ache
• Rolex

Twinning

Thônex is twinned since 1972 with the commune of Graveson located close to Avignon.

June 1972: Louis Ollietti reaches the presidency of the Municipal council of Thônex. Convinced European, it mijote with a couple of friends, Mr. and Mrs. Moser, a surprise for its year of presidency: twinning with a common Frenchwoman. Thanks to the good relationships which those in midday have, it is the commune of Graveson, commune agricultural of then 2.000 inhabitants, located between Avignon and Arles which is proposed.

The negociations are quickly carried out because, in the meeting of the Municipal council of June 3rd, 1972, Mr. Edmond Desjacques, then mayor, reading of a letter of its counterpart of Graveson announcing gives desire of the authorities of its commune of twin itself with Thônex. This letter receives a reception of most enthusiastic and the City council men accept unanimously less 1 abstention the principle from twinning.

The 4 “musketeers” of administrative, Edmond Desjacques, John Pradervand, Louis Duret and Rene Moret, do not have any sorrow to convince the city council men and, on November 14th, 1972, the charter of twinning is accepted the same day by the Municipal councils of Graveson and Thônex.

April 28th, 1979, the mayors, Raoul Bonjean and John Pradervand, inaugurate in Thônex the place of Graveson with its fountain with the armorial bearings of the communes, places which became the place of rallying of Thônésiens.

And it is only on September 5th, 1982 that the mayors Jean-Claude Mingard and Raoul Bonjean inaugurate the place of Thônex in front of a stele with the blazons of the respective communes, places located in a district at social housing.

Since 1973, exchanges are done between the primary classes, the municipal councils, the various companies, the sporting groups and the elder ones. These exchanges enrich the dash given by the authorities and cement the twinning which, anchored well in manners of the two communes, was worth in Thônex the honor to be distinguished and to receive, first Genevese commune, the flag of honor of the communes of Europe in 1985.

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