Saint-Gingolph facts for kids
Saint-Gingolph is a charming small town located right on the southern shore of Lake Geneva, also known as Lac Léman. What makes it special is that it sits exactly on the France–Switzerland border. This means the town is split into two parts: one side is Saint-Gingolph, Valais in Switzerland, and the other is Saint-Gingolph, Haute-Savoie in France. The town gets its name from an old saint, Gangulphus, who lived around the 700s. People say he was a hermit, living alone in this area. The division of the town by the Morge River happened way back in 1569. Even though it's one town with a single church and cemetery (on the French side), it has two separate governments and two different sets of laws!
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A Town's Role in World War II
Saint-Gingolph played a quiet but important part during World War II. The French side, Haute-Savoie, was first taken over by Italian forces, and then by the German army. Even with the border, many families in Saint-Gingolph had relatives and friends on both the French and Swiss sides. This made it possible for brave people, part of the French Resistance, to help others.
Helping People Cross the Border
The Resistance was a secret group fighting against the occupation. They used the town's unique location to smuggle important items like supplies and even weapons across the border. More importantly, they helped many refugees, including French Jewish people, escape to safety in Switzerland. There was even a secret drainage pipe near the lake that they sometimes used as a hidden tunnel. These amazing stories are written in a book by André Zénoni, called "Saint-Gingolph et sa région frontière dans la Résistance 1940-1945."
Getting Around Saint-Gingolph
When it comes to travel, Saint-Gingolph has an interesting railway situation. The Swiss train line from St Maurice and Martigny ends right here in Saint-Gingolph, Switzerland.
The Railway Line's Future
The French train line that used to run from Evian to Saint-Gingolph was stopped in the late 1980s. However, there have been talks about bringing this train line back to life. Even though the old, non-electric French tracks are still there, it's uncertain if the line will reopen.
Famous People from Saint-Gingolph
- Pierre de Rivaz, a skilled person who made and fixed clocks.
