Thonon-les-Bains Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Thonon-les-Bains

Tonon (Arpitan)

Thonon-les-Bains Town Hall

Flag	Coat of arms

Thonon-les-Bains

Location in France

Thonon-les-Bains

Location in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Country

Thonon-les-Bains

Thonon Agglomération

Area

16.21 km² (6.26 sq mi)

Population

(2021)

37,027

• Density

2,284.2/km² (5,916.1/sq mi)

Time zone

UTC+01:00 (CET)

• Summer (DST)

UTC+02:00 (CEST)

INSEE/Postal code

74281 /74200

Elevation

371–569 m (1,217–1,867 ft)
(avg. 425 m or 1,394 ft)

¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Thonon-les-Bains, often called just Thonon, is a lovely town in Eastern France. It's located in the Haute-Savoie area, which is part of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Thonon-les-Bains is special because it sits right on the edge of the beautiful Lake Geneva, also known as Lac Léman. In 2018, about 35,241 people lived there. This town is also part of a larger area called Grand Genève, which crosses borders with Switzerland.

A Look at Thonon's History
How Many People Live Here?
Getting Around Thonon
- Train Connections
- Local Bus System
Places to See
Sister Cities
See also

A Look at Thonon's History

Château de Ripaille, a historic castle in Thonon-les-Bains.

Thonon-les-Bains used to be the main city of a region called Chablais. This area was once part of an old kingdom known as the Duchy of Savoy. The Chablais region is split into three parts: one in France (Chablais Savoyard), and two in Switzerland (Chablais Valaisan and Chablais Vaudois). Thonon was the capital of the French part of Chablais.

In 1860, there was a big discussion about what would happen to the Duchy of Savoy. Some people in the northern part of the duchy, including Chablais, thought about joining Switzerland. However, a vote was held on April 22 and 23, 1860. Most people in Savoy voted to join France. This vote was organized under the rule of Napoleon III.

How Many People Live Here?

The number of people living in Thonon-les-Bains has changed a lot over the years. Here's a look at how the population has grown:

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1793	3,010	—
1800	3,198	+0.87%
1806	3,251	+0.27%
1822	4,179	+1.58%
1838	4,428	+0.36%
1848	4,488	+0.13%
1858	4,825	+0.73%
1861	4,918	+0.64%
1866	5,530	+2.37%
1872	5,272	−0.79%
1876	5,501	+1.07%
1881	5,444	−0.21%
1886	5,447	+0.01%
1891	5,780	+1.19%
1896	5,666	−0.40%
1901	6,268	+2.04%
1906	7,043	+2.36%

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1911	7,232	+0.53%
1921	8,042	+1.07%
1926	10,270	+5.01%
1931	11,291	+1.91%
1936	12,183	+1.53%
1946	13,181	+0.79%
1954	14,016	+0.77%
1962	17,080	+2.50%
1968	20,700	+3.26%
1975	24,454	+2.41%
1982	24,844	+0.23%
1990	28,401	+1.69%
1999	28,927	+0.20%
2007	31,562	+1.10%
2012	34,661	+1.89%
2017	34,756	+0.05%

Source: EHESS and INSEE (1968–2017)

Getting Around Thonon

Thonon-les-Bains has good ways to get around, both by train and by bus.

Train Connections

The Thonon-les-Bains station connects the town to other cities. You can take a train to places like Lyon, Évian-les-Bains, Annemasse, and Geneva.

Local Bus System

The local buses in Thonon are run by BUT (Bus urbains thononais). They help people travel all around the town. Here are some of the main bus lines:

Line A: Goes to Grangette or Multiplex
Line B: Goes to Z.I VONGY or Place des arts
Line C: Goes to Collège Théodore Monod or Place des arts
Line D: Goes to Collège Théodore Monod, Espace Leman, or Place des arts
Line L: Goes to Amphion Village or Place des arts
Line P: Goes to Marin or Place des arts
Line M: Goes to La Chavanne or Place des arts
Line N: Goes to Parking des chateaux or Place des arts

You can see a map of the bus network here: Map of the network.

Places to See

Château de Thuyset, another interesting castle.

Thonon-les-Bains has many interesting places to visit. Here are some of the main sights:

Arboretum de Ripaille: A beautiful tree garden.
Château des Guillet-Monthoux: A historic castle.
Château de Ripaille: Another famous castle with a long history.
Château de Sonnaz: A charming old castle.
Château de Thuyset: An impressive castle.
Saint-Hippolyte church: This church was built in the 12th century and rebuilt in a special style called Savoy Baroque in the 17th century.
Funiculaire de Thonon-les-Bains: A funicular railway that takes you up and down a steep hill.