Thonon-les-Bains

Thonon, surprising by nature

Massif du Chablais
Département et Région : Haute-Savoie and Auvergne Rhône-Alpes (AURA)
Principal passes : col des Gets, col du Feu
Stopover on Route des Grandes Alpes ® : Thonon-les-Bains / Morzine-Avoriaz
Stage on Route des Grandes Alpes ® Gravel: T honon-les-Bains / Morzine-Avoriaz
Stopover on P'tites Routes du Soleil ®: Thonon-les-Bains / Boege

Summary

Suggestions for cycling loops
Our major passes
Events around cycling
Biking in Thonon-les-Bains
Summer in Thonon-les-Bains
Other seasons
Other events
Services
Témoignages
Access
Contacts
Other villages and resorts near Thonon-les-Bains

Suggestions for cycling loops around Thonon-les-Bains

Our grands cols

Point of departure towards the Col de Cou or the col du Feu, Thonon opens the doors to a whole territory to explore by bike.
Start your cycling season at the Col de Cou to get your feet wet with a gentle, even gradient (5.5%). The quiet, shady road gives you access to the Vallée Verte and its verdant landscapes.
As for the col du Feu, it offers a short and beautiful ascent, with the crossing of a pretty village and a few switchbacks in the forest. But beware of a one-kilometre stretch of extremely steep terrain. Better be warned!
Gradient: 8%

Events around cycling

The event not to be missed every year is the Thonon Cycling Race. In an idyllic setting between lake and mountains, the accessible courses are within everyone's reach. Gravel or Road with different options (46 km, 86 km or 122km) the different courses will allow beginners as well as experienced riders to find their happiness.
The Thonon Cycling Race is a round of the French Cycling Federation's Label d'Or Trophy.

Add to a roadbook

Summer in Thonon-les-Bains

In terms of culture, summer visitors can easily cross centuries and styles in just a few days. Château de Ripaille transports them from the Middle Ages to the 1900s with its new costumed tour. The unique history of the Basilique St-François-de-Sales takes them on a journey from 1885 to 1940, in the city center. Finally, contemporary artists surprise passers-by at the Chapelle de la Visitation.
As new trends emerge, so does the range of summer activities on offer. Whether for families or friends, the Tourist Office offers new experiences for everyone. The region offers a rich and varied range of activities for both relaxation and leisure. Hiking, sophro strolls, city tours, draisian competitions and cheese tasting - there's something for everyone!
Soundtracked by the gentle lapping of the lake, it's impossible to spend a vacation in Thonon without a trip in or on the water. Whether kayaking or sailing on the Léman or rafting on one of the Dranse rivers, water is a source of adventure and escape.
With the youngest members of the family, an outing to the farm is a great way to enjoy the region's assets in a different way. With all five senses alert, they can discover the farm animals and their environment. Those with a sweet tooth can even sample products made on site.
On the gastronomic side, taste buds are awakened and the senses are stimulated in the aisles of the farmers' and artisans' markets held throughout the week.

Coming back in winter

It's not just in summer that the town of Thonon offers unforgettable experiences. In every season, the lake offers an array of different landscapes to discover without moderation. The hustle and bustle of summer gives way to the gentleness of autumn and its major events showcasing Chablais traditions and folklore. From the International Gastronomy Festival to the "démontagnée", you'll discover all the local specialities and different facets the town has to offer.
To round off the year, Thonon-les-Bains' town center comes alive with the enchantment of the Christmas market. In addition to the villages of craft and gourmet speciality chalets, the giant ice rink and the enchanted forest, Thonon Les féériques has plenty of entertainment in store throughout the town center.

Kzero

Other events

The town is punctuated throughout the year by many varied events:

Les folies végétales: the must-attend event for nature lovers. A weekend dedicated to nature, well-being and good gardening practices.
The Thonon Gaming Fest: this festival aims to bring young and old together around a common passion: video games, in a warm and friendly environment.
The FISE: The famous Festival International de Sport Extrême puts down its bags for a stopover in Thonon. On the program: BMX, scooter and skateboard competitions open to all.
Toques en Chablais: an international gastronomy festival where you can take part in cooking or pastry-making classes, enjoy a meal concocted by a Michelin-starred chef 50 meters up in the air, or take advantage of the excellent producers' market.
Les féériques: to experience the magic of Christmas on the shores of Lake Geneva, a festive and enchanting program punctuates the month of December. With craft and gourmet markets, an ice rink and concerts, there's something for everyone.

Services

The town of Thonon has a bus and train station, as well as a pier providing access to numerous destinations, including neighboring Switzerland. A town of 38,000 inhabitants, it has all the necessary services: post office, mini-markets, hypermarkets, banks...etc
In terms of accommodation, the town has chain hotels (Ibis) as well as family-run hotels, as well as tourist residences and furnished tourist accommodation.

favorite

Thonon-les-Bains / Morzine-Avoriaz

49,96 Km

3 h 49 min

Thonon-les-Bains

favorite

Thonon-les-Bains / Morzine-Avoriaz

51,25 Km

5 h 00 min

Thonon-les-Bains

favorite

Thonon-les-Bains / Boëge

37,29 Km

3 h 00 min

Thonon-les-Bains

Témoignages

"An excellent place to recharge your batteries. For me it's been every year for 20 years!" Mathieu Boutois

"Coup de coeur assuré , I've been there, I've been back again and again and just talking about it, I'd love to be there.... Thonon-les-Bains, to try it is to adopt it" Claire B.

"Our old Lake Geneva is magnificent, I've never tired of it since I was a child. A lot of attachment to the region, very well placed, near the lake, near Switzerland... very attractive!" Jean-Paul Nivet

"Very beautiful region! Haute-Savoie, around Lake Geneva, Thonon-les-Bains, Yvoire, Evian... I love it!" Pierre Gérard.

FAQ

Where is kilometer 0 of the RGA? On the town hall square.
What castle was built by the first Duke of Savoy Amédée VIII ? Château de Ripaille.
What is the circumference of Lake Geneva? 180 km
What painter created the frescoes in Thonon's Basilica? Maurice Denis
What infrastructure built in 1888 connects the town center to the port?A funicular railway