The remarkable sites of Thonon and its region

 

Ripaille Castle :

Historic, cultural and winemaking centre in Haute-Savoie, the Castle of Ripaille is also one of the biggest and most remarkable natural sites on the banks of Lake Geneva.

vin-chateau-vue-chateau crédit sémaphore

Prangins Castle :

The castle, a former medieval fortress which was destroyed during the Bernese invasion of 1536, is the largest 18th century building open to the public in Switzerland. Reconstructed by the banker, Louis Guiguer, who gave it the French style we see today, the castle has housed, amongst others, Voltaire and Joseph Bonaparte.

 

Musée national suisse / snm /Château de Prangins

Castle of Chillon :

The ruins of Château-Neuf and Château-Vieux stand opposite one another at the top of Les Allinges hill. The Roman chapel in the 11th century Château Neuf has a magnificent fresco in the half-dome over the apse and is listed as an Historic Monument. The Châteaux’s belvedere is 717 metres high. You can enjoy one of the most stunning panoramic views in Chablais from there. The lake, the French and Swiss Jura and La Dent d’Oche, the highest peak in Chablais at 2222 metres, can all be admired.

 

château de chillon

Castle of Allinges :

The ruins of Château-Neuf and Château-Vieux stand opposite one another at the top of Les Allinges hill. The Roman chapel in the 11th century Château Neuf has a magnificent fresco in the half-dome over the apse and is listed as an Historic Monument. The Châteaux’s belvedere is 717 metres high. You can enjoy one of the most stunning panoramic views in Chablais from there. The lake, the French and Swiss Jura and La Dent d’Oche, the highest peak in Chablais at 2222 metres, can all be admired.

 

2018-09-07-ChateauxAllinges-16 1400 par 600

Castle of Avully:

This fortified house, built in the 12th century on Roman ruins, was the stronghold of the Avully noblemen before passing into the hands of the Saint-Michel family at the end of the 15th century & then the Saint-François de Sales family in the 18th century. After suffering damage during the French Revolution, it fell into ruin and was bought by its present owner in 1970.

Listed as an Historic Monument, the castle was beautifully restored thanks to the Malraux Law and has regained its medieval character, including a keep, moats filled with water, a drawbridge, rooms decorated with wall paintings and a museum where you can find out about the Middle Ages and the Savoie.

avully

Castle of Yvoire :

Amédée V, the Count of Savoy, built the castle in order to fortify the village. It was destroyed by fire in 1591, and it was not until the 20th century that it took on its present form after renovation work by Félix Bouvier d’Yvoire. This castle, which has belonged to the d’Yvoire family since the 17th century, is unfortunately not open to the public. It is clearly visible from the ‘Jardin des 5 Sens’ in the middle of Yvoire village.

Yvoire vue drone