On the shores of Lake Geneva and in old Thonon

Start from one of the two car parks at Thonon Plage:
- The car park closest to the beach, located on Quai de Ripaille; free but with a two-hour time limit (use the parking disc). The route starts from this car park.
- Car park situated near the Château de Ripaille, on the left-hand side of Avenue de Ripaille when approaching from Vongy; free of charge and with no time limit. In this case, walk down the avenue to the other car park.
Please note that, in summer, these two car parks may be full and that they are served by a seasonal bus route connecting Place des Arts and Saint-Disdille (Thonon-Plage stop).

(S/E) Leave the car park via the vehicle entrance and cross the Quai de Ripaille at the pedestrian crossing. On the other side, take a tarmac path that slopes down diagonally to the right towards the lake. In front of the entrance to the beach (charge applies), turn left and follow the promenade, which is lined with a railing, along the lake.

After about 600 m along the promenade, walk alongside the Rives marina on your right. Go round a restaurant on the left, then turn right and pass the premises of the Société Nautique du Léman Français, the harbour master’s office and a shipyard. Continue between the marina and a large square lined with plane trees (Place du 16 Août 1944). Pass the former French customs building.

(1) At the end of the square, carry on straight ahead along the harbour and pass by the foot of Rives Castle. Note Thonon’s old rowing lifeboat and the Fishing Ecomuseum. At the foot of a turret and before the Compagnie Générale de Navigation (CGN) building, turn sharply left and head up a small tarmac road.

(2) At the Stop sign, at the foot of the Tour des Langues, cross Avenue du Général Leclerc at the pedestrian crossing and follow it to the right (chapel). After about twenty metres, turn left onto a tarmac path heading towards the town centre. Climb a flight of steps, then go round a water basin on the right. Then take a path lined with small pebbles on the right. This path passes at the foot of an octagonal turret and climbs gently, curving to the left.

At the junction, turn right and follow a tarmac path uphill. Ignore another path on the left and continue along the path, which becomes very shaded. At the foot of an old icehouse topped by a statue of Saint Joseph and the Child, take a sharp left-hand bend and climb up to the foot of the ramparts of Bellegarde Castle, situated on your right. You’ll emerge onto a small square offering sweeping views.

(3) Walk between two old buildings (note the wood carvings adorning the one on the left) and pass under a porch. Then turn left and cross the forecourt of the town hall (fountain). At the end, turn right to cross Rue Michaud at the pedestrian crossing, and continue straight ahead into Rue de l’Hôtel de Ville. You’ll arrive at a small square featuring a fountain, where two adjoining churches have been built: on the left, Saint-François de Salles; on the right, Saint-Hippolyte (inside, the two churches are connected).

(4) With your back to the façade of these churches, turn left into the Grande Rue (not signposted here) and you’ll immediately cross the Passage du Luntrin on your left. Take the next left onto Rue Chante Coq. At the end (with the cultural centre and the former Chapel of the Visitation opposite), turn left onto Rue des Granges. Pass the Place du 18 Mai 1945 on your right, then turn left onto Rue des Granges (with the Basilica of Saint-François de Salles on your left). Turn left again to reach a pedestrian crossing at the end of the Grande Rue.

Then turn right to cross the pedestrian crossing and walk through the square where a statue of General Dessaix stands. Continue to the railing at the viewpoint (orientation table). Then turn right, walk along the railing on your left and reach the esplanade where the Thonon-les-Bains fountain is located.

(5) Then go down a flight of steps on the left. At the first landing, go down another flight of steps on the left. Continue down, alternating between a gravel path and flights of steps. Then go down a flight of steps on the left (do not continue along the path opposite, as it is not shown on the map). At the bottom, cross Rue du Port, turn into Rue des Pêcheurs and pass under the funicular railway line. Walk straight down Rue des Pêcheurs, noting several beautiful old houses along the way.

Finally, go down a flight of steps and turn right. When you reach the lower funicular station, turn left and cross the Place du 16 Août 1944 to reach the port of Thonon.

(1) Then turn right and follow the lakeside promenade, in the opposite direction to your outward journey. Opposite the entrance to Thonon Plage, turn right and head back up the tarmac path. Cross the quay at the pedestrian crossing to return to the car park where you started (S/E).

Good walking shoes are suitable for this mainly urban and relatively short route.

Public toilets are available near the (1). Bars and restaurants are available along the route.

In summer, the quays, streets and car parks in Thonon-les-Bains are very crowded… Where possible, it is best to choose other seasons for this lakeside city walk.

A detailed map is useful (at the very least, the one accompanying this description).

Walk undertaken by the author on 15 July 2021.

-Ripaille Castle, near (S/E).
- Lakeside walk between (S/E) and (1).
- Évian marina, on either side of (1).
- Château de Rives (1) and (2).
- Thonon lifeboat, built in 1960, shortly afterwards (1).
- The Fishing Ecomuseum, shortly afterwards (1).
- Tour des Langues (14th century) (2). The name refers to an ancient feudal duty owed by butchers: to deliver to the lord the tongues of all the livestock they slaughtered.
- Former ice house just before that (3).
- Viewpoint overlooking the harbour, Lake Geneva and its Swiss shore (3).
- Bellegarde Castle (3).
- Wood carvings (3), including several obscene depictions (a condemnation of the sin of lust?).
- Basilica of Saint-François de Salles (20th century) (4).
- Saint-Hippolyte Church (14th–17th centuries) (4).
- View of the harbour, Lake Geneva and its Swiss shore, just before (5).
- Thonon fountain (5).
- Funicular dating from 1888 between (5) and (1).
- Beautiful old houses on Rue des Pêcheurs, between (5) and (1).