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Évian-les-Bains |
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Évian-les-Bains
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| Administration | |
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| Country | France |
| Region | Rhône-Alpes |
| Department | Haute-Savoie |
| Arrondissement | Thonon-les-Bains |
| Canton | Évian-les-Bains |
| Intercommunality | Pays d'Évian |
| Mayor | Marc Francina (2001–2014) |
| Statistics | |
| Elevation | 372–739 m (1,220–2,425 ft) |
| Land area1 | 4.3 km2 (1.7 sq mi) |
| Population2 | 8,064 (2006) |
| - Density | 1,875 /km2 (4,860 /sq mi) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 74119/ 74500 |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
| 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. | |
Évian-les-Bains or Évian (French pronunciation: [evjɑ̃ le bɛ̃]) is a commune in the northern part of the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. An elite holiday resort and spa town on the shores of Lake Geneva (French: Lac Léman), for two centuries, it has hosted many Royals such as Kings Edward VII and George V of England and King Farouk of Egypt, and celebrities such as countess Anna de Noailles and Marcel Proust.
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The springs of Evian were still rather unknown at the time of the French Revolution. But the First Empire's interest for spa towns inspired a scientist to analyze the Evian springs in 1807 and 1808: Evian mineral waters revealed astonishing curative qualities and the waters began to be used for medicinal purposes. A lakeside port and a new road (RN5) connecting the town to Milan and Paris were constructed in 1809. In 1823, Genevan entrepreneur M. Falconnet launched the Évian mineral water company (Société des Eaux Minérales d'Évian) and purchased the cities' two main springs (the most famous being the Cachat spring named after the family that sold it) in March 1827. M. Fauconnet's company eventually went bankrupt, and the springs were bought by the Hôtel des Bains. In the following years, many hotels (Hôtel des quatre saisons, Hôtel de France, Hôtel des Alpes) were built, turning the town into a popular holiday resort.
The Cachat mineral waters SA (Société Anonyme des Eaux Minérales de Cachat) was created in December 1859 by Parisian investors, selling Évian water, and in 1865 the small town changed its name to Évian-les-bains to promote its rise as a spa town. Three others springs joined the Cachat (Guillot, Bonnevie, Corporau) and further studies bore out the curative characteristics of the water. Improvement in transportation (a railroad station) helped the town to become a renowned spa.
In the late 19th century, the city contained more than 20 hotels. The hills and the lakeshore were covered with noble houses and luxurious villas and a theatre and a casino were built on the lakeside. In 1902, the baths were constructed and in 1909, famous architect Hébrard built one of the most luxurious hotels ever built: the Royal Hotel. Evian is therefore confirmed as one of the top European spas, popular with notable high society figures such as Countess Anna de Noailles, Frédéric Mistral, the Lumières or Marcel Proust.
After World War I, the city kept its status as an exclusive spa town, hosting socialites and royalty such as Aga Khan III, the Maharaja of Kapurthala, Albert Lebrun (President of the République), King George V of England and King Fuad I of Egypt.
The Évian Conference was convened in Évian in July 1938 to discuss the problem of Jewish refugees. During World War II German forces occupied Évian and the town's statue of General Dupas was removed.
The Évian Accords were signed there on 18 March 1962, and the G8 began its 29th summit meeting in Évian on 1 June 2003.
Évian remains a famous holiday resort and spa town, home of luxurious hotels (the G8 was held at the Royal Hotel) and golf courses (the Évian Masters women's professional golf tournament, founded in 1994, is held every summer).
The town is home to Évian mineral water, which makes up the foundation of the economy together with the Casino d'Evian, the largest themed casino in Europe, and the Evian Royal Resort, favorite holiday destination of former French President François Mitterrand and King Farouk of Egypt. Many of the inhabitants of Évian work in Lausanne and other Swiss cities nearby.
The two largest hotels in Évian are the Hotel Royal (where the G8 summit was held) and the Hilton.
The town has an average sized Arab presence for the region (6%) as well as a sizeable Swiss presence (11%) due to its proximity to Switzerland. It also supports a small Jewish community, who maintain a synagogue in the town.
Évian is served by a good bus network, as well as a train station with regular trains to Geneva, Annemasse, and Bellegarde, as well as less frequent services to Paris and Lyon. There is also a very busy ferry service running between the town and Lausanne, as well as a more tourist-centered service that runs to Yvoire.