Thonon-les-Bains and Evian-les Bains

Both located on the shores of Lake Geneva, they play host to a significant number of people known as “frontaliers”, who cross the French/Swiss border every morning to go to work in Geneva or Lausanne. And in recent years, foreigners who also invest in secondary homes.

Evian is, of course, known for its mineral water. Analyzed as early as 1807, it offers qualities that have not lost their appeal over time. In 1826, François Fauconnet, a banker in Geneva, acquired the spring and the land. The same year, he built the first thermal spa, since demolished. Evian became Evian-les-Bains in 1864 and, in those days, one third of its visitors were people taking cures. The town gradually saw these well-heeled clients create their own little society on the shores of the Lake. What remains of this “Belle Epoque” ? The house built by the father of the Lumière brothers (now the Town Hall), the spas, villas, grand hotels and the funicular railway. More recently, Evian witnessed the signing of the historic agreements of Evian in 1962, and hosted the G8 Summit in June, 2003. Home to 7,900 inhabitants, it is a large village with a historic centre overlooked by a hill, which is very lively from Easter to October. Highly sought-after, the heart of town proposes old residences whose apartments are priced from 2,500 to 3,000 € per sq. metre, and newer residences costing from 4,500 € per sq. metre. On the hillsides, frequented by a younger population, residences are accompanied by houses. Here, the price of the sq. metre ranges from 3,500 to 6,000 €. Everything depends on the apartment’s state of repair, its location and view. Investors are keen to acquire small surface areas, while apartments with 2, 3 and 4 main rooms are popular among Parisians and Lyonnais who opt for Evian for their holidays. Clients from the Arab Emirates are very fond of the town, and many have acquired second residences here. The local working population, including a significant number of “frontaliers”, pay 350,000 € (the starting price) for houses with at least 3 bedrooms and a small garden. With more generous living space, a swimming pool and a beautiful view of the Lake, a villa in a desirable residential area will fetch 650,000 €. “Prices may seem exaggerated, and they are sometimes. But Evian is a well-known name and also a very pleasant setting,” explains Valérie Leguay of Feel Immo.

Thonon-les-Bains with 31,200 inhabitants is 9 kilometres away. It had to wait until 1880 before “les-Bains” was tacked onto its original name. In the 1960’s, the town’s historic centre was drastically modified, with some totally insalubrious houses being simply torn down. Renamed “La Rénovation”, the centre of Thonon now apeals to numerous retirees who take advantage of nearby shops and three underground car-parks, all interconnected. In old buildings, apartments are pegged at about 2,500 €/m2, in newer ones, around 3,500 €/m2. If the property enjoys a view of the Lake, it is not rare to see the price attain 4,000 €/m2. The west side of Thonon and the Concise neighbourhood are highly sought-after addresses. Their houses offer different types of architecture, and for quite some time roof terraces have become a popular feature. The charm of Concise lies in its “small village” atmosphere, with homes 300 years old. Demand for new housing is strong, though old homes draw fans of authenticity ready to pay at least 2,500 €/m2. Overlooking Thonon-les-Bains, Crête offers a lot of 1950’s villas and a serene atmosphere. A house worth 400,000 in Concise can be had for only 350,000 € here. Homes acquired by families, unless they prefer apartments priced from 3,000 to 3,500 €/m2. North of the village, Rives and its small harbour see the daily departure of about ten professional fishermen setting off on Lake Geneva. Typical and charming, the heart of the village offers a few tastefully renovated apartments in period homes. Port Ripaille and its marina contribute to Thonon’s renown. “The marina was built at the heart of a magnificent forest domain of over 81 acres, including the lake of about 25 acres, which belonged to the estate of the Château Ripaille,” say Alain Kaing and Jean-Luc Costa of ALK Immo. The Domaine de Coudrée, also private, with its château transformed into a luxury hotel, serves as a backdrop for residences with top-notch appointments in a luxuriant setting, protected by the “Conservatoire du Littoral”. Building land, which cost 1,500 to 2,000 €/m2 in 2006, has now stabilized at around 3,000 €/m2. A buoyant market in terms of sales, Thonon also has a lively rental market proposing a wide variety of properties. Like its neighbour Évian, Thonon attracts the English, Dutch, Russians and clients from the Arab Emirates who readily invest in holiday homes. “It’s a pity for the local tourist industry that the town does not have a 4- or 5-star hotel on a par with its renown,” regrets Hervé Dupraz of the Neowi agency.

Highly-prized addresses, Evian-les-Bains and Thonon-les-Bains are appreciated all year round. In summer, lovely walks between the lake and mountains, in winter, the joys of skiing etc. in the nearby resorts of Les Gets, Chatel, Morzine and Avoriaz. A clear sign of their popularity, since the year 2000 the two towns have posted growth in their population figures of 7.2 % and 7.9 % respectively.