Evian is
situated north of the department of Haute Savoie ,
on the south bank of Lake Geneva, opposite Switzerland.
The town (7,500 inhabitants) is built in tiers at the
edge of the lake (altitudes of 370m/725m), standing
against the massif of the Alpine foreland of Chablais. Evian profits
from spectacular surroundings between lake and mountains
which have given it its renown as an international
tourist resort. (Spa and health resort, holiday
resort, Congress town, etc.). Birthplace of Natural
Mineral Water known throughout the world, Evian has
preserved and used its architectural heritage to its best advantage
and presents to its visitors the image of a welcoming and dynamic city.
On
the château-dotted southern shore of Lac Léman
(what the French call Lake Geneva), Evian -les-Bains is
one of the leading spa resorts in France. Its lakeside
promenade, lined with trees and lawns, has been fashionable
since the 19th century. Evian 's waters became famous
in the 18th century, and the first spa buildings were
built in 1839. Bottled Evian is considered beneficial
for everything from baby's formula and salt-free diets
to treatment of gout and arthritis.
Back
in the days when Marcel Proust came here to enjoy the
Belle Epoque grandeur, Evian was
the haunt of the very rich. The hotel where Proust
stayed, the Splendid, is no longer here, but he fashioned
his "Balbec baths" after those of Evian.
Today, the spa, with its promenade and elegant casino,
attracts a broader range of clients--it's not just
for the rich anymore
