Country France Department Haute-Savoie Canton Evian-les-Bains Local time Tuesday 4:24 PM | Region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Arrondissement Thonon-les-Bains Intercommunality Vallée Abondance Area code 0450 | |
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Weather 3°C, Wind SW at 21 km/h, 89% Humidity Points of interest Départ du Fantasticable, Abbaye d'Abondance, Lac des Plagnes, Col de Bassachaux, Lac de Tavaneuse | ||
Abondance is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.
Map of Abondance, France
It lies in the French Alps just south of Lake Geneva on the Swiss border. The people of this commune are referred to as Abondanciers.
Abondance has given its name to a variety of cheese made in the region, the breed of cattle from whose milk the cheese is made and the valley in which it stands. Other villages in the Vallee D'Abondance are Chatel and La Chapelle D'Abondance. It is a small and quiet town with several bars, hotels, restaurants, a bank, some food and ski/outdoor shops and a lively Sunday morning Market serving the Vallee D'Abondance. One of its features is the 14th century Abbey. The commune was founded around the year 1040.
Abondance was the first ski resort in the Alps to shut down due to lack of snow, due to alleged global warming. In the 2006–2007 ski season, the town lost money due to lifts being shut down. The town's plea for government aid to support the resort was denied due to its unlikeliness to return to profit due to lack of snow. However, the resort reopened in 2009–10 and each winter since has remained open throughout the season. L'Essert is the name of the town's ski area and it has 7 lifts and 13 runs of which there are two nursery slopes, 6 blue runs, 3 red and 2 black and a mountain restaurant. Ecole du Ski Francais operates in Abondance. In addition to downhill skiing, the resort has 10 km of cross country ski and snow shoe trails. Summer visitors go to Abondance for the walking, history and outdoor activities.
Abondance is home to the international boarding school Sainte Croix des Neiges.