Country France Area 27,095 | Region Rhone-Alpes Mayor | |
Aix-les-Bains ([eks le be?, locally called Aix, is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhone-Alpes region in south-eastern France.
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Map of Aix-les-Bains
Rising from the shores of the largest natural lake of glacial origin in France, the Lac du Bourget, this resort is one of the important French spa towns, and has the largest fresh water marina in France. It is the second largest Savoy town in terms of population, having 28,585 inhabitants at the last census and is part of its own urban area: The urban area of Aix-les-Bains .
A leading town of the Belle Epoque, of international renown, Aix-les-Bains was a place of vacation for the princely families and wealthy people. If today it confirms its water town status more than ever, it only remains that the thermal baths are no longer the main activity of the Aix area. The town has partially compensated for the loss of its treated visitors by developing tourism; the town, between the lake and mountains, has many strengths in this area. It hosts up to 200,000 general visitors, people wanting thermal treatment or tourists per year.
Aix-les-Bains shines on a national scale through a number of assets such as the national thermal baths, tourism and the national Musilac festival. Also, with several labels including Touristic Resort, Flowery City with Four Flowers and a Golden Flower (exceptional), City of Art and History, a 5@ (five-star or top-grade equivalent) Internet City , and Nautical Resort . However, Aix is also an industrial town, with a few large companies such as Alstom, the headquarters of the Leon Grosse companies, ABB Cellier, Aixam, and a high-quality leather goods factory.
Income tax in 2003
Canton according to the social development of territories Aix-les-Bains
Distribution of employment by industry
Geography
Aix-Les-Bains is located in the southeast of France, 107 kilometres (66 mi) east of Lyon. The town is located in a corridor between the mountain of Mont Revard, the first natural rampart of the Massif des Bauges to the east and the Lac du Bourget, the largest natural lake of France to the west. Thus, the city extends mostly on a north-south axis. Its extension is such that its agglomeration merges gradually with that of Chambery. The area of the commune is 12.62 square kilometres (4.87 sq mi), which is large for the Department. The town is traditionally divided into two, the lower town that occupies the banks of the lake to the west and the upper town, where the town centre is located, overlooking the Lac du Bourget. The town was first built on the heights in order to avoid the many floods of the lake until it was regulated by the dam of the Compagnie Nationale du Rhone (CNR) between the Rhone and the natural spillway of lake, the Canal de Savieres. The average altitude of the city is about 320 metres (1,050 ft) while the lower part of it is only around 224 metres (735 ft), at the level of the lake.
560 square kilometres (220 sq mi) of the Lac du Bourget watershed is occupied by the spa town of Aix, which borders on the shore. The lake is primarily fed to the south by the waters of the Leysse, and to the east, by those of the Tillet and the Sierroz , both from the Aix territory. Native fish can be admired in the aquarium of Aix. The shore, which is occupied by Aix and Tresserve, is highly urbanized and developed along the northeastern part with the road and the railway track. Many restaurants and nightclubs are located there (mostly on the southeastern side). A nautical complex was built on its shore, this includes a swimming pool and a beach which has an Art Deco-style main entrance dating from 1936. After which is a vast esplanade, allowing walkers to stroll and special events to settle temporarily on this site. It offers, to everyone, a panoramic view of the lake and the Dent du Chat, where one can contemplate swans, ducks, herons, gulls and moorhens.
The esplanade is bounded to the north and to the south by the Grand port and the Petit port respectively, thus constituting the Aix port which is the largest fresh water port in the country with 1,500 mooring rings, having privileged places for boating on the lake, with boats having a summer or annual allocation. The festival of yachting takes place each year. This event has old boats coming from all horizons, a professional market, demonstrations and shows.
The slopes above the lake that culminate in the Tour de lAngle Est, which overlooks the town and lake at a height of 1,562 m (5,125 ft). The western shore of the lake is narrower as the mountains along its edge are closer to the lakeshore, although lower than those on the eastern side. The lake drains out of its northern end into the River Rhone about 5 kilometres (3 miles) to the north.
Aix-les-Bains is situated in the hilly country of the Bugey, which makes up the foothills of the Alps and also forms part of the lower western extension of the Jura Mountains.
History
The history of Aix-les-Bains is directly related to the Lac du Bourget and especially to its hot springs which made it a spa among the most renowned in the world. The historical analysis of the town must be closer to the history of the Savoy, if we are to better understand its evolution and its cultural influences. Below are periods and historical highlights of the commune of Aix-les-Bains.
Economy
Essentially a spa town until the mid-20th century, Aix-les-Bains has gradually transformed its local economy and is no longer dependant on the thermal baths which are less frequently used than before. Like the cities of Vichy, Evian and other spas, Aix-les-Bains has diversified the economy and invested a lot on tourism potential and health. In 2000, the commune had a network of 34 stations classified by the label of France Station Nautique . It also obtained the label of Station Touristique at the end of October 2013.
Local culture and heritage
Aix-les-Bains is an integral part of the Savoy. A tourist resort, the culture is mixed between its food and its communal history. Its heritage is an anthology of influences from many historical invasions. It owes much to its status as a spa town which in the Belle Epoque allowed it to boom and offered it a rich and varied heritage capital. Therefore, it is classified as a City of Art and History .