GRP Littoral du Léman on foot - Stage 5: Thonon-les-Bains > Sciez

Historic, cultural and winemaking centre in Haute-Savoie, the Castle de Ripaille is also one of the biggest and most remarkable natural sites on the banks of Lake Geneva.By its grandeur, its charm, its memories, Ripaille is one of the most beautiful domains on the shores of Lake Geneva. In the Middle Ages, a semi-religious retreat of the first Duke of Savoy, Amédée VIII, in the 17th and 18th centuries, a Carthusian monastery, protected from the "century" by the high wall that still surrounds it today, in 1900 the property of a great industrialist and aesthete, Ripaille has always been a place where residents and visitors come to "recharge their batteries". The visit of the site of Ripaille plunges the visitor in the time of the counts of Savoy in the XIIIth century and evokes the reign of the first Duke of Savoy, the great Amédée VIII and the history of the Carthusian monks, owners of the domain from the XVIIth century until the French Revolution. This fresco ends with the fabulous architectural adventure of the 1900 Restoration when the dream of a great Alsatian industrialist made Ripaille a total work of art! Since this year, the dining room of the Engel-Gros family and the kitchen of the castle are refurnished and put back in function, come and discover this unique reconstitution of the daily life in the Belle Epoque! Beyond history, visiting Ripaille means discovering a preserved nature, an exceptional land and magnificent gardens between Dent d'Oche and Lake Geneva. Come for a visit, a professional or cultural event, a private party or to taste the Ripaille AOC wine produced on site. The Castle is the seat of a Foundation, created in 1976, which works for the conversation, the valorization and the animation of this monument. The preservation of the environment is at the center of its concerns. * The visit of Ripaille is for young and old, with: - The Amédée room dedicated to the presentation of medieval Savoyard civilization through the presentation of stained glass windows, numismatics, and original manuscripts. - The reconstitution of the old kitchen of the Château de Ripaille and the dining room of the Belle Epoque: kitchen utensils, original objects, tableware, come and discover the modernity of Ripaille with the automatic windows or the dumbwaiter linking the first floor to the second floor. - The film "Ripaille through time" in a specially dedicated projection room recounting the history of the Château de Ripaille. - The free visit of the castle: the castle can be visited freely from April to October and during school vacations, from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 am to 6 pm (closing at 5 pm on Saturdays), with the help of a paper documentation and audio guides in French, English and German. - A special tour for children: spend a convivial moment with your family and follow Aymonet Corviaux, carpenter, architect and builder of Ripaille in 1434, through the maze of the castle. This tour will take you from the large terrace with a panoramic view of the lake, to the old cellars and medieval moats. - The "Workshops in a mess. Wednesdays at Ripaille": creative and educational workshops offered every Wednesday, according to the opening calendar of the Castle. - A temporary exhibition renewed every year. Guided tours provided by professional guides. Services include both the visit and the tasting or the visit, tasting and meal. Many formulas are possible. The Fondation Ripaille will study all requests by email visite@ripaille.fr or by phone 04 50 26 64 44.

The fishing and lake open-air museum opened in 1987 and has found its place in the heart of the fishing village in Port de Rives. It is sheltered by three traditional huts and beats to the tune of the professional fishermen who are never far away.The Ecomusée de la Pêche et du Lac (open-air fishing and lake museum) is on Thonon-les-Bains’ fishing port in traditional fishing huts. It is strongly influenced by professional fishermen past and present and visitors can admire their work before heading off to explore the lake’s ecosystem. History and techniques: the open-air museum tracks the evolution of local fisheries science techniques, fishing with a "big spear" to catching crayfish. All Lake Geneva’s fishing equipment and tools are on display: Boats, motors, nets and keepnets. Observe the lake fish, trout, perch and even Arctic char in the four aquariums. A display of stuffed lake-dwelling birds will help you recognise the species in the natural habitat. The museum has had a large interactive game since 2007 for kids to put fish and birds in their rightful place in the ecosystem. This fun and educational site is ideal for solo visits and family outings!

Historical residence of St. Francis de Sales, the castles of Allinges are one of the emblematic sites of Chablais. The site offers an exceptional panorama on Lake Geneva, the Jura and the Prealps.The Château-Neuf Chapel houses Savoy’s oldest fresco (11th century). Located in the Chablais Geopark. The Hill of Allinges is one of 23 sites chosen to create the Chablais geological route, which will be inaugurated at Châteaux of Allinges on 14 September during the Heritage Days event. Throughout the summer, the site will be the venue for a rich cultural programme.

Shady family campsite 50 m from the port and the beach of Sciez. All amenities nearby. Entertainment for all at the port of Sciez.

Camping du Châtelet, near Lake Geneva, offers you a friendly stay with facilities for children, respect for the environment (green energy, sorting, composting) and "Clé verte" and "Camping Qualité" labels for unforgettable vacations.Rental of chalets, tent canvas and wood, delimited sites, modern sanitary, solar hot water, Wifi ... Camping Quality, label "The Green Key" since 2004 and label "Family Plus" since 2012.

Situated between lake and mountains in Sciez-sur-Léman, our 3-star campsite welcomes you in a calm, green setting, with spacious, flat, grassy and shady pitches. Comfortable mobile homes for rent. TV room and bar on site.

Quiet and family campsite located 200m from Lake Geneva, ideal for supervised swimming in summer and for fishing. Spacious and delimited pitches for tents, caravans and motorhomes, rental and sale of very comfortable mobile homes with terrace.Spacious pitches for tents, caravans and camper. Rental and sale of mobile homes comfort with terrace. Ecolodge tent rental. Secure children's play area, inflatable structure, outdoor fitness course, picnic tables, 3 petanque courts and 2 ping-pong tables (one adapted to PMR) Services: laundry, ice cubes, ice cream, soft drinks, candy confectionery, postcards, stamps, souvenirs, tourist brochures, Post Office. Bread roll in summer. Wifi fee. Eco-responsible charter. The mobile homes are comfortable for 2 to 6 people with covered terrace. Equipped kitchen, 1, 2 to 3 bedrooms, shower + washbasin, WC, TV, garden furniture, drying rack, barbecue on request, parking. Pillows, duvets and blankets provided. Pets admitted under certain conditions in some mobile homes. Ecolodge Safari Tents are comfortable canvas bungalows of 19 m², for 2 to 5 people, with covered wooden terrace (10 m²). Fully equipped kitchen, storage, 2 bedrooms (1 double bed / 3 single beds including 1 extra). Possibility rental: Kits bed linen and / or towels, baby kit, TV kit. Water, gas, electricity included.