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Le France
Thonon-les-Bains
Le France is a repertory / art-house cinema in central Thonon-les-Bains, dedicated to a curated programme: art-house features, documentaries, restored classics and
Free · Open access
Château de Bellegarde
The last standing remnant of Thonon's medieval fortifications, once guarding the Porte des Lombards, today housing the courthouse and remarkable 19th-century Rabelaisian friezes.
Romainbehar · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
At a glance
Type
Medieval square tower, urban fortification
Access
Free (exterior) · European Heritage Days for interior
Price
Free year-round
Duration
10 min to 20 min (exterior)
Best season
Year-round · European Heritage Days for interior
Parking
Town-centre car parks nearby
Animals
Allowed on a lead
Stroller / Reduced mobility
Allowed (pedestrian zone)
Town
Thonon-les-Bains
What is Château de Bellegarde
The Château de Bellegarde at Thonon-les-Bains (74200) is the last surviving fragment of the town's medieval fortifications. Originally a square tower set into the city walls, it once guarded the Porte des Lombards, the northern gate of the fortified medieval town. It stands centrally on the Place de l'Hôtel de Ville, two minutes' walk from the Tourist Office, the Musée du Chablais (Château de Sonnaz) and the Port de Rives.
The name 'Bellegarde' comes from Janus Bellegarde, syndic and secretary of the syndic of Thonon in the 16th century, who lived in the tower. The château today houses Thonon's law courts (district court and commercial court), so the interior is not open outside the European Heritage Days in mid-September. Those days are also the only chance to see the castle's hidden treasure: remarkable 19th-century Rabelaisian friezes in carved wood — bawdy, comic scenes inspired by Rabelais, an exceptional example of heritage wood carving in the region.
Free admission to the exterior year-round; interior only during the European Heritage Days. The site is in the pedestrian zone, with town-centre car parks nearby. Star't bus lines A and B stop 'Hôtel de Ville' is 2 minutes away, with Thonon Léman Express station 1 km off. A natural combination: the exterior of the Château de Bellegarde, the Musée du Chablais and the Château de Ripaille make a full heritage day in Thonon.
Activities
What you can do here
Practical
Practical information
Address
Place de l'Hôtel de Ville, 74200 Thonon-les-Bains (accessed via the Porte des Lombards, pedestrian zone) View on map
Coordinates
46.371° N · 6.477° E
Altitude
≈ 430 m (Place de l'Hôtel de Ville, Thonon)
Opening hours
EXTERIOR GROUNDS OPEN 24/7, year-round at Château de Bellegarde. Interiors occupied by the Thonon-les-Bains courthouse - interior visits only during European Heritage Days in mid-September, free and guided. Verified on the official website 24 May 2026 — subject to seasonal changes.
Prices
FREE ENTRY to Château de Bellegarde for all visitors in the exterior grounds, year-round. Interior visits during European Heritage Days are also free. No ticketing. Verified 24 May 2026.
Booking
No booking needed for the exterior grounds of Château de Bellegarde. European Heritage Days visits: check jep.culture.gouv.fr or contact the Thonon-les-Bains Tourist Office on +33 (0)4 50 71 55 55. Verified 24 May 2026.
Parking
Town-centre car parks in Thonon near Château de Bellegarde: Hôtel de Ville car park (paid), Port de Rives car park (paid), Léman Express car park (free long-stay, 1 km away). Pedestrian zone around the château.
Dogs
Dogs allowed on a lead in the exterior grounds of Château de Bellegarde (pedestrian zone).
Accessibility
The exterior grounds of Château de Bellegarde are accessible: the Place de l'Hôtel de Ville is pedestrianised and flat. European Heritage Days interior visit: narrow stairs, partially accessible. Free entry for all. Verified 24 May 2026.
Visit duration
10 min to 20 min (exterior) at Château de Bellegarde. European Heritage Days: 30 min to 1 h depending on crowds.
Contact
Thonon-les-Bains Tourist Office +33 (0)4 50 71 55 55 · thononlesbains.com. Town of Thonon +33 (0)4 50 70 69 69. Verified 24 May 2026.
Access
How to get there
By car
From Geneva (≈45 min, 35 km) via A40 then D1206 to central Thonon. From Annecy (≈1h, 75 km) via motorway. Château de Bellegarde is in the pedestrian zone, with town-centre car parks nearby (Hôtel de Ville, Port de Rives).
Open in MapsPublic transport
Star't buses (Thonon Agglo) lines A and B, 'Hôtel de Ville' stop, a 2-minute walk from Château de Bellegarde. Thonon-les-Bains SNCF station (Léman Express from Geneva) is a 1 km walk through the old town.
Open in MapsBy bike
Chablais greenway and Léman shoreline near Château de Bellegarde. Bike parking on Place de l'Hôtel de Ville. The 'La Léman' cycle route passes nearby.
Open in MapsNearest stops
- Les Arts · Cars Région Haute-Savoie · Y03, Y91 · 342 m
- Thonon-les-Bains · SNCF (TER) · 423 m
- Lycée Versoie · Cars Région Haute-Savoie · Y03, Y91 · 881 m
- Cars Région Haute-Savoie · Official fares & timetables →
- SNCF (TER) · Official fares & timetables →
Transport data verified on 2026-06-15 · source transport.data.gouv.fr (Licence Etalab 2.0)
When to visit
When to visit
Château de Bellegarde's exterior grounds can be visited year-round with free, open access. Its pedestrian-zone location in central Thonon makes it ideal to combine with a walk through the old town (Port de Rives, Belvédère Funicular, Musée du Chablais, Tour des Langues). European Heritage Days in mid-September: the ONLY WINDOW to visit the interiors (free, guided), including the 19TH-CENTURY CARVED WOODEN RABELAISIAN FRIEZES - a unique distinguishing feature. Evening: the area is lit up, perfect for night photography. THE LAST STANDING REMNANT OF THONON'S MEDIEVAL FORTIFICATIONS - an exceptional testament to the medieval walled town, almost entirely gone today. ONCE GUARDED THE PORTE DES LOMBARDS (the northern gate of the medieval town). ORIGIN OF THE NAME 'Bellegarde' = Janus Bellegarde, 16th-century syndic (a historic place-name preserved for 500 years). 19TH-CENTURY CARVED WOODEN RABELAISIAN FRIEZES visible only during European Heritage Days - exceptional heritage woodcarving. NOW HOUSES THE THONON-LES-BAINS COURTHOUSE - administrative continuity since the 19th century. 100% FREE ENTRY to the grounds.
Events : European Heritage Days in mid-September at Château de Bellegarde: the ONLY interior visits of the château open to the public each year. Programme at jep.culture.gouv.fr. Occasional events organised by the town of Thonon on Place de l'Hôtel de Ville.
Nearby
Where to eat, drink, stay
Photos
Gallery
Been there? Share your photos — we'll add them to this page with credit. Tag #loisirs74 or email photos@loisirs74.fr
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is entry to Château de Bellegarde paid?
No. Access to Château de Bellegarde's exterior grounds is free year-round. Free interior visits only during European Heritage Days in mid-September. No ticketing.
Can you visit the interior of Château de Bellegarde?
The interior of Château de Bellegarde houses the Thonon-les-Bains courthouse and can only be visited exceptionally during European Heritage Days in mid-September, free of charge and with a guide. Rabelaisian friezes to discover.
Why is Château de Bellegarde called that?
The name of Château de Bellegarde comes from Janus Bellegarde, syndic and secretary to the syndic of Thonon in the 16th century, who lodged in the tower. A historic place-name preserved for 500 years in Thonon-les-Bains's urban memory.
What was the Porte des Lombards at Château de Bellegarde?
Château de Bellegarde once guarded the Porte des Lombards - the northern gate of the fortified medieval town of Thonon. A strategic position on the trade route between Geneva and Savoy, controlling Lombard merchants coming from the south.
What are the Rabelaisian friezes of Château de Bellegarde?
The Rabelaisian friezes of Château de Bellegarde are 19th-century wood carvings, bawdy and comic scenes inspired by Rabelais. An exceptional heritage carving, visible only during European Heritage Days.
What are the opening hours at Château de Bellegarde?
Château de Bellegarde: exterior grounds open 24/7 year-round. Interior visits during European Heritage Days in mid-September only. Verified on the official website 24 May 2026 — subject to seasonal changes.
Is Château de Bellegarde accessible to people with reduced mobility?
The exterior grounds of Château de Bellegarde are accessible: the Place de l'Hôtel de Ville is pedestrianised and flat. The European Heritage Days interior visit is partially accessible (narrow stairs). Free entry for all.
How can I combine Château de Bellegarde with the Musée du Chablais?
The Château de Sonnaz (Musée du Chablais, already featured) is 200 m from Château de Bellegarde. Combination: Bellegarde exterior (free) + Musée du Chablais (paid) + Château de Ripaille = a full day out in Thonon.
Sources
Sources & verification
Multi-source verification at publication. Information may change — confirm with the official operator before travelling.
Nearby
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Tour des Langues
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14th-century medieval tower at the Port de Rives, last remnant of the 1283 mestralie. The name comes from a feudal due of ox tongues, abolished in 1773. Free access.
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Château de Ripaille
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14th-c. residence of Amadeus VIII (Pope Felix V), charterhouse, 1892–1903 restoration. Arboretum + AOC Ripaille wines. Adult €12, open 1 April–2 November 2026.