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Château de Sonnaz
Château built in 1666 by the Gerbaix de Sonnaz family on the ruins of the former medieval fortress of Thonon: it now houses the Chablais Museum and the Tourist Office, facing Lake Geneva.
Nanoxyde · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
At a glance
Type
17th-century château + museum + Tourist Office
Access
Paid museum · free Tourist Office
Price
Chablais Museum — check current TO rates
Duration
1 to 2 hours
Best season
Year-round
Parking
Central Thonon car parks
Town
Thonon-les-Bains
What is Château de Sonnaz
The Château de Sonnaz is one of Thonon-les-Bains' emblematic monuments, set at the heart of the upper town facing Lake Geneva, with sweeping views of the Swiss shore and the Jura range. It was built in 1666 by the Gerbaix de Sonnaz, one of the oldest Savoyard noble families, on the ruins of the medieval castle of Thonon built by Marie of Burgundy (wife of Amadeus VIII) and dismantled in the 16th century. The sovereigns of the House of Savoy regularly stayed here during their visits to the Chablais.
The building, sober and harmonious in its classical Grand Siècle style, is today a cultural hub for the Chablais. It houses both the Chablais Museum and the Thonon Tourist Office — a rare combination that makes it a must-visit. The Chablais Museum offers a permanent exhibition on the region's history, daily life and traditional crafts.
Open Tue–Sun (closed Mon and public holidays). Adult admission around €4; free under 18 and on the first Sunday of the month.
Activities
What you can do here
Practical
Practical information
Address
Château de Sonnaz — Chablais Museum and Tourist Office, place du Château, 74200 Thonon-les-Bains View on map
Coordinates
46.373° N · 6.478° E
Altitude
≈ 430 m (upper town of Thonon)
Opening times
Chablais Museum opening times vary by season and temporary exhibitions. Tourist Office open weekdays and seasonal weekends. Check thononlesbains.com. Verified on 10 June 2026.
Prices
Chablais Museum: see up-to-date prices on thononlesbains.com (paid admission with temporary exhibition, free for some audiences). Tourist Office in free access. Verified on 10 June 2026.
Official site
thononlesbains.com (SPL Destination Thonon)
Phone
Thonon-les-Bains Tourist Office: +33 (0)4 50 71 55 55
Access / Parking
Public car parks in central Thonon-les-Bains (place de Crête, place des Arts). Léman Express SNCF station 10 min on foot. CGN landing stage nearby.
Duration
1 h for the Chablais Museum, 1 h 30 to 2 h with temporary exhibition and TO. More for a full historic-centre circuit.
Audience
All audiences, families, lovers of Chablais and Savoy history, Lake Geneva tourists.
Booking
No booking required for individual visits. School groups and guided tours on request via the TO.
Accessibility
Tourist Office accessible to people with reduced mobility. Chablais Museum: enquire at the TO about exhibition-room accessibility.
Access
How to get there
Nearest stops
- Les Arts · Cars Région Haute-Savoie · Y03, Y91 · 541 m
- Thonon-les-Bains · SNCF (TER) · 552 m
- Lycée Versoie · Cars Région Haute-Savoie · Y03, Y91 · 1143 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)
Nearby
Where to eat, drink, stay
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the Château de Sonnaz at Thonon-les-Bains?
The Château de Sonnaz is a 17th-century château (1666) built by the Gerbaix de Sonnaz family on the ruins of the medieval fortress of Thonon. It now houses the Chablais Museum and the Thonon-les-Bains Tourist Office.
What are the opening times of the Château de Sonnaz and Chablais Museum?
Opening times of the Chablais Museum at the Château de Sonnaz vary by season and exhibitions. Tourist Office open weekdays and seasonal weekends. Check thononlesbains.com. Verified on 10 June 2026.
How much does the Chablais Museum at the Château de Sonnaz cost?
The Chablais Museum housed in the Château de Sonnaz charges admission for exhibitions; free for some audiences. Up-to-date prices on thononlesbains.com. Verified on 10 June 2026.
What is the 2026 exhibition at the Château de Sonnaz?
In 2026, the Chablais Museum at the Château de Sonnaz presents the temporary exhibition "Portrait. From painting to the selfie, an art of (re)presenting oneself" — the evolution of the self-portrait through the centuries.
What is the history of the Château de Sonnaz?
The Château de Sonnaz was built in 1666 by the Gerbaix de Sonnaz family, one of the oldest families in Savoy, on the ruins of the medieval fortress of Thonon built by Marie of Burgundy, wife of Amadeus VIII.
Where is the Château de Sonnaz?
The Château de Sonnaz stands on place du Château, in the heart of Thonon-les-Bains, in the upper town facing Lake Geneva, near the town hall. GPS: 46.373° N · 6.478° E.
How do you get to the Château de Sonnaz?
The Château de Sonnaz is reachable on foot from central Thonon-les-Bains. Léman Express SNCF station 10 minutes away. Public car parks in the centre. CGN landing stage very close.
What else can you see around the Château de Sonnaz?
Around the Château de Sonnaz, you can visit the Château de Ripaille (2 km), the port of Rives, the funicular, the Saint-François-de-Sales basilica, the Fishing and Lake Eco-Museum, or take a CGN cruise.
Featured in our selections
Sources
Sources & verification
- Thonon-les-Bains Tourisme — Château de Sonnaz
- Haute-Savoie Tourisme — Château de Sonnaz
- Haute-Savoie Tourisme — Musée du Chablais
Multi-source verification at publication. Information may change — confirm with the official operator before travelling.
Nearby
Nearby
Other places to explore in the area and in the same category
Paid
Musée du Chablais
Thonon-les-Bains
Chablais history museum in the 1666 Château de Sonnaz in Thonon. Adult 3.50 EUR, free under 18 and every Sunday. Open mid-May to mid-November.
Paid
Funky Factory Thonon
Thonon-les-Bains
Funky Factory in Thonon: retro/modern arcade with cabinets, pinballs, race simulators and shooting games. Birthdays, stag/hen.
Paid
CGN Thonon Stop
Thonon-les-Bains
CGN's Thonon stop at Port de Rives: N2 Lausanne–Thonon line by modern Naviexpress vessels year-round, plus seasonal Belle Époque calls.
Free
Château de Bellegarde
Thonon-les-Bains
Last remnant of Thonon's medieval fortifications: Porte des Lombards, square tower, 19th-century Rabelaisian friezes. Exteriors free, JEP visits in September.
Free
Tour des Langues
Thonon-les-Bains
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.
Paid
Château de Ripaille
Thonon-les-Bains
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.