Paid
Plage Municipale de Thonon-les-Bains
Thonon-les-Bains
3 ha beach + 50 m Olympic pool + 1.50/3/5/10 m diving boards + 100 m water slide + 3,000 sqm lake swimming area. Blue Flag 2026. Adult 5.70 EUR.
Free · Open access
Tour des Langues
A 14th-century medieval tower at the Port de Rives in Thonon, the last remaining trace of a fortified house belonging to the mestralie created in 1283, whose name recalls a unique feudal levy abolished in 1773.
Krzysztof Golik · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
At a glance
Type
Medieval tower, urban fortification
Access
Free access outside · Interior not open to visitors
Price
Free all year
Duration
10 to 15 minutes
Best season
All year · Summer for a lively port
Parking
Port de Rives (paid in high season)
Animals
Allowed on a leash
Stroller / Reduced mobility
Accepted (Port de Rives)
Town
Thonon-les-Bains
What is Tour des Langues
The Tour des Langues at Thonon-les-Bains (74200) is one of the last medieval remnants of the Port de Rives, the historic harbour of Thonon on Lake Geneva. A 14th-century tower, it is all that survives of a fortified house belonging to the mestralie of Thonon - the fiscal and territorial administration established by Philip I of Savoy in 1283 to collect the feudal dues of the Chablais.
The origin of the name 'des Langues' (of the tongues) is one of the most picturesque toponymic anecdotes in Haute-Savoie. The butchers of Thonon were required to deliver to the mestralie every year the tongues of every ox they slaughtered in town. This feudal due in kind remained in force until it was abolished in 1773.
Free access all year, no ticketing. The tower is visible from the lakeshore promenade and from the Port de Rives, a 5-minute walk from the city centre. Information panel on site. Not open to the public inside; viewing from outside only. Free harbour parking; the surrounding promenade is fully wheelchair-accessible.
Activities
What you can do here
Practical
Practical information
Address
Avenue du Général Leclerc, Port de Rives, 74200 Thonon-les-Bains View on map
Coordinates
46.367° N · 6.473° E
Altitude
≈ 380 m (shore of Léman)
Opening hours
FREE ACCESS 24/7, all year, at the Tour des Langues, exterior grounds only. NO PUBLIC INTERIOR ACCESS. Port de Rives accessible at all times, busiest June-September. Verified on the official website on 24 May 2026 — subject to seasonal changes.
Prices
FREE AND OPEN ENTRY at the Tour des Langues for everyone around the exterior, all year. No ticketing or supervision. No public interior access. Verified on 24 May 2026.
Booking
No booking needed for the Tour des Langues. Guided tours of Thonon heritage scheduled by the Thonon-les-Bains Tourist Office, calendar at thononlesbains.com. Verified on 24 May 2026.
Parking
Port de Rives car park near the Tour des Langues (paid in high season June-September, free off-season). Free long-stay Léman Express parking 2 km away.
Dogs
Dogs allowed on a leash around the Tour des Langues and at Port de Rives.
Accessibility
The exterior grounds of the Tour des Langues are fully accessible: Port de Rives is paved and flat, accessible to wheelchairs and pushchairs. No interior access. Free entry for everyone. Verified on 24 May 2026.
Visit duration
10 to 15 minutes at the Tour des Langues: exterior viewing, photographs, as part of a Port de Rives stroll
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 on 24 May 2026.
Access
How to get there
By car
From Geneva (≈45 minutes, 35 km) via the A40 then D1206 to Thonon centre, follow signs for 'Port de Rives'. Parking at Port de Rives (paid in high season). The Tour des Langues stands at the heart of the Port de Rives on avenue du Général Leclerc.
Open in MapsPublic transport
Star't bus (Thonon Agglo) lines A and B, 'Port de Rives' stop 100 m from the Tour des Langues. Thonon funicular (Belvédère-Port de Rives), 'Rives' stop 200 m away. Thonon SNCF station (Léman Express from Geneva) 2 km away.
Open in MapsBy bike
The Voie verte du Chablais and the shores of Léman run directly to Port de Rives. Bike parking near the Tour des Langues. The Léman cycle route ('La Léman') passes 50 m away.
Open in MapsNearest stops
- Lycée Versoie · Cars Région Haute-Savoie · Y03, Y91 · 341 m
- Les Arts · Cars Région Haute-Savoie · Y03, Y91 · 541 m
- Thonon-les-Bains · SNCF (TER) · 701 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
The Tour des Langues can be visited around the exterior with free, open access all year. Its position at Port de Rives makes it ideal to combine with a stroll along the shores of Lake Léman. Summer (June-September): Port de Rives is lively, the CGN landing stage is active (Lake Léman cruises), terraces are busy, and there's swimming at the nearby lido. Winter: a hushed atmosphere, with clear views over the Vaud Alps and Switzerland on the other side of Léman. AN EXCEPTIONAL REMNANT of a FORTIFIED HOUSE OF THE THONON MESTRALIE created in 1283 by Philippe I of Savoy. THE PICTURESQUE ORIGIN OF THE NAME 'LANGUES' (TONGUES): a feudal levy unique in France, whereby Thonon's butchers had to deliver THE TONGUES OF EVERY ANIMAL SLAUGHTERED - A LEVY IN FORCE FROM 1283 TO 1773 (490 YEARS), abolished 5 years before the French Revolution. A toponymic anecdote that leaves an impression and makes visitors smile. LOCATED AT PORT DE RIVES on the shore of Lake Léman, 200 m from the CGN (Compagnie Générale de Navigation, the Swiss-French shipping company) landing stage. VISIBLE from the Thonon funicular, the Voie verte du Chablais, and CGN boats. 100% FREE ENTRY. WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE around the exterior (Port de Rives is flat and paved). Direct Star't bus + funicular 200 m away + greenway = ideal without a car. Can be combined with the Château de Bellegarde, the Musée du Chablais - Château de Sonnaz, the Château de Ripaille, or a CGN cruise on Lake Léman.
Events : Events at Port de Rives during the summer season (concerts, markets, CGN cruises). European Heritage Days in mid-September with guided themed tours of 'Thonon Heritage' including the Tour des Langues. Programme on thononlesbains.com.
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 access to the Tour des Langues paid?
No. Access to the Tour des Langues is free and open to everyone all year around the exterior. No public interior access. No ticketing or supervision. Port de Rives is accessible at all times.
Why is the Tour des Langues called that?
The Tour des Langues owes its name to a unique feudal levy: Thonon's butchers had to deliver THE TONGUES OF EVERY ANIMAL SLAUGHTERED to the mestralie each year. A levy in force from 1283 to 1773 (490 years).
What are the opening hours of the Tour des Langues?
Tour des Langues: free access 24/7 all year around the exterior. Port de Rives is accessible at all times. No public interior access. Verified on the official website on 24 May 2026 — subject to seasonal changes.
What was the Thonon mestralie at the Tour des Langues?
The Thonon mestralie was a territorial tax administration created by Philippe I of Savoy in 1283 to collect feudal levies from the Chablais. The Tour des Langues is the last remaining trace of the fortified house of this administration.
Can you visit the inside of the Tour des Langues?
No. The interior of the Tour des Langues is not open to the public. Only the exterior grounds at Port de Rives are freely and openly accessible all year. Guided tours of Thonon heritage run by the tourist office include an exterior commentary.
How can you see the Tour des Langues without a car?
The Tour des Langues is accessible by Star't bus lines A/B, 'Port de Rives' stop 100 m away, by the Thonon funicular, 'Rives' stop 200 m away, and by the Voie verte du Chablais. Thonon SNCF station (Léman Express) is 2 km away. Ideal without a car.
Is the Tour des Langues accessible to people with reduced mobility?
Yes for the exterior grounds. The Port de Rives, where the Tour des Langues stands, is paved and flat, accessible to wheelchairs and pushchairs. No public interior access. Free entry for everyone.
How can you combine the Tour des Langues with other castles in Thonon?
Thonon heritage combination: Tour des Langues (free, Port de Rives) + Château de Bellegarde + Musée du Chablais at the Château de Sonnaz + Château de Ripaille.
Sources
Sources & verification
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
Paid
Thonon Billard Club (Billard Stella)
Thonon-les-Bains
Billiards club in Thonon-les-Bains: French/American tables, renovated venue, members' club atmosphere. Access and prices to confirm.
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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
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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.
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Château de Sonnaz
Thonon-les-Bains
Castle built in 1666 by the Gerbaix de Sonnaz in the heart of Thonon-les-Bains, today home to the Chablais Museum and Tourist Office, facing Lake Geneva.
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.