Former district of professional fishermen of Thonon. Besides the interesting houses, you will also find the "Château de Rives" and "La Tour des Langues".
Today, the fishing village is a kind of ecomuseum and gives visitors an impression of the world of fishermen past and present and of the ecosystem of Lake Geneva.
In the very heart of the City, set off to discover this surprising district and its fishing port... An unusual discovery, with a seaside atmosphere... on the banks of Lake Geneva!
Until 1850, professional fishermen lived on the "Grand Champ", on the east side of Rives, near the new captaincy.
Subsequently, they settled along the old walls of the castle of Rives, known as Montjoux, behind the "Tour of Languages", so named by virtue of the feudal tax that the butchers came to pay there to the lord: the language of each slaughtered animal.
The gatehouses are built of wood, leaning against the wall, and the fishermen use water from the springs to feed their fishponds. Access to this land, both municipal and state, is difficult since it is necessary to follow a narrow passage to the east running alongside the castle property.
At that time, all the fishermen lived in the village of Rives. However, the available space is limited. The water from the lake almost reaches the gatehouses, leaving little room for spreading the cotton nets.
In the gardens overlooking the gatehouses, the current path is traced between the two towers. A dock is also built, thus expanding the work space for professional fishermen.
At the same time, the jetty was built to protect boats.
The expansion of the quay in front of the Château de Rives, the construction of the landing stage and the Fishing and Lake Ecomusée took place in 1987. All the gatehouses were rebuilt because most of them were in ruins.
Currently, this fishing village remains a unique entity on the French banks of Lake Geneva. Within it, the ecomuseum allows you to discover the world of fishermen of yesterday and today as well as the richness of the Lake Geneva ecosystem.
Translated by Google •
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