Douvaine is a town in Haute-Savoie located near the Swiss border, halfway between the towns of Thonon-les-Bains and Geneva.
Douvaine, also called Gate of Lake Geneva, boasts a privileged position in the plain of Bas-Chablais, between lake and mountains, a crossroads on the road in winter sports and tours of the shores of Lake Geneva.
It is an attractive town, also called little capital of Bas-Chablais, close to major tourist centers.
Occupied from the Bronze Age and considered a town of some importance in Roman times, Douvaine is mentioned for the first time in 1153 in a bull of Pope Eugene III.
The population of Douvaine develops mainly after World War II, with a business focused marketing of agricultural production, dairy and cereal.
The municipality attaches great importance to its natural heritage. It obtains in 2004 the label Towns and Villages in Bloom (1 flower).
Marsh Chilly, registered in the inventory of Interest Natural Areas Ecological Flora and Fauna, is an outstanding natural site and rare to visit.
Built heritage, rich and diverse, has many attractions, like the church and its bell tower, or the Manor Chapuis and the Bull.
Douvaine has many attractions for green or cultural tourism.
At the heart of the city, you can explore the church and its fortified Romanesque bell tower of the twelfth century. It also has a votive offering (embedded in the church's west wall) Jupiter and Mars, modern stained glass Januaris di Decarli and paintings of the German school of the seventeenth century.
The church area, heart of the former Douvaine, is undoubtedly one of best places to visit. We can discover in particular the place of Contamine, Chapuis mansion, the church and the old linden tree remarkable witness of the history and evolution of the city and the priory. A course available at Douvaine Tourist Office has also been created to discover these monuments and the history of the neighborhood.
The Chapuis mansion, now private property, is a former notary house built in 1783, a fine example of bourgeois Sardinian architecture. The mansion located rue du Manoir, in the heart of a 500 m² park is partially included in the Inventory of Historical Monuments since 1995.
Castle Chilly, strong house built in the fifteenth century now houses a starred restaurant and association premises, is also worth visiting, as well as Castle Troches today private site, became one of the monuments of identity with Douvaine Savoyard style architecture.
Other sites are also to discover in Douvaine as the multipurpose hall "The Bull", or the Duran house of Sardinian architecture.
Natural side, the marsh Chilly offers a large plant and animal diversity. Formerly the site of Marival, marsh covers the municipalities of Chens, Loisin, and Veigy largely on Douvaine. Its formation is due to a marriage between a so-called natural clay and moist, then exploited by men for agriculture, that have shaped over the centuries the landscape today. Marsh Chilly is located in the Chablais region of Haute-Savoie area labeled UNESCO Global Geopark.
Sandro The pond is a protected natural site located on the site of a former quarry. This private pond from the 1980s can be visited during the Heritage Days.
The town of Douvaine holds a weekly market every Sunday morning in the square next to City Hall. This is an opportunity for visitors to discover the many delights offered by local producers in their different stands. It includes seasonal fruits and vegetables, cheese, fish, poultry, cured meats and other local products, but also international.
Every year, in February and March, celebrates the carnival Douvaine, a colorful and festive event includes a parade through the streets of the city and various animations.
The music festival in June, brings together all the musical societies of the Federation of Music Chablais, about 1000 musicians in a friendly and warm evening dedicated to music.
In July, Douvaine celebrates National Day with animations that will delight young and old. Program: torchlight procession led by Harmony and Young Firefighters, traditional dance and fireworks.
