Hotels in Thônes

Thônes: Market Town at the Foot of the Aravis

Thônes sits in the Borne valley, 20 km east of Annecy in Haute-Savoie. The town of roughly 6,000 residents is the commercial hub for the surrounding Aravis massif. A Saturday market at Place de l'Hôtel de Ville draws farmers and artisans from nearby villages. The 17th-century church of Saint-Maurice anchors the compact pedestrian centre with its baroque façade.

Thônes is the acknowledged capital of Reblochon, an AOC-protected cheese tied to the valley's dairy farms since the 13th century. Summer visitors access hiking trails into the Chaîne des Aravis; winter brings proximity to ski lifts at La Clusaz (15 km) and Le Grand-Bornand (12 km). The Musée du Pays de Thônes documents local history including Resistance networks from World War II and traditional Alpine crafts.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: Thônes is 20 km from Annecy via the D909; buses run from Annecy bus station several times daily.
• Best season: July–August for hiking in the Aravis; December–March for ski access.
• Market day: Saturday mornings — arrive before 10:00 for the best Reblochon selection.
• Cheese shopping: Fromageries on Rue du Marché sell farm-produced wheels direct.