Aix-les-Bains
Aix-les-Bains (US: /ˌeɪks leɪ ˈbæ̃, ˌɛks -/, French: [ɛks le bɛ̃] ⓘ; Arpitan: Èx-los-Bens; Latin: Aquae Gratianae), locally simply Aix, is a commune in the southeastern French department of Savoie.
Aix-les-Bains
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Aix-les-Bains on Lake Bourget | |
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Coat of arms | |
Location of Aix-les-Bains | |
Aix-les-Bains Aix-les-Bains | |
| Coordinates: 45°41′19″N 5°54′55″E | |
| Country | France |
| Region | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes |
| Department | Savoie |
| Arrondissement | Chambéry |
| Canton | Aix-les-Bains-1 Aix-les-Bains-2 |
| Intercommunality | CA Grand Lac |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2020–2026) | Renaud Beretti (LR) |
| Area 1 | 12.62 km2 (4.87 sq mi) |
| Population (2021) | 31,874 |
| • Density | 2,500/km2 (6,500/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 73008 /55344 |
| Elevation | 224–524 m (735–1,719 ft) (avg. 320 m or 1,050 ft) |
| Website | Official website |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
Situated on the shore of the largest natural lake of glacial origin in France, the Lac du Bourget, this resort is a major spa town; it has the largest freshwater marina in France. It is the second largest city in the Savoie department in terms of population, with a population of 31,100 as of 2020. It is part of the Chambéry functional urban area.
A leading town of the Belle Époque, of international renown, Aix-les-Bains was a vacation destination for nobility and the wealthy. Although the thermal baths are no longer the main attraction in Aix, the area continues to be draw visitors for water sports and activities. The town has partially compensated for the loss of visitors coming for spa treatments by developing tourism. It hosts up to 200,000 general visitors annually, between tourists and people seeking mineral bath therapy. It is also an industrial city, with a few large companies such as General Electric, the headquarters of the Léon Grosse companies, ABB Cellier, Aixam, as well as a high-quality leather goods factory.
In addition to thermal baths and tourism, Aix-les-Bains is known for its national Musilac festival. It has four flowers and two golden flowers at the Concours des villes et villages fleuris, as well as the City of Art and History label.