Yvoire
Yvoire | ||
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region | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | |
Department | Haute-Savoie | |
Arrondissement | Thonon-les-Bains | |
Canton | Sciez | |
Community association | Thonon agglomeration | |
Coordinates | 46 ° 22 ′ N , 6 ° 20 ′ E | |
height | 372-441 m | |
surface | 3.12 km 2 | |
Residents | 993 (January 1, 2017) | |
Population density | 318 inhabitants / km 2 | |
Post Code | 74140 | |
INSEE code | 74315 | |
Website | yvoire.free.fr | |
![]() Yvoire on the south bank of Lake Geneva |
Yvoire is a French municipality with 993 inhabitants (at January 1, 2017) in the department of Haute-Savoie in the region of Auvergne Rhône-Alpes .
It is located on the south bank of Lake Geneva , between Geneva and Thonon-les-Bains / Évian-les-Bains , very picturesque on the northern tip of the headland that protrudes into Lake Geneva (Presqu'île du Léman). Yvoire, which is classified as one of the Plus beaux villages de France ( Most Beautiful Villages in France ), is characterized by a well-preserved medieval village center and exuberant floral decorations.
history
Count Amédéé V the Great used the strategic location of Yvoire as a guard post between the large and small lake from 1306 to build mighty fortifications. For half a century the city played an important military role, which in 1324 even earned its residents exemption from paying fees. Later, when the whole region was occupied by Bern , the city lost its military status between 1536 and 1591 and the city wall ring was dismantled. The castle was also burned down and remained without a roof for 350 years. For a long time the village remained meaningless and the militarily important complex became a simple farming and fishing village. With the rise of tourism, a new development did not begin until 1950. In 1959 the village received the national flower award for the first time.
Culture and sights
The church, dedicated to St. Pankratius , was probably built in the 11th century and has been rebuilt several times since then. The current church tower dates from 1854 and belongs to the family of onion domes that characterize the religious architecture in Savoy and Piedmont at the end of the 19th century. Originally clad with stacked steel sheets that fell victim to rust, the church tower had to be renovated in 1989, with the steel being replaced by stainless steel and gold sheets.