Evian-les-Bains

Evian-les-bains, a small town on the French/Swiss border, on the shore of le lac Léman, found in the region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, known for its natural spring water.

I wake up at nine, grab my bag (packed the day before) with my wallet, passport, headphones, and a book. Travelling from Lausanne, the ferry departs from the lakeside, known as Lausanne-Ouchy, in order to reach it, I take two metro lines. From UNIL-Sourge to Lausanne Flon, and from there to Lausanne-Ouchy.

The ferry line I take is the N1, which takes 35 minutes to cross the lake to reach Evian, where I then spend almost a whole day.

I begin my trip at the tourism office, where I receive a free map of the town, leading me to the local church, the casino, the funicular railway, le Palais de Lumière, the town hall, the archives, and many other places.

Buy some postcards at a local kiosk, with one being made out of bamboo, as well as a magnet for my fridge at home, from a small, independent shop called ‘Au Lutin GourmAnd’, where the cashier recommends a nearby cafe that specialised in crepes, both sweet and savoury.

Le Pedalo: a small café that feels absolutely french, adorned by paintings of the town and sporting the local Evian water proudly. It is there where I proceed to showcase my culinary atrocities by ordering a crepe called ‘l’aprés ski’ made with vinegar, ham, cheese, and potatoes while drinking a hot chocolate.

I then spend the rest of the day walking around and taking photos, following the map to make sure I see all the town’s landmarks.