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Origin and history

Charles-Félix's column is a commemorative column erected in Bonneville, Haute-Savoie, in honour of Charles-Félix de Savoie. It celebrates its work of containment of the Arve, a river whose regular floods caused devastating floods in the valley until the 19th century. During his visit to the region, the king provided a grant of £60,000 to finance this work, protecting Bonneville and its surroundings.

In August 1824, the inhabitants of the valley built a first wooden column in thanksgiving, replaced two years later by the current column, inaugurated in July 1826. This monument, 21.44 meters high, rests on a pedestal adorned with a bas-relief depicting the goddess Arve personified as a chained nymph. The Latin inscriptions on the pedestal recall the containment works carried out in 1824.

The column, doric style and surmounted by a marble statue of Carrara representing Charles-Félix, symbolizes both the sovereign's authority and his paternalistic role. The statue, 3 meters high, was made by the brothers Cacciatori, also known for their work at the Abbey of Hautecombe. The original bas-relief, preserved at the Town Hall of Bonneville, was replaced in 2012 by a blue marble replica.

The monument, which was listed as historical monuments in 1942, is located on the left bank of the Arve, near the Pont de l'Europe. It illustrates the importance of hydraulic work for the protection of territories and popular recognition of the sovereign. The column, by its height and location, highlights the traditional functions of the king while recalling the challenges posed by the floods of the Arve.

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