Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Thonon-les-Bains Museum originated in the local craze for history and natural sciences in the 19th century. Founded officially in 1863, it initially brings together various objects: minerals, naturalized animals, and archaeological artifacts from the excavations of the Palafittic port of Thonon. In 1878 he moved to the Town Hall, where a room was dedicated to the ornithological collection of Dr.Dépierre, supplemented by mineralogic, geological and numismatic ensembles. Scientific guidance dominates, with acquisitions such as Tully's monetary treasure or mammoth defense.

In the 1880s, the museum was enriched with an industrial and artistic component, welcoming in 1886 the casts and prints of the Louvre. The donations of Chablaisians emigrated to Argentina (wild bee hive, turtle) and contributions from conservatives such as Jules Guyon (1878-1888) or Léon Quiblier (insect collections, fossils) diversify the collections. In 1933 Quiblier highlighted emblematic pieces, including a Renaissance capital depicting the prodigal Child and medieval remains like a Savoyard tombstone.

In 1953, the museum moved to Sonnaz Castle and focused on the ethnography of Chablais, under the leadership of the French Museum Directorate. The years 1960-1980 saw the acquisition of military objects (legs of Generals Dossix and Chastel), Charmot ceramics and artistic backgrounds (Marguerite Peltzer, Enrico Vegetti). Archaeological collections enriched in 2006 with eight tons of local excavation material. Since 2000, the museum has been developing thematic funds, such as the landscapes of Maurice Denis or the Lemanic prints, in partnership with Geneva.

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