Welcome to Thollon
This website has the objective of gathering and sharing information for English speaking visitors to Thollon les Memises. To help visitors, apartment and chalet owners, and those renting properties. It aims to give a wider view than other web sites. Information that a visitor for a week or two may require. Not just for Thollon Les Memises but also the area that can by visited in a days drive.
Thollon.org has been updated, new format but same information news and updates.
We now welcome donations for advertising which will help towards the cost of running Thollon.org Donate, Advertise.
Historic winter web cam picture below.
There is a new web cam giving views from the "Top" fantastic views
Historic Webcam view 19th December 2019
We now have the use of a web cam from the the Gondola in Thollon.
Les Lanches web cam Many thanks to Andy .
Check out Facebook Telecabine Thollon for regular updates and lift opening.
Telecabine
See notice boards for special offers of lunch and lift combined. Also offers of discounted lift passes and rates for the new ski season when purchased early at thollonlesmemises.com Resort/Hiver New for winter 2019/20 combined pass with options, Thollon Bernex and Abondance. When the resort can only open limited runs, a reduced rate is sometimes applied. There is now a site showing what runs are open. Plan Thollon Alpin.
Check out the Facebook Telecabine and Facebook UCAT for latest and further information.
The Association of Traders website UCAT Thollon. Good information and links to the traders and on The Evian page a link to Bus Timetables for the Evian / Thollon shuttle.
Cafes restaurants hotels and shops. Lockdown. If you are in Thollon do support those that can open and when we get back and can visit we all need to use them to ensure that these great people can keep going.
2021
With Thollon first in lockdown and as the summer comes and goes...... and winter still hangs around, we wait for Spring airs
........one of our own is writing this excellent blog. Many thanks to LB
This and earlier letters are on the Letter from Thollon page
Lindsay now has her own website where she will be writing a more personal account of tales from the balcony
12th April 2021
Déjà Vu
Sssshhhh…. can you hear it? That’s the sound of tumbleweed blowing through a deserted Thollon. Apart from a smattering of permanent residents, there is no-one here. France has entered its latest month-long lockdown and we’re now restricted to a 10km radius from home, or 30km for essential purposes with a permission slip.
Hohum
Mother Nature’s such a tease! This time last year, she spoiled us with long hot sunny days, yes, even in April. The numbers dropped and café terraces and non-essential shops reopened. People even arrived on holiday. For a tantalising moment we thought it might all soon be over. Out came the BBQ and the inflatable pineapple, trips to the South of France were planned and a flood of activities appeared on the horizon.
Then, as if waking from a long slumber, she seemed to suddenly remember where she was. ‘Too much activity’, too many cars, too many fumes, too much pollution! I like when you all stay home!’ The skies cleared, the hedgerows blossomed, wildlife reclaimed the pathways and gardens, and silence descended.
It really is that clear.
Now I’m all for being environmentally friendly, but quite frankly Mother Nature, enough is enough. I think we’ve shown you how resilient we are, how adaptable we can be, and how creative too. Think of all those people who thought zoom was a short focus lens before this.
We’ve mastered the art of stockpiling, learnt how to cram 360 toilet rolls into the bathroom cabinet and we now know how many bottles of wine we can carry home from the supermarket without using public transport. Some have also had to learn the really hard lessons of how to live with long term health issues and how to come to terms with devastating loss.
So, yes, we’ve got the badge and it’s time to move on, Mother Nature! Time to think of some new game to play with us, just to keep us on our toes.
With the accelerated vaccine rollout in France perhaps this really is the moment that it turns a corner. For once, I want to see the sky criss-crossed with con trails, smell the fumes of the gas guzzling cars as they charge up the hill, full of white knuckled passengers. I’d even be happy with the revellers pouring out of the village bars at 4am and singing all the way home.
So, fingers crossed, let’s hope that this time the end really is in sight, and I promise, I will never complain about the karaoke in Corinne’s again😉
On a happy note, I have to give you the results of last month’s quick Thollon quiz. Thanks to everyone who took the time to send me their answers.
Only one person had all the answers correct, and that’s Jane Wilkinson. Well done! I’ll be in touch this week to check where to send your breath-takingly fabulous prize.
1. Leman Express
2. Reblochon
3. Lausanne
4. Mistletoe
5. Between 760 and 880 (depending on your source)
6. PieretteColtice
7. The Savoie
8. Les Gets
9. Balcons du Lac
10. Coligny
11. Maxilly
12. 2221 metres
13. Meillerie
14. Geneva, Valais and Vaud
15. Amphion
16. Menton
17. 1816
18. Lavaux
19. Regis Bened
20. 310 metres
My favourite balcony view.
8th March 2021
THANK YOU
To say a big THANK YOU for checking into John’s terrific Thollon.org website over the past year, I’m sending a stylish Thollon T-shirt to 2 lucky people, from the little Thollon post office.
All you have to do is answer the following questions about Thollon, e-mail me the answers at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and a little bit of Thollon can be yours.You don’t need to have been to Thollon in order to win, most of the answers can be found on the Thollon.org website. In the event of a tie, the names of the 2 winners will be drawn from a hand knitted bobble hat. Closing date will be 10th April 2021.
The Great Thollon Quiz
1. What is the name of the train service linking Evian with Geneva?
2. Which cheese is usually used in the making of Tartiflette?
3. What is the name of the city due north of Evian on the opposite shore of the lake?
4. The berries of which plant commonly found in France, were called ‘oak sperm’ by the ancient Greeks?
5. Approximately how many permanent residents are there in Thollon?
6. Who was the schoolteacher who wrote a published journal about her life in Thollon in the 1930’s?
7. What is the name of the historic, butterfly-sailed vessel which offers trips from Evian ferry port?
8. Where in the Haute Savoie is the Museum of Mechanical Music?
9. What is the name of the new restaurant at the gondola top station in Thollon?
10. In which suburb of Geneva would you find the world-famous book collection of the Martin Bodmer Foundation?
11. Where is the ‘Bois du Bal’ where William Beckford organised his extravagant parties?
12. What height is the Dent d’Oche?
13. Where is the Pierre de Rousseau?
14. Alongside the French department of Haute Savoie, which 3 Swiss cantons border Lake Geneva?
15. Where was the F. Celle boatyard in which the France-Excelsior speedboat was built to challenge for the Harmsworth Cup in the 1920’s?
16. Which town is at the southern end of the Route des Grandes Alpes?
17. In which year did Lord Byron visit Meillerie?
18. What is the name of the UNESCO World Heritage wine-producing region on the north side of Lake Geneva?
19. Who is the current Mayor of Thollon?
20. Approximately how deep is Lake Geneva at its deepest point?
Answers will be published soon after the 12th April 2021.....depending on how busy the Edit is!
Thanks to LB.
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November 2020 Kevin et Thibaut are pleased to announce the upcoming opening of the restaurant Les Balcons du Lac.
Located in the heart of Thollon-les-Mémises, France in a unique place with an amazing view of the Geneva lake. The old restaurant named “Le Repaire de l’Aigle” will be completely refurbished will become Les Balcons du Lac.
The restaurant will be open for business this year and will welcome you this winter season. French traditional cuisine pedestrian accessible or by ski.
Les Balcons du Lac it is also: - An outside terrasse - Two type of restauration; self-service and snack - A panoramic bridge - A lounge and chill out place - An outside bar - New guests’ experiences - A unique place with good vibes - And more to come…... Stay tuned Tous ensemble tout schuss !!!! Do follow what is happening on the Les Balcons du Lac Facebook page Thollon.org wishes Kevin and Thibaut every success.
The view from the new balcony.
New Library for the village November 2020
The Le XV Restaurant and Bar is open for takeaways.
Arnaud had stocked up for his reopening and then was hit by lockdown. He will have an extensive new take away menu. Please support him. Details on his facebook page. Le XV
The UCAT Thollon Facebook site has updates for the new traders and what is open and when. UCAT is the organisation of local traders.
Snow on the Mountain 26 October 2020
New: 30 Oct 2020 Video from the company undertaking the restaurant construction. This is a great video which shows the new roof being fixed.
Video Click here. Thanks to Transports Tromberts
New : 9 Nov Another great video shows the new roof.Video Click Here Thanks to Livio
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Our correspondent had a short meeting with the Mayor of Thollon Regis Bened on the 27th July 2020. Full details on the News/Blog page
The building of the new Telecabine Restaurant is well underway.
Photos 27 August 2020. Work is progressing well, weather has been good.
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Thollon is a family resort and many visitors return every year to enjoy the great welcome.
Bit of nostalgia as we look forward:-
Christine (ESF Thollon Secretary) presents a first badge to Cora age 4 and then Gold Award age 12 in February 2020.
Wednesdays February Party 7pm in the Polyvante hosted by ESF, Ski Club, Fondue and music Mickael and accordion.
"Horseing around" Thursday 20th February 2020.
Thollon Snow Park
The Thollon Snowpark association organises events on the theme of freestyle skiing/ snowboarding. The half pipe, landing balloon and water jump add some fun to Thollon.
Reggae Fever
One of our own has a sneaky play.
Below January 2020 BBQ
Carnaval in Evian see Evian page for photos from previous years.
New snow cannon installation There are 65 or is it 74? new snow cannons. They will cover all the slopes which are visible from the restaurant. There does not appear to be any plans at the moment to do the "back run" the Via Casse. So the resort should be well and truly ready for this year's winter season, 2019/2020. Pictures below summer 2019 lots of activity in the car park and on the slopes. Lorries and a helicopter has been moving the materials.
Summer 2019. A review
Music and fun. Bars, fete, BBQ
Bar Ourson is worthy of an extra mention for the many fun evenings some with live music. Corrine has been popular with the British clientele and the annual get together of British musicians with the new band Jerry and his Pacemaker was in fine form. The outside area in front of the bar making for a great area to relax party and listen to music. Also new for 2019 was Arnaud offering excellent Tapas in his bar area in Le XV making for a relaxed drink and food sitting on the sofa's. The bars Saint Nicolas and Choumas continued to be popular and offered good hospitality. Many of us also braved the walk to visit the Hotels Bon Sejour and Bellevue, whose restaurants offered excellent fare.
The annual fete was held in August, two nights of party which was well supported by the Thollon.org crowd. There were also music events held outside the Tourist Office, by the car park.
The site at the aerial Hucel which has a wonderful view over the lake was the venue for an inpromptu byo BBQ. A group of locals and Brits enjoyed food and wine as the sunset. The steep and dark climb down from the site was interesting.
Priory Meillerie
A visit was organised to visit the Priory of the Meillerie www.meillerie-prieure.com. Many of us use the road and pass close by to this Priory. The visit was excellent for a number of reasons, the views are fantastic especially from the graveyard above. The history of the priory and its role in commanding the area and its links to Thollon were fascinating. The talk by Sidonie Bochaton (local archeologist, historian, and writer) was excellent as it gave a wider view and helped many of us understand the local history of the Haute Savoie. The web site is excellent and if you are considering a walk around is to be recommended to set the scene. Thanks to AS for organising
The Lake
Many of the Thollon group have boats on the lake and enjoyed a great summer of boating. The lake provided its usual mirror calm surface ideal for motor boats. The usual venues of Grand Rive “Nathalies” and new this year L’OXXY Beach providing refreshment.
Annual Football Match
On Saturday 8th June 2019 at 3pm the annual football match was played on a lovely sunny day.
Result: England 8, France 7 yes we won!
As usual the band, ceremony and football of a standard only seen once a year. A great celebration.
Pink Pub to Pegasus Bridge
This site celebrates the link between many countries. We have a large British contingent. Several Bognor Regis members supported a great forces charity by cycling from Bognor Regis to Pegasus Bridge to celebrate D-Day leaving on Wednesday 5 May 2019. Have a look at the Facebook page. Pinkpub2PegasusBridge They have raised over £120,000....Great job guys.
They made it! Well done guys!
Bolton Celebration
Thollon friends stretch wide across the world. On the 11 May 2019 a group of around 30 Thollon friends came from various parts of Europe to visit Bolton to help celebrate 30 years in business for a Thollon regular. Much drinking and great hospitality from Dave and Deb’s.
The Paddle steamers salute Evian
Winter 2018/19
The season closed with the UCAT Race and the water slide, and the British enthusiastically joining in the celebrations with this years theme of Peaky Blinders. Around 35 British visitors, and some Ex Pat residents joined in the fun.
Thollon.org entered a team of three generations photo below, 2 skiers and a snowboarder! A superb effort but no medals this year.
Below the race winners Garage des Memises and the British "second place?" Team Meda Sport (Ketts Taira Andy) we understand that we might have translated "Les Perdants" incorrectly..... Great trophy, medals, cheese and chocolates were all appreciated as was the great atmosphere and the paella served for lunch. Thanks to the organisers and the many supporters for such a fun event. The race had a unique compulsory half way stop with a glass of wine or juice being consumed before continuing to the finish.
Results correctly reported in the le dauphine below on the 3rd April 2019 together with a picture of the Peaky Blinder racers.
More pictures and video below
Peaky on the slopes PeakyYouTube video
Romantic Thollon
We all love the view from the top of the mountain, and what better place to propose marriage.
Regular visitor Ross proposed, and Nicola said yes.
The British half term, Monday 18th February 2019 brought many visitors to Thollon. A great sunny week with fun had by all.
The Tourist Office will be running many events during the holiday season. Thollon les Mémises Tourisme Facebook publishes details. The "Agenda of the week" Programme d'animations. Torch light descent, table tennis. Karaoke and much more.
Great news, Thollon and Bernex have signed an agreement making available a ski pass for both resorts for the 2017/18 Season The season pass is for both resorts and 3 visits to the Bernex Ice rink. There is a also a new web site Les Montagnes D’ Evian promoting the joint venture, and the various options. The pass is available to buy on line. We look forward to further initiatives.
A picture reminder of last Winters fun
More on our News and Blog page
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Map of suggested visits and Ski resorts
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