The word naive comes to us, via French, from the Latin nativus meaning native or natural. When spelt backwards naive becomes evian a name we associate with natural mineral water. Coincidence? Probably.
There was settlement during town Celtic and Roman times which was later named Aviano, then Yvian and finally Evian. This was long before the curative properties of the mineral springs were discovered and the town was given the name Evian. The “les-Bains” part of the name was added later to promote the town as a spa resort.I arrived in the spa town Evian-les-Bains at the end of a visit to the Rhone-Alpes investigating some of the 32 mineral waters of the region. You cannot write about the mineral waters of the Rhone-Alpes without mentioning Evian. The famous baby blue and pink label of the water bottled here is recognisable the world over. Water, in and out of bottles, is ubiquitous in Evain-les-Bains.
Evian-les-Bains is on the shores of Europe’s largest lake; Lac Leman. It was not until 1789 that the mineral water was discovered by Marquis de Lessert. Drinking regularly from St Catherine’s Spring in the garden of Monsieur Cachat apparently cured him of kidney stones. Word spread, the entrepreneurs and investors moved in and, during the Belle Epoque, a resort was developed.
Four springs now provide Evian-les-Bains with its raison d’etre and feed the local economy. The rain and snow that fall on the Alps above the town take 15 years to filter down through the strata gathering minerals on its way. This is the water we drink today as Evian.
The original spring, known as the Cachat Spring, is still there; the fountain now surrounded by a classical portico. The water here is free to all comers and residents are allowed to fill bottles to take home. I am sure it tastes better gushing out of the ground than in a plastic bottle.
Immediately below the fountain is the Art Nouveau Evian Buvette Thermale which houses an exhibition on Evian water, a shop where you can purchase Evian products, including their cosmetics, and a collection of Evian bottles including their much sought after limited editions.
Le Palais Lumiere, a rather grand edifice overlooking the lake, is a fine example of Belle Epoque era architecture. Until 1984 it was Evian-les-Bains thermal baths. Now it is a conference and exhibition centre with an art gallery. The entrance hall is the magnificent pump room and is free to enter. Spas and “baths” were very popular and some very grand hotels were built . Many of these remain today along with some more modern ones. Evian-les-Bains is still very much a spa resort.
© Georges Menager – source: www.flickr.com
The vast Evian bottling plant at Amphion just outside Evian-les-Bains is open to visitors. A visit begins with a short film explaining the fifteen year journey rain and melt water take through alpine rock strata to the Evian bottling plant. The visit shows the process from the manufacture of the plastic bottles through, filling and distribution. Photography is not allowed but you can look down on the production lines from behind glass panels. The numbers are staggering; bottles are made, filled with water, sealed and labelled in a matter of seconds before being packaged and sent to the waiting trains and trucks. The plant has it’s own railway yard where up to eight trains can be loaded at any one time.
The Evian Babies roller skated onto our screens and into our hearts in an advertising campaign designed to remind us that Evian water is great for kids. Evian, because of its balance of minerals, is ideal for infants and children. Indeed this was one of the first major selling points when the corporate colours of powder blue and baby pink were chosen and used to reinforce the message. These colours are still the corporate colours today despite the fact that Evian is owned by the food giant Danone.
Useful links:
Ville d’Evian [English]
Evian Tourism
Hotels in Evian from www.LateRooms.com (£)
For trains to Evian (£)
The nearest airport to Evian is Geneva (£)
Declaration: I travelled to Evian as a guest of Tourisme Rhone-Alpes and Evian Tourisme. However I maintain editorial control at all times. There are affiliate links in the text. These are indicated with (£). All other links are NOT affiliate links but are included for my readers to get information.
