Chablais museum

The Chablais Museum at the Château de Sonnaz, a historic residence, enjoys an exceptional panorama of Lake Geneva and the Jura. It hosts a permanent exhibition on the history of the Chablais region as well as a temporary exhibition that is renewed every year.

Description

New permanent exhibition "Jump in time, 7000 years of history(s) of the Chablais". It is a real "time capsule" through 7,000 years of history. From the Neolithic era to the Annexation of 1860, the visitor jumps from one era to another and discovers the specificities of the Chablais.

In the heart of Europe, the Chablais is a territory of passage, on the road to the Alpine passes and to Italy, bathed by Lake Geneva, sometimes a link, sometimes a border. It is marked by the Roman culture, the construction of the Duchy of Savoy, the wars of religion and the affirmation of nation states.

The Chablais also lives through the eyes of artists. Works from the end of the 18th to the 21st century, evoke the infatuation of painters, engravers and writers for Lake Geneva and its environment.

More than 130 objects tell the story of this historical fresco. They illustrate the richness and diversity of the museum's collections. A nice appetizer while waiting for the future museum announced for 2025 at the Château de Rives.

Guided tour of the exhibition at 3pm from June to September


Temporary exhibition 2025 : "The Allobroges of Napoleon. Dessaix, Chastel, Dupas, heroes of the Revolution and the Empire".

Services

• Unguided group tours
• Guided group tours
• Unguided individual tours

Environments

• Town location
• In centre of town
• Close to a public transportation
• Close to pleasure port

Prices

Full price: 3.50 €
Reduced price: 2.60 €
Set price group adults: 2.60 €.

Free entry for children < 18 years, accompanying guides.
Group rate available for > 10 people.

The museum is free every Sunday.

Payment methods

• Bank/credit card
• Check
• Travellers Cheque
• Cash

Opening period

From 19/03 to 30/06/2025 between 2.30 pm and 6 pm.
Closed Monday and Tuesday.
Closed exceptionally on May 1st.

From 01/07 to 31/08/2025
Opening hours daily between 10 am and 12.30 pm and between 2.30 pm and 6 pm.

From 01/09 to 16/11/2025 between 2.30 pm and 6 pm.
Closed Monday and Tuesday.

Spoken languages

• German
• English
• French

Adapted tourism

• Hearing disability
• Not accessible in a wheelchair

Localisation

Pets

Pets allowed : No

Themes

• Promotional offers : Partner of the "Pass Léman": free entrance to the museum for any holder of the Pass Léman, valid on many activities in Thonon and in the region. The Museum is free every Sunday.