Divonne-les-Bains

Thermal towns, run as companies, have on occasion required bold investments in equipment that is vital to these towns’ reputations and competitiveness on the national “market”. The most well-known towns now boast an often-original architectural heritage. In Divonne, at the turn of the 20th century, the thermal equipment inherited from the previous century meant that urban developments and decisive political decisions needs to be carried out by contemporary decision makers. After the war, the new municipality that Marcel Anthonioz led until his death in 1976 set out a policy to relaunch the thermal resort. This represented a radical change in terms of how thermal treatment seekers were welcomed as well as for the resort’s touristic policy. (PNRHJ - Un tour en ville, “A tour of the town”)