The history of Aix-les-Bains, closely tied to Lac du Bourget and its thermal springs, reflects its emergence as a prominent spa destination, a trajectory best understood within the broader context of Savoy’s cultural and historical evolution.
Chronological history
The origins During the Neolithic period (approximately 5000 to 2500 BC), sedentary communities established settlements along the shores of Lac du Bourget. Underwater archaeological excavations have identified evidence of lake-dwelling sites, often referred to as "lake cities". At least two of these lie near the Aix-les-Bains shoreline, specifically in the areas of Grand Port and Baie de Mémars. These remains, recognized for their historical significance, earned a place on the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011.
Following these early settlements, the region’s importance endured, as traces of Celtic life emerged near the thermal springs in the town center, notably an inscription honoring the spring deity Borvo.
Aquae: Roman Aix
Historians widely attribute the origins of Aix-les-Bains (hereafter Aix) to its thermal springs, which spurred Roman development atop an earlier Celtic settlement. Archaeologist Alain Canal dates the site’s initial occupation to the 1st century BC. However, no evidence confirms that these early traces represent a permanent settlement. The surviving archaeological remains, consisting mainly of public structures, make reconstructing the layout of ancient Aquae challenging. Epigraphic records from the 1st century AD indicate that Aix functioned as a vicus, administered by a council of ten members known as decemlecti, and was part of the territory governed by the city of Vienne.
Excavations have revealed a significant spa complex adjacent to the thermal springs. On a lower western terrace, the funerary arch of Campanus, likely constructed in the 1st century AD, has been identified. Further downstream, a second terrace supports the Temple of Diana, which replaced an earlier circular structure in the 2nd century AD, possibly contemporaneous with the arch. To the north of the temple, remains of necropolises have been uncovered. The Parc des Thermes and other scattered locations in the city contain various artifacts, including pottery and additional necropolis fragments. Despite these findings, no single discovery has prompted extensive further excavation. Consequently, details about the Gallo-Roman vicus of Aquae—such as its extent, urban layout, and daily activities—remain limited. The locations of Roman residences, agricultural estates, and associated settlements, as well as the vicus’s specific functions, are not well-documented. Current understanding relies heavily on the archaeological map compiled by the Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs (DRAC).
In summary, Aquae’s history began with a 1st-century BC occupation, expanding through the 1st and 2nd centuries AD as the spa complex and terraced monuments took shape. The thermal springs drove this growth, though its strategic location likely played a role too.
From the Middle Ages to the Renaissance
Knowledge of Aix-les-Bains’ history, primarily focused on the Roman period, becomes increasingly uncertain due to the lack of sources from the late Roman Empire and early Middle Ages. Evidence of destruction from barbarian invasions, including fire traces on Gallo-Roman villas near Arbin, provides some basis for understanding this period, though details remain speculative. The Roman thermal baths in Aix-les-Bains fell into disrepair from the 5th century onward, and evidence of urban structures largely disappeared.
Aix reappears in written records in the 9th century, with mentions in charters from 867 and 1011. In the latter, King Rudolf III of Burgundy granted the villa of Aix—described as a royal residence with settlers and slaves—to his wife Ermengarde, who subsequently transferred it to the bishopric of Grenoble. This charter indicates that Aix was a settlement with a church and agricultural lands. In the early 12th century, Bishop Hugh of Grenoble donated the land to the Saint-Martin de Miséréré monastery, which established the church as a priory under Sainte-Marie’s patronage. By the late 12th century, the cartulary of Saint Hugh records two additional parishes: Saint-Simond, with its own parish church, and Saint-Hippolyte (now a Mouxy suburb), home to a small priory. During this period, Aix’s urban form took shape, enclosed within ramparts of unknown construction date. The priory, rising near the former Roman temple’s site, likely anchored the town and may have served as an administrative hub, a role that expanded under the de Seyssel family's seigneurie from the 13th century. They maintained a castle, its precise location uncertain but possibly the site of the current structure. Two hamlets are documented: Saint-Hippolyte, situated just outside the town’s ramparts, and Saint-Simond (also known as Saint-Sigismond). The nearby Hautecombe Abbey held a significant estate in the upper Saint-Simond area.Textual evidence suggests the existence of additional villages, although no confirmed records appear until 1561, when a population count was taken for the salt tax. At that time, Aix had 1,095 inhabitants, with 46% residing in the town itself. Saint-Simond had 125 residents, Puer 91, Choudy 87, Lafin 86, and the remaining population was distributed among approximately ten smaller hamlets, with Marlioz absent from the records. This settlement pattern appears to have persisted largely unchanged until the late 19th century.
In the early 16th century, the church of Sainte-Marie was destroyed by fire. Reconstruction efforts were supported by Claude de Seyssel, a member of the local noble family, who served as Bishop of Albi and a key advisor to King Louis XII of France, in addition to authoring several legal treatises. His family oversaw a collegiate church with twelve canons under a count-appointed dean. Built on a square beside the cemetery, it featured a flamboyant Gothic choir for the chapter and a simpler nave for parishioners. The nave’s vault collapsed in 1644 due to structural flaws, while a side chapel housed de Seyssel burials. After the French Revolution, the collegiate church became a parish church and was demolished in 1909 following the construction of a new church. It housed a relic of the True Cross, attracting pilgrims from a wide region. Also at the end of the Middle Ages, the seigneurial castle of Aix was reconstructed. The ceiling of the main hall on the ground floor is dated to 1400, and the grand staircase was added around 1590.
The 18th century, the Victor Amédée III thermal baths, the Revolution
On April 9, 1739, a fire broke out in the town center of Aix-les-Bains, destroying 80 houses—approximately half of the settlement. To facilitate rebuilding, the town requested subsidies from the king, who approved funding contingent on an alignment plan designed by engineer Garella. This plan extended beyond mere reconstruction, introducing a structured street layout and urban regulations, including requirements for two-story houses with a ground floor and a ban on thatched roofs. Its application was confined to the affected area—primarily rue Albert Ier, Place Carnot, and rue des Bains—and remained in effect until 1808. Implementation was inconsistent, however, as local authorities lacked funds to purchase properties for demolition, and owners were restricted from renovations until full rebuilding became necessary.
Awareness of the thermal springs in Aix-les-Bains grew in the early 17th century, following the writings of Dauphiné physician Jean Baptiste Cabias and later works by other medical professionals. These springs had been used since antiquity, continuing through the Middle Ages and into the late 18th century. Residents bathed either in the last remaining Roman open-air pool or in private homes, where thermal water was delivered by porters. Cabias also mentioned that King Henri IV of France took a bath associated with Aix, although the location is often cited as Aix-en-Provence instead of Aix-les-Bains. In 1737, the Intendance Générale initiated a significant project to protect the thermal waters from contamination by a stream crossing the town. This required digging a new channel for the Ruisseau des Moulins outside the ramparts and altering the central urban layout. The four mills owned by the Marquis d’Aix, previously situated in the town center, were relocated along this new canal, now known as Montée des Moulins.
Aix’s revival accelerated under the Duke of Chablais, son of King Victor-Amédée III. Finding the springs beneficial but lodging lacking, he proposed a spa facility. On June 11, 1776, Victor-Amédée III decreed its construction, designed by Comte de Robilant and built from 1779 to 1783 under engineer Capellini. This project coincided with the initial demolition of parts of the old town center, as surrounding areas were cleared to create a public square.
The spa establishment contributed significantly to the town’s growth. From its completion until the French Revolution, Aix-les-Bains hosted approximately 600 spa visitors annually, a stable figure, with most originating from France. The population subsequently increased, reaching 1,700 by 1793. In 1783, the Commune Council commissioned a landscaped public promenade, known as the Gigot (now Square Alfred-Boucher), to enhance the experience of spa-goers. Designed by architect Louis Lampro and lined with chestnut trees, it marked the town’s first public urban green space initiative, aside from private gardens. This development spurred expansion along the Route de Genève, beyond the ramparts.
In 1792, French revolutionary troops under the command of Montesquiou entered Savoy. Spa activities declined during this period, and the thermes were requisitioned by the Republic to house convalescing soldiers, inadvertently raising the town’s profile among a broader audience. Adopting the name Aix-les-Bains, the town shed noble privileges, erasing a debt to the Marquis d’Aix for seigneurial rights due to its lack of a franchise charter. Free trade post-conflict revived the thermal economy, fostering guesthouses, hotels, and cabarets, though the collegiate church suffered abandonment and partial destruction.
Near the lake, the small harbor mole at Puer, constructed in 1720 under the Ancien Régime, evolved into a functional port. Initially utilized by boats supplying the Armée des Alpes, complete with a military storehouse, it was later adapted for exporting goods, including glassware produced in lakeside workshops. Renamed the Port de Puer, its development prompted improvements to the Avenue du Lac, encouraging the construction of aligned buildings along this route outside the town center and existing villages. The revolutionary period may have influenced village development through the division of former noble estates and the loss of church properties, though detailed studies on land ownership changes remain limited. Around village peripheries, new pre-industrial activities emerged, including mills, sawmills, and hydraulic forges.
The French Revolution