Saint-Gervais-les-Bains
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This article may be expanded with text translated from the corresponding article in the French Wikipedia. (December 2009) Click [show] on the right for instructions.
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Saint-Gervais-les-Bains |
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 Saint-Gervais-les-Bains
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| Administration | |
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| Country | France |
| Region | Rhône-Alpes |
| Department | Haute-Savoie |
| Arrondissement | Bonneville |
| Canton | Saint-Gervais-les-Bains |
| Intercommunality | Pays du Mont-Blanc |
| Mayor | Jean-Marc Peillex |
| Statistics | |
| Elevation | 571–4,304 m (1,873–14,121 ft) |
| Land area1 | 63.63 km2 (24.57 sq mi) |
| Population2 | 5,742 (2006) |
| - Density | 90 /km2 (230 /sq mi) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 74236/ 74170 |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
| 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. | |
Coordinates: 45°53′36″N 6°42′50″E / 45.8933°N 6.7139°E
Saint-Gervais-les-Bains is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. The village is best known for tourism, and has been a popular holiday destination because of its beauty and location since the Early 1900's. It boasts an expansive ski area of 450km of pistes, and is one of the least busy ski areas of its size. St Gervais les Bains (also referred to as St Gervais or St Gervais Mont Blanc) is not a purpose built resort, and as so has a large year round population, rather than just seasonal. In winter the main draw is the snow sports, and the resort has a multi-national client base. It is increasing in popularity among British holiday-makers, in part due to the fact that as yet it is fairly empty of Brits, and retains the character of a French ski village. Recent holiday companies have expanded in the area following increased demand. There are a handful of chalet holiday companies available to guests, most of which comprise of "owner-run" chalets, Although the company 'Ski Bliss' offers a wide choice of chalets, as well as a chalet meal delivery service. The village lies near the Tête Rousse glacier. In August 2010, a lake under the glacier at an altitude of 3200 meters had to be pumped dry to forestall a possible flood; a nineteenth-century flood caused by a lake under the same glacier killed 175 people.[1]
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[edit] Transportation
The main railway station for Saint-Gervais is the Gare de Saint-Gervais-les-Bains-Le Fayet. The Mont Blanc Tramway departs from Le Fayet station and reaches the Nid d'Aigle station at the Bionnassay glacier at an altitude of 2372 m (7800 ft). The Saint-Gervais–Vallorcine railway departs from Le Fayet station and takes you to Chamonix and across the Swiss border to Martigny.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Samuel, Henry (24 August 2010). "Flood threat spurs draining of glacial water pocket". The Vancouver Sun. http://www.vancouversun.com/Flood+threat+spurs+draining+glacial+water+pocket/3435420/story.html. Retrieved 26 August 2010.
[edit] External links
- Tourism Office website (in English)
- Official site of the commune (in French)
- Saint-Gervais-les-Bains on Wikitravel (in French)
- Official website of a ski holiday company in St Gervais, with information on the town.
- Town plan on Google Maps
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