Living in Divonne-les-Bains
lovemyplace- Dec 12, 2024
- 4 min read
In my job, I often have clients who arrive in our region and ask about the quality of life, our habits... I naturally wanted to start by talking about Divonne-les-Bains, the commune where I've lived since 2010, and where my two children have grown up (they're now 17 and 20 years old).
Here's what I wanted to say about our lovely commune, which I appreciate more and more every day:
1. Exceptional natural setting
Divonne-les-Bains enjoys an unspoilt natural setting, between the Jura mountains, Lake Geneva and its own man-made lake. It offers panoramic views of the Alps and Mont Blanc. These landscapes always enchant us, and there are plenty of opportunities to relax in the great outdoors. I used to say that it would take me more than a lifetime to discover all the enchanting landscapes this superb region has to offer!
Outdoor activities: The region is ideal for lovers of hiking, cycling, golf, skiing, water sports and so on. In terms of activities, there's no limit to what you can do!
2. Border town with Switzerland
Work and mobility: At the equivalent distance between Geneva and Lausanne, Divonne-les-Bains is a central point for cross-border workers. The region offers an extremely dynamic economic and employment base, with the presence of numerous companies.
International airport: Geneva airport can be reached in 15 minutes by car, or by public transport, taking the bus from Divonne and then the train from Coppet. However, Divonne-les-Bains is not located in the airport noise zone, unlike some other communes in the Pays de Gex.
3. Services and infrastructure
Education :
Public schools: Divonne has quality schools.
PRE-SCHOOLS AND PRIMARY SCHOOLS: The town has three high-quality public pre-schools and primary schools (École d'Arbère, École du Centre and École Guy de Maupassant), each with a leisure centre, providing parents with childcare solutions outside school hours, in excellent facilities. There is also a range of private schools ; please check the official Divonne-les-Bains' website for more information.
PUBLIC COLLEGE MARCEL ANTHONIOZ: for children from sixième to troisième.
For LYCEE, children must attend either the Lycée public international in Ferney-Voltaire (school buses are available and provided for free by the region), or the Lycée privé Jeanne D'Arc in Gex. A new public lycée is due to open in Gex, but unfortunately I have no current information to share on this subject.
Culture
The municipality delights us with the Esplanade du Lac, where a number of high-quality shows are presented. Exhibitions are also organised regularly, on the banks of the lake, in the town, in the former railway station or in private venues such as CARRE 76, a superb bookshop and art gallery.
Market, shops and animation
Divonne's market is very popular for its local produce and friendly atmosphere. Unfortunately, it is also known for its rather high prices! That said, it's a real pleasure to go there on a Sunday and meet up with friends.
The town also offers a wide range of restaurants and shops, and we'll be coming back to our favourites as the pages of this blog unfold.
All year round, you will find many concerts and animations ; the city council and private actors are keen to make a lively community, who can share many moments of joy.
Vibrant community life: Numerous local associations give residents the chance to get involved in a wide range of activities. These include boxing (for example, here: https://www.barbossagym.com ), tennis, sculpture, gymnastics, fencing, music, triathlon, rowing on the lake, you name it! Almost anything is possible! The town has a directory of associations on its website.
Other facilities: Divonne-les-Bains boasts a number of facilities, including an open-air Olympic swimming pool, a wonderful lake, a casino, a superb 18-hole golf course, a supervised beach and water everywhere. Let's remember that in Latin, DIVONA means divine water!
Divonne-les-Bains is also a cosmopolitan town, with over 90 nationalities represented. Its inhabitants often arrive from the four corners of the world, so it's relatively easy to meet new people. For me, this is a real asset: despite its ‘small town’ status, the population is made up of people from a variety of backgrounds, all keen to make the most of the region and its many assets. These people are often very open-minded, happy to share their past experiences with us and keen to build a future in Divonne-les-Bains.
For people moving to Divonne-les-Bains and the Pays de Gex in general, there could be a fear of finding themselves in environments that are too peaceful, lacking of movement. Having lived in London and Brussels before my arrival, I had this fear when I started out! Rest assured, Divonne-les-Bains is close to many cities such as Geneva, Lausanne and Annecy (45 minutes away). So it's easy to get away from it and be surrounded by the ambiance of big cities when you feel like it!
To summarize, I've lived in Divonne-les-Bains for almost 15 years, my children only remember Divonne-les-Bains, and I wouldn't leave this place for anything in the world! In fact, I've rarely met anyone who didn't like it here. When I come back from holiday, I'm always happy to come back; to me, it's an enormous opportunity to be able to live in such an environment, while at the same time having many friends who share the same pleasure.
In my eyes, Divonne-les-Bains is a little treasure at the gateway to Switzerland!
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