France, Aix-les-Bains

Aix-les-Bains is a spa town of eastern France, near the Lac du Bourget, and 9 km. by rail N. of Chambéry.

History

Aix derives from Latin Aquae (literally, "waters"; cf Aix-la-Chapelle (Aachen) or Aix-en-Provence), and Aix was a bath during the Roman Empire, even before it was renamed Aquae Gratianae to commemorate the Emperor Gratian, who was assassinated not far away, at Lyon, in 383. Numerous Roman remains survive.

Geography

The town lies at an altitude of about 250m and stretches along the eastern end of the beautiful Lac du Bourget and up the slopes above the lake that culminate in the Tour de L'Angle Est that overlooks the town and lake at a height of 1562m. The western shore of the lake is narrower as the mountains along its edge are closer to the lakeshore, although lower than those on the eastern side.

Miscellaneous

The hot sulfur springs, have a temperature of from 109° to 113°F (43-45 °C), are still much frequented, attracting annually many thousands of visitors. They are used for drinking as well as for hydrotherapy.

Motor sports

From 1949 to 1961, Aix les Bains had a temporary race track, called Circuit du Lac (lake race track), that received different events: Grand-Prix Formula 2, Formula Junior and Grand-Prix Motorcycle.