Traversée Rives Ripaille 2026 — Thonon

For centuries, the transport of heavy rock across Lake Geneva relied on specialized sailing barges, their distinctive lateen sails a common sight against the horizon. Today, these vessels are remembered through the restoration of the 'Savoie', a replica that preserves the maritime legacy of these waters. Swimmers arriving at Thonon-les-Bains for the Traversée Rives Ripaille trace these historical routes, moving through an environment defined by its strategic elevation. The town itself rests upon a dramatic cliffside, a geological feature that dictated the placement of the 13th-century citadel and its surrounding fortifications.

Views from the water

As you navigate the course, the shoreline reveals layers of regional history. To the west, the historic port area remains a focal point, with the tracks of the 1888 funicular climbing the cliffside toward the city center. Archaeological excavations near the waterfront have unearthed numerous artifacts, now housed in the local museum, which shed light on how the lakefront was utilized in antiquity. Further along the coast, the thick forests and high walls of the Château de Ripaille emerge. These 53 hectares were once the private hunting grounds for the Counts and Dukes of Savoy, and their preserved boundary remains a striking visual landmark for those swimming parallel to the estate.

Race day logistics

Organized by the Club des Nageurs de Thonon, the event takes place on July 19, 2026, at the Plage de Saint-Disdille. The competition offers a range of distances from 100m to 5km, catering to various skill levels. Participants receive a swimming cap as part of their entry, and the race remains a key date for local swimmers who often use it to build their endurance before joining the annual crossing at nearby Evian. The water conditions in mid-July are generally stable, though the scale of the lake requires swimmers to maintain a steady rhythm as they pass the forested edge of the Ripaille grounds and the historic port structures.

The beach director's idea

René Robert, first director of Thonon's municipal beach, created the crossing in 1952, and for almost half a century it kept its original shape: 1,600 metres for licensed swimmers, 600 for children. The turn came in 1999, when the race joined the Coupe de France; the five-kilometre course in Lake Geneva is now its flagship, one of four distances swum the same day.