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Aix-les-Bains

Aix-les-Bains is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.

It is situated on the shore of Lac du Bourget, 9 km (5.6 mi) by rail north of Chambéry.
The city of Aix-les-Bains on the East side of Lake Bourget, on the right hand side of the picture

Geography

The town lies at an altitude of about 250 m and stretches along the eastern end of 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 1,562 m (5,124.67 ft). 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.[1] The lake drains out of its northern end into the Rhone river about 5 km to the north. Aix-les-Bains is situated in the hilly country of the Bugey that makes up the foothills of the Alps and also forms part of the lower western extension of the Jura Mountains.
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, in Lyon, in 383. Numerous Roman ruins survive.
Lac du Bourget Promenade
Culture

The Faure Museum, an art museum is situated at Aix-les-Bains. It was founded in 1949 and comprised the second collection in France of works from Rodin and the second collection of impressionist paintings of France.
Faure Museum

The hot sulphur springs have a temperature of ranging between 42-45° Celsius and are still frequented. They are used for drinking as well as for hydrotherapy.

The city's history can also be seen throughout the towns building. Late 1800s and the influence of Italians on avenue Marie de Solms.
Sport

From 1949 to 1961, Aix-les-Bains had a temporary race track, called the Circuit du Lac (lake race track), that received different events: Grand-Prix Formula 2, Formula Junior and Grand-Prix Motorcycle. Being close to Switzerland and Italy, these events always received international audiences.
Notable people

Philippe Zdar. Co-founder of house music duo Cassius. Music producer (Phoenix, The Rapture, Beastie Boys, Cat Power, -M-). Grammy Award 2010 with Phoenix for the record Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix.
Christophe Lemaitre. 100 m and 200 m record holder. First caucasian to break the 10-second barrier for 100m.
Agnès Soral, French actress
Matthieu Ricard, Buddhist monk
Major-General Vincent Eyre died here in 1881
Herve Renard, Football Coach

International relations
Twin towns — Sister cities
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in France

Aix-les-Bains is twinned with:

Russia Kislovodsk, Russia
Italy Milena, Italy
Morocco Moulay Yacoub, Morocco
United States Fairbanks, USA