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Discover Evian
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Environment and quality of life |
As the birthplace of mineral water, the town of Evian has gone to great lengths to preserve its natural assets, and the city council treats the protection of sensitive sites and areas as a priority.
SAFEGUARDING EVIAN'S WATER RESOURCES
The catchment area—the sensitive zone comprising the “Pays de Gavot” district—forms a sizeable zone, requiring constant attention by Evian's City Council and neighbouring municipalities to ensure the protection of its most precious resource: Evian mineral water.
PROTECTING WETLANDS
Evian City Council takes a proactive role in the preservation of wetlands—lakes, bogs and marshes—within the boundaries of its canton. The Pré Curieux water gardens are a good example of the town's approach to protecting its natural heritage.
THE PRÉ CURIEUX WATER GARDENS
In 2002, the City of Evian opened the Pré Curieux (literally "curious meadow") water gardens to the public, creating a unique site for learning about wetlands. Situated on the lakeshore, the 3.5-hectare (8.6 acres) woodland property embraces a variety of water-related ecosystems, including landscaped water gardens, natural water gardens (mountain streams, ponds, marshes and wet meadows). Purchased in 1995 by the French Conservatoire du Littoral (the body responsible for preservation of the French coastline), the Pré Curieux should in future host researchers from all over the world.
CITY OF FLOWERS
Evian has a long tradition of flowering its streets and parks, making it one of the most flower-bedecked towns in France. In 2002, it was gold medallist in the European Floral City (www.villes-et-villages-fleuris.com/evian.htm) contest and won an honourable mention for its well-planned, well-kept parks and gardens. Also last year, the Society of Architects and Engineers of the City of Geneva awarded it a special prize for the layout of its lakeside amenities.
Evian is blessed with an outstanding natural setting, and its citizens have enhanced this with abundant tree plantings over the past century. Laid out like a Garden City, Evian is famous for its magnificent lawns planted with trees and shrubs.
A PRIVILEGED LIFESTYLE
Constant care is lavished on Evian's gardens and flower beds, and keeping the city clean and tidy. Continuously improving the urban environment, the City Council also undertakes a wide variety of programmes to adapt and rehabilitate buildings and monuments.
- Rehabilitating Evian's historical districts
The City's squares and old quarters are currently undergoing a thorough facelift, in order to revitalise the city centre and preserve its architecture.
- Renovating the "Buvette Cachat" (Cachat pump room)
Evian's architectural gem, and the historical headquarters of the Evian mineral water company (Société des Eaux Minérales d'Evian), is the "Buvette Cachat" or Cachat pump room. This was thoroughly renovated in 2002, the latest in a series of renovation projects in the neighbourhood of the "avenue des sources", the spring from which the famous Evian water emerges.
Source : City of Evian