Castle of Ripaille, Renaissance castle in Thonon-les-Bains, France.
The castle of Ripaille is a Renaissance manor house in Thonon-les-Bains, sitting on the southern shore of Lake Geneva in Haute-Savoie. It is made up of several connected buildings from different periods, set among vineyards and woodland close to the water.
Duke Amadeus VIII of Savoy built the original structure around 1400, and the site later became a Carthusian monastery during the 17th century. A major restoration in the 19th century gave the building its current Renaissance appearance.
The interior rooms feature Belle Époque furnishings, with dining rooms and kitchens that show how daily life looked in the early 1900s. These spaces feel lived-in and give a clear sense of how the building was used as a private home.
The castle opens from April to November, and guided tours are offered in several languages. It is worth checking opening times ahead of your visit, as the grounds also cover the nearby vineyards and woodland, which take time to explore.
The French expression "faire ripaille", meaning to feast or overindulge, is said to come from the lavish banquets once held at this site. The phrase has survived in everyday French and is still used today.
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