Sciez

History

Prehistory: Late Neolithic : Around -2400, a branch of the Saône-Rhône civilization, from Western Switzerland (Cordée Civilization) slowly locates on the banks of the Léman lake (Excenevex, Chens, Sciez). They exported their productions (copper beads, axes-hammers) all the way to the South of Dauphine via Annecy, Fillinges, Haute-Savoie… Bronze Age (1000 before J.C.) : Searches in the cemeteries of Douvaine and Sciez in 1977 demonstrated a strong implantation in the region. In the first century the Allobroges (Gaulois) occupied the Chablais as has been shown by discoveries of silver coins in Sciez as well as other nearby communes.

Geography

The commune is located on the border of the Apline chain and of the Lac Léman. The commune is in the département of Haute-Savoie in the region called Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Sciez is in the Chablais, between Evian and Geneva, near Douvaine, the medieval town of Yvoire and Thonon-les-bains. Sciez is also not far from the ski slopes Portes du Soleil (Avoriaz, Morzine, Chatel, Les Gets, Abondance) but also close from Chamonix and Mont Blanc. The climate is influenced by the nearby mountains, but the lake creates a micro-climate, which allows Sciez to enjoy relatively mild winters with temperatures averaging 0 (minimum) to 5 (maximum) Celsius, in December–January. It occasionally snows in the winter, but not always by the lake. Snow is easily accessible in the nearby mountains. Summers are temperate with an average of 13 (minimum) to 25 (maximum) Celsius, in July–August, and certain inhabitants manage to grow palm trees in their gardens. Sciez is located on the old Route Nationale 5 (RN5), now Départementale 1005 (D1005). This road while crossing the commune changes name and is called: Avenue de Genève, Avenue de Sciez et Avenue de Bonnatrait. Sciez is near the small train station of Perrignier. Regular buses serve Sciez on the Genève-Douvaine-Thonon-Evian axis. Regular buses serve Genève, Thonon and Evian. Sciez harbour connects with a few other harbours around the Lac Léman with boats from the Compagnie Générale de Navigation sur le lac Léman. The commune is composed of a main town and of several hamlets and localities which are : * Bonnatrait * Chavannex * Filly * La Fattaz (Arpitan language toponym meaning the pocket) * Coudrée (Domaine de) * Excuvilly * Choisy * Port de Sciez * Songy * La Renouillère * Chef-Lieu * Sur les Crêts * Marignan (Morgnan, the Arpitan…

Most-observed species

• Yellow-legged hornet

  Vespa velutina Lepeletier, 1836 · Insecta
  6,185
• House Sparrow

  Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  5,167
• Carrion Crow

  Corvus corone Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  4,910
• Common Wood-Pigeon

  Columba palumbus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  4,375
• Eurasian Blackbird

  Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  4,060
• Mallard

  Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  3,697
• Great Tit

  Parus major Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  3,640
• Eurasian Blue Tit

  Cyanistes caeruleus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  3,631

Most recent

• M 3.6 — 2026-01-12
  4 km SSW of Les Houches, France
• M 3.2 — 2024-05-09
  9 km SW of Evolène, Switzerland
• M 3.3 — 2022-09-25
  7 km ESE of Ar?ches-la-Frasse, France
• M 4.5 — 2022-03-12
  3 km S of Faverges, France
• M 4.1 — 2021-10-05
  10 km SSW of Evolène, Switzerland
• M 3.4 — 2020-06-23
  11 km ESE of Samoëns, France