In Évian, the dazzling Cachat water pavilion, jewel of thermal Art Nouveau, reopens after seven years of restoration

The iconic Cachat water pavilion in Évian, a masterpiece of Art Nouveau architecture, has reopened after seven years of restoration. Built between 1903 and 1905 by architect Albert Hébrard, the pavilion was once the glamorous heart of the thermal spa town, where visitors drank the famous spring water under a spectacular wooden dome. After a fire in the 1970s and years of neglect, the city of Évian launched a major restoration project from 2019 to 2026, involving master glassmakers, ironworkers, carpenters, mosaicists, and painted-decoration restorers. The reopening was celebrated on June 15 during the G7 summit, with President Emmanuel Macron inaugurating the site. The pavilion now houses a Centre for the Interpretation of Architecture and Heritage and will host cultural programming, including the exhibition "Correspondances" by artist Aurélie Castex.

This restoration matters because it revives a key piece of France's thermal heritage and Art Nouveau legacy, transforming a long-abandoned monument into a living cultural space. The project demonstrates how historic architecture can be adapted for contemporary use while preserving its original splendor, and it reinforces Évian's identity as a UNESCO Creative City of Music. The reopening also highlights the role of cultural heritage in regional tourism and community engagement, with exhibitions and events that connect the site's past as a social hub to its future as a center for art and exchange.