Located between Lake Annecy and Aravis, in the heart of unspoilt valley, the Living Museum of Wood and Forest was born in 1993 following the rehabilitation of an old hydraulic sawmill XIX century ...
Thanks to the shared commitment of elected officials and residents of Thones and family last sawyer, the municipality undertakes restoration work in 1990, provide for the recovery of this important heritage of the valleys of tuna and Aravis ... (more there were 60 mills of this type in the early twentieth century on the territory).
For over 20 years, the Living Museum of Wood and Forest offers an authentic trip back in time with a visit to this former sawmill, where we discover the life of the sawyer and tools, with many saw demonstrations ...
In 1995, management of the activity of the Living Museum is entrusted to the association "Thônes Heritage and Culture", which will be responsible for driving that common place with the support of specialized professional animators ... Over years, new developments will emerge, helping to enhance the site layout of premises, creating an educational workshop and offices, setting up exhibits and interpretive panels, installation of a hauling cable, creating natural amenities (educational pond, nature trail, etc ...).
In parallel, the sawmill, flagship of the structure will evolve from simple heritage object towards a comprehensive site dealing with general issues of sustainable development in line with the theme of wood and forest ...
Today, the Living Museum hosts about 15,000 visitors a year, representing 250 groups including 200 school classes, not to mention some 3,000 individual visitors of the summer season ...
The visit of the Ecomuseum and its former sawmill now represents 50% of the activity. Added to this are the animations of discovery and awakening to woodworking (initaition workshops in carpentry, discovery days of the timber industry and company visits), and our kind entertainment, education in environment and Sustainable Development (discovery walks, specific nature activities, discovery of the aquatic environment, etc ...).
In addition, each year the organizers and volunteers of the association offer a program of events all age groups related to the discovery of our natural, cultural or economic ...
The sawmill of Etouvières,
heritage of the Aravis mountains