Rossignoli Passage

The Rossignoli passage, a discreet staircase of the Belle Époque

Here is a small discreet staircase, almost hidden, and yet full of history: the Rossignoli passage. Laid out at the end of the nineteenth century, it linked the grand palaces to the city centre. The Aix-les-Bains audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this vestige of the thermal golden age and the Belle Époque.

A passage laid out in the 1880s

The Rossignoli passage was laid out in the 1880s, during the construction of the Hôtel Splendide, one of the palaces of Aix-les-Bains. This private path and staircase linked the grand hotels to the city centre, allowing the wealthy clientele to move about discreetly. A witness of the thermal golden age and the Belle Époque, it recalls the time when Aix-les-Bains was among the most prized resorts of Europe.

What to see

Here you take a discreet staircase that links the heights of the former palaces to the city centre, in a picturesque setting. The passage reveals a little-known part of the Belle Époque heritage in Aix-les-Bains. It is an original stop, which immerses the visitor in the hushed atmosphere of the great spa towns of the past.

Practical information

The Rossignoli passage lies in the heart of Aix-les-Bains, linking the area of the former palaces to the city centre, reachable on foot. It is a staircase that is walked on foot; its slope and its steps are to be taken into account. It is discovered during a walk in the Belle Époque city.

When was the Rossignoli passage laid out?

In the 1880s, during the construction of the Hôtel Splendide; it linked the grand palaces to the city centre of Aix-les-Bains.

What was the Rossignoli passage used for?

It discreetly linked the grand Belle Époque hotels to the city centre, allowing the wealthy clientele to move about away from the crowds.