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.
Communication channels and transports
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.[7]
Sciez harbour connects with a few other harbours around the Lac Léman with boats from the Compagnie Générale de Navigation sur le lac Léman.
Urbanism
Urban Morphology
Historic Farm Castelli
The commune is composed of a main town and of several hamlets and localities which are :
October 1944 March 1971 || Alexandre Néplaz || PCF ||
March 1971 March 1983
Jean Dunand
March 1983 February 1985
François Bally
February 1985 March 1989
Jean Vannier
March 1989 September 2003
Bernard Néplaz
PCF
Conseiller général du Canton de Thonon-les-Bains-Ouest (1998-2004)
September 2003 Ongoing
Jean-Luc Bidal
UMP
All data not yet known
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… [8]
Bronze Age (1000 before J.C.) :
Searches in the cemeteries of Douvaine and Sciez in 1977 demonstrated a strong implantation in the region.[9]
In the first century the Allobroges (Gaulois)[10] occupied the Chablais as has been shown by discoveries of silver coins in Sciez as well as other nearby communes.[9]
A more in depth and modern history of Sciez and of the Chablais is available in the book: Hier, Aujourd'hui, Demain. SCIEZ : histoire, nature et traditions.[11]
Sciez is a tourist town. The town hold the label holiday "Station verte" since 2005 and "Pavillon Bleu" since 2009. It also holds the Famille Plus and Geopark labels of the Chablais[13] since 2012.[14]
Sciez hosts numerous craftsmen,[15] several shops[16] and numerous associations.[17]viticulture is present since already several centuries in the commune. The vineyards of Marignan[18] are cultivated by three winegrowers,[19][20] and several amateurs produce white wine mainly. The typical cépage of the region is the Chasselas.
