AUBONNE, a town of Switzerland, in the can-
ton of Bern. E. Long. 5. 54. N. Lat. 46. 30. It
is situated near a river of the same name, seven miles
north of the lake of Geneva, upon an eminence which
has a gentle declivity, at the foot of which runs the
river with an impetuous torrent. The town is built in
the form of an amphitheatre; on the upper part of
which stands a very handsome castle with a fine court,
and a portico supported by pillars of a single stone
each; above there is a covered gallery that runs round
the court; and as the castle stands high, there is a most
delightful prospect, not only of the town and neigh-
bouring fields, but of the whole lake of Geneva and
the land that surrounds it. At Thonen, in Savoy, on
the other side of the lake, is a town covered with tin,
which makes a glittering appearance when the sun is in
a certain position; and the castle of Aubonne has like-
wise a tower of the same kind, which at certain hours
makes a similar appearance to the Savoyards. The
bailiage of Aubonne contains several villages, which
are mostly at the foot of the mountain Jura. In one
part of this mountain there is a very deep cave, where-
in those that go down find a natural and perpetual ice-
house. At the bottom is heard a great noise like that
of a subterranean river, which is supposed to be that
of the river Aubonne, because it first appears, with se-
veral sources, about 100 paces from the foot of that
mountain.