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The Salève
It is on this massif that the village of La Muraz culminates at 1309m, at a place called Rocks of Faverges (picture). The Salève, half-way between the Jura and the Prealps, is indeed a mythical mountain but above all constitutes a splendid and very coveted belvedere remarkable for its 360° views as from its summit which is crossed by a ridge road (picture) one can admire:
- to the South East the Arve valley, the Alps range with the Aravis and Mont Blanc massifs (picture),
- to the North East the Geneva area and Lake Geneva (picture) and further away the Alps in the cantons Vaud and Valais in Switzerland,
- to the North the Jura (picture),
- to the South West, Lake Annecy and in fair weather the Lake Bourget (Aix-les-Bains)(picture).
The paths:
The cradle of rock-climbing and hang-gliding, the Salève offers a haven of relaxation for the inhabitants of the whole area. The long distance hiking path Round Lake Geneva, the “scenic balcony” paths as well as a recent geological path allow one to discover this laboratory mountain known for its cliffs, its technical innovations (electric train, cable car) and for the famous men who stayed there (de Saussure, Rousseau, Lamartine, Wagner).
The Salève also harbours a rich heritage, a witness to history and local life; at its foot the country atmosphere combines often-unknown different resources. The path with the theme of “ Pastures and Forests” in Vovray-en-Bornes (10 km away from the main village of La Muraz on the C.D.15) enables one to discover the farm and forest activities and the former silica quarries. :
Other paths lead to the Chalet de la Thuile, a former mountain farm inn or the Mikerne Barn, the “Maison du Salève” to-be, and the discovery centre of the massif. (paragraph to be planned about the “Maison du Salève” cf. Syndicat Mixte du Salève?). At the foot of its north side one can still follow the path to Compostelle and thus discover a Roman military milestone in Neydens, the Carthusian monastery of Pomier as well as the chapel of St Jacques in Charly. :
The principal stops:
When travelling over the ridge of the Salève from North to South, which is 34km from Annemasse to Cruseilles one can alternately visit or admire:
Monnetier-Mornex, a traditional tourist village between the Small and Big Salève located in a rocky fault;
The Salève Cable Car the origin of which dates back to 1932 (connection with following link about the cable car), panoramic view from the upper station with panoramic restaurant, a kindergarten, a botanical area, a departure place for the hiking paths;
Les Treize Arbres (The Thirteen Trees), panoramic view, walking amidst nature, arrival station of the former cog railway running from Etrembières between 1892 and 1936:
La Table d’orientation (the Panoramic Table), panoramic view, paragliding take-off runway, inn, telecommunications relay tower;
La Grande Gorge (the Big Throat), panoramic view over the Jura, the lower Arve valley and Geneva;
Les Rochers de Faverges (the Faverges Rocks), a wonderful view over the Mont-Blanc mountains, the Alps and the middle Arve valley;
La Croisette, a small village with typical mountain inns (see details?), a centre for cross-country skiing, a small run for downhill skiing , beautiful view over Mont-Blanc; very sunny in wintertime when foggy in the valley;
La Grotte du Diable (the Devil’s Cave), a mountain inn in the forest (see contact?), beautiful view over the Aravis range and the Plateau des Bornes, forest walking;
Les Trois Lacs (The Three Lakes), reaching its peak at some hundred meters by foot from the road; in fine weather one can see the lakes of Geneva, Annecy and Le Bourget;
Le Grand Piton (the Big Needle), the summit of Salève at 1375m;
Cruseilles, a market town located on the R.N.201 Annecy-Geneva, the old quarter of Corbet with its old houses, the church with a splendid domed bell-tower in the local Savoie tradition;
Le Pont de la Caille (the Quail Bridge), 7km away in the direction of Annecy (link with following article) (picture), a suspension bridge with 4 crenellated towers dating back to the beginning of the 18th century which overlooks the pass of the Usses by 150m. Impressive and entirely restored it can be crossed on foot.
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