This is a little walk to do on those days where you might have a slow start on the day, or you can’t be bothered with a longer drive.
I have lived in the area for many years but never have I visited the Chapelle or the Chalet in the winter. I will defininitely do it again because it is the perfect little afternoon outing. It is near by and it offers a great view with minimal physical effort. I chose to only walk up to a forest Chalet and back which takes around 1 hour, if you have more energy you can make the walk longer.
I often see people asking for places to go sledging. I saw lots of people enjoying the snow around the Chapel. And it looked to be a fantastic place to have a grand day out playing in the snow and sledging.
From where I parked the car it takes around 30 minutes to walk up to the forest Chalet. The elevation is around 170 meters and should be manageable even for small feet. If you have a sledge with you I am sure that the small feet with be comfortable installed on the sledge while you will be sweeting a little extra pulling them upwards.
There are view points along the way where you can stop and take in the beautiful view of the Pays de Gex, Geneva, Jura and the Alps.
Pope Pius the 9th made the Chapelle de Rianmont to be the protective sanctuary of the Pays de Gex. Every Pentecostal Monday there is a pilgrimage. The story says that all young men from Vesancy going to war in 1870 came safely home thanks to the protection by the virgin. The chapel should be open for visits every day between 9-18.
If you don’t want to park and have a look around the charming centre of Vesancy the best place to park in the winter is in Route de la Vesanciere.
Time: around 1,5 hours Km: 4 Hight to climb: 148 meters
I have recently been made aware of the Japanese concept of “forest bathing”, which is said to reduce stress and worry (in my home country of Norway I guess we’d just call it hiking in the woods, but there you go…) On my little exploration walk in Challex I started thinking about how lucky I am to have nature so close to where I live. People living in big cities go to the park to connect with nature. Me, living in the Pays de Gex, have the choice between many different forests and nature reserves. The best of it is that often, these walks in the local nature can be combined with French village charms.
Challex is a bit off the beaten tracks for me. I have never had any friends living there, so I’ve never had any real reasons for going there. Now, after having discovered this short but sporty walk, I’ll definitely go back again.
As for most of the villages in Pays the Gex, the easiest way to get there is by car. Using public transport, Tpg will take you there from Switzerland on the T bus.
I parked just outside the school (Rue des Ecoles) in the village and started my walk from there.
Walk in direction Bellegarde. After a few meters you will see a gravel road. Continue downhill on this road and walk past the vines. When this path ends, walk to the left onto Chemin de Corbet and continue until you reach a fountain. Walk to the right, and you will very soon see a sign telling you that you are on the “Parcours de la Corbiere”. Continue on this path and it will take you down towards the Rhone.
When you see this block that tells the story of the Chateau le la Corbière, walk to the left and into the woods.
The Chateau de la Corbière was built in the twelfth century by the Count of Geneva. By then, Challex had some commercial and political rights and controlled a bridge made of wood that spanned the Rhone river. On the other side of the bridge was the small town of Epeisses, which was controlled by the chateau. Today, Epeisses is in Switzerland and the village is no longer where it used to be. In the 13th century, the level of hostility between the Count of Geneva and the Savoyards eventually resulted in a war. The chateau and the bridge were subsequently completely destroyed by the Savoyards.
Unfortunately, I was not able to find a single trace of the chateau. Maybe you are luckier?
I found this, however, and with a little more work who knows it could turn into a chateau.
Leaving the forest, I walked down under the bridge to have a look at the Rhone. That’s where I came across this house which I think must have been an old mill. The people living here have a magnificent view. Just imagine having your breakfast on the terrace on a summer day, with the Rhone gliding gently by.
What a luxury!
Now, on to the sporty part. I hadn’t really realized that until now, my walk had been mostly downhills. From here on, you’ll get reminded about your heart and lungs! When you see this crossing, walk left and continue up, up and even more up on to the Rue du Chateau.
On Rue de la Treille, walk to the left and through the little village centre of Challex. If the Auberge is open, you can enjoy a drink on the terrace overlooking the woods below, where you’ve just enjoyed your forest bath. Continue for a few more meters and you will be back to your starting point.
Enjoy discovering Challex, and feel free to share!
The Etournel marsh is located in the communes of Pougny and Collonges and not far from the river Rhône. The park is especially designated for the conservation of marsh birds, fish and plants.
You can download this map and a folder that contains more information about the park and the various plant and animal species you can find there here, only available in French.
Following the cessation of pebble extraction in 1990, the area has been recolonized by wet woodlands.
Spread over 190 hectares you will find woodlands, reed beds, ponds and meadows. Together this constitutes an essential reservoir of biodiversity and acts as an important stopover for migrating birds.
Walking around the 9 ponds, you are given plenty of opportunity to watch birds and other animals in their biotope. Nearly 210 different species have been observed nesting, wintering or stopping over while migrating. It is also the habitat for several mammals like beaver, deer, hare and polecat.
If you are very lucky, you can catch a glimpse of beavers in action. The beavers are night animals it is therefore more likely that you will find the result of their work. Beavers cut down threes for food and for building dams and lodges. Beaver teeth never stop growing so chewing wood helps keep them sharp and prevents them from growing too long
If you have a fishing rod, buy a licence and try your luck. Fishing is allowed in pond 1-6 of the 9 ponds.
The loops takes around one hour to finish. However when you visit, I will recommend you to not rush, but bring a picnic blanket, a thermos of coffee, binoculars and plenty of time.
If you want to read more about wetland biodiversity and why it matters you can find reading material in English, French and Spanish here.
If visiting between the 15th September and 15th November the park is closed for visitors between 18.00 and 08.00 every day. This is because this is the mating season for the deer, if you violate the visiting hours you might find yourself with a hefty fine.
Enjoy visiting Marais Etournel, and feel free to share!
The Activity Factory 