Tag Archives: forest

Walks around Pays de Gex

France: Circular walk from Mont Mourex to Mont Mussy

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When I was a newcomer to the Pays de Gex, this walk was the first I tried.

I see that whenever people ask for suggestions, this walk is always the first to be mentioned. Once you have been to Mont Mourex, you will understand why. Apart from high altitude I think it covers everything: forest, open pastures, and a superb view of the lake. You will also find an exercise circuit trail and special paths for mountain biking.

Doing the full circuit walk will take an adult not walking too fast just over an hour.

This walk can be done the whole year around. Over the years I have done this walk in the summer, spring, autumn, and winter. The track tends to get muddy so I will avoid putting on my newest white shoes unless you do the walk in the middle of the summer when the weather has been good for a while and the ground is dry.

When my children were young, I sometimes brought them along with friends to play in the forest on a hot summer day as a change to going to the pool. Being sheltered in the forest, they would play for hours in a hut made by branches and make animals from pine-cones.

You can start this walk from the Divonne side (Mussy) or from the Mourex side. Both sides offer plenty of parking possibilities. I always start this walk from the Mourex side. This is mainly because Mourex is closest to where I live, but also because Mourex village is so beautiful. Driving up from Grilly, turn right when you see the big iron cross. Then follow the sign to Mont Mourex. Go slowly with your car the last hundred meters; the last stretch is very bumpy. If you start from the Divonne side, just drive up the Chemin de la Ferme Mussy. For exact details see the map at the bottom of this post.

From the Mourex side you start with a very gentle little climb. The total climb for the full circuit is just over 100 meters so fairly flat.

In the spring and summer, you might meet the cows out grazing like I did just the other day.

You will quickly reach the summit of Mont Mourex, where you will have a fantastic view on the lake, Geneva, and the Alpes. There is an orientation table put up that will help you locate Mont Vuache, Saleve, and Mont Blanc from all the other hills and mountains in sight.

Close to the orientation table you can see a menhir stone. Facing Mont Blanc, it would have been a place for worshipping the sun. The menhir you can see is believed to have been part of a circular cromlech arranged in a large 47-meter diameter circle. If that is the case, it might have been destroyed at the beginning of the 20th century when a signal for the geographical service of the army was constructed (P.Delacretaz,Pierres mysterieuses,page 113).

Communal wood harvesting dates back from the Middle Ages where the Lords would grant village residents the right to cut down trees to use for firewood. On your walk through the wood, you will see that forest workers have cut down and stacked up a lot of wood. To keep the forest healthy, early thinning creates tougher trees that can endure climate change. If the forest is too overgrown the threes can get “stressed”, and stressed threes are more susceptible to droughts and insect attacks. Today, this work is done by professional workers from the National Forest office.

With the wide tracks which are well marked with signposts you should have no trouble find your way to the other end of Mont Mussy whichever parking you chose to use as your starting point.

Enjoy your walk, and feel free to share!

Short

France: Challex, and parcours de la Corbière

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Overview: Easy and a little sporty

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!