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Walks around Pays de Gex

France: Art en Campagne – A cross border art walking trail

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If you are lucky enough to be in Geneva or neighbouring France between the 26th of June and 5th September, you have to experience the Art en Campagne.

The 4,8-kilometre circular trail takes you across the fields between Ornex in France and Collex-Bossy in Switzerland. For a walk that already offers a beautiful view of Mont Blanc on one side and the more relaxed and greener Jura Mountain on the other side, the art installations just take the walking experience to a new level.

The trail is available and accessible the whole year round but is especially beautiful when you have a multitude of artworks displayed. The majority of the artists live locally but come from all over the world, and have connections to the many arts institutions in the region. In addition, several schools also get to present and display their art creation.

For the 2021 edition, the trail has no less than 47 installations along the short trail. You can pick up a map from one of the many mailboxes that have been put up.

You can also vote for the installation you liked the most. The voting can be done online or by using the sheet you will find in one of the many mailboxes.

The philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau famously said, “I can only meditate when I am walking. When I stop, I cease to think; my mind works only with my legs”. I can assure you that on this art trail you will stop. But you will not cease to think. You will look, read, and admire the fantastic installations. The walk will take you around 1 to 1,5 hours to complete, depending on your walking pace and how many stops you make to admire and take photos of the art installations.

The trails are fairly flat and can be enjoyed by old and young. There was a little stretch in the woods that was a little muddy when I did the walk. But I do not think it would be too complicated to pass even if you have a baby in a pram with you.

The walk can be done in both directions, and you can start from anywhere along the trail. There are several parking opportunities on both sides if you come by car. If you come by bus the TPG will take you to Ornex-Prenepla or Ornex-Fruitiere on the French side. From the Suisse side, the 52 bus stops in Collex-Centre and Bossy. All bus stops are just a few minutes away from the trail.

To have a pre-peak at the map you can click here.

Enjoy the art and the walk, and feel free to share!

Walks in Geneva

Switzerland: Graffiti and floating water in Richelien (Versoix, Geneva)

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Overview: Easy walk

Time: around 1 hour            Km: 3

Hight to climb: around 20 meters

Some walks are perfect whatever the weather and whatever the season. This short walk that I found in Richelien along the Canal de Versoix in the Geneva canton is just that.

It took me less than an hour but can be made longer or shorter as there are many pathways to explore. The pathways are wide enough for a stroller or a small bike, so this walk will be perfect if you have small children with you. It will also be perfect if the only the time and the only energy you have is for a for a short walk.

When walking on the nicely made pathway with eyes resting on the trees and all the beautiful houses and gardens, it is difficult to imagine the busy life that was once the daily life for people living and having their factories and workshops along the river La Versoix.

The Versoix river was an important source for hydropower for a number of establishments in the mid-1900th century. There was a number of wheat mills, factories for tools and iron cutting and paper mills found along the river. On this gentle stroll I did not see any sings of this industrial heritage. I will come back with a longer walk going more into detail about what traces can still be found from this time period.

How to get there: There is a small parking literally right under the motorway. For exact coordinates see below in the Google map window. If you don’t have a car and still want to explore this walk and the region, the Richelien bus stop is only a few meters away. This stop is on the 55 bus route going to Chavannes-des-Bois, to check the timetable click here for Tpg.

Happy walking, and feel free to share!

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Border crossing (Ornex, Collex-Bossy, Bois Chatton and Ferney-Voltaire)

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Overview: Easy but longer walk

Time: around 2-2,5 hours           Km: 9             Hight to climb: around 50m

Autumn has started in the Pays de Gex. I love this time of year. The cooler temperatures, the warm fall colours. So many beautiful things to see and explore this time of the year.

The walk from Ornex to Collex-Bossy is great all year round (but maybe a little too hot on some days in July or August)

This is a roundtrip walk and your starting point can be from Ornex, Collex-Bossy or Ferney. You will find the map a the end of this post.

Did you know there are more than 200 border stones marking the boundary between France and Switzerland? On this walk you’ll be passing a good few of them.

With all of the the zig-zagging between France and Switzerland, remember to bring your identity papers.

Whenever I cross the fields from Ornex towards Collex-Bossy while enjoying the view towards Mont Blanc, I always think I am so lucky to be able to enjoy a view that so many people dream about seeing just once in their lifetime.

Once you arrive in Collex, you’ll be amazed by the charm these small villages in Switzerland have. Everything is tidy, and I think everyone must be a hobby gardener in their spare time. Compare this to France, where things just seem a bit more, well… unruly. Or maybe it’s just the Swiss mentality shining through.

On this walk, you will be walking past a couple of farm shops which at this time of year have their shelves fully stocked, so do bring some money (cash) and support them by buying some local produce.

Leaving the village towards the roundabout in Collex, keep walking straight until Chemin de Orcy and another sign signalizing that you can buy apples and fresh eggs. Here, turn left.

You will be walking past an apple orchard, with cows grazing quietly in a field. What could possibly be more Swiss? Across the street I spotted horses. I wish I’d known about all of this while my kids were small. How fun would it not be for a 5-year old to pick your own apples?

Continuing, follow the yellow walking signposts and cross over the fields – and a small forest – towards La Vielle Batie. Quickly pass the houses and find the path that goes to Bois Chatton.

At the entrance to Bois Chatton you will soon come across the first border stone, brandishing a “G” on one side (for Geneva) and a Fleur de Lys on the French side.

Do not proceed into the woods (OK, no wolves, but still…) but chose instead the path to the left and you will soon walk past one of the CERN sites. Here, you can make a stop to learn a few things about particle physics. (Yes, it’s educational!)

Soon, you’ll be walking past one border stone after another, keep walking until you reach the wide road (Route de Bois-Chatton).

Cross this road and re-enter the woods. Walk until you see the barrier, then turn left and you’ll find yourself walking back to the fields of Collex.

Follow the edge of the fields until you’re almost back to where you started. Now, cross back into France and walk past the vines. There’s no real path here, so make sure you have the small stream called Le Gobé (whatever that means) to your left when facing Mont Black (I walked on the other side of the stream and ended up crossing a private garden, something I won’t recommend).

After about 100 meters and passing another 3 or 4 border stones, you’ll be back on the path again. You can now choose left or right: both options will take you to the “main” path that goes between Ferney-Voltaire and Collex-Bossy. After descending some stairs, walk to the right and you will soon find the new walk and bicycle path that goes between Ferney-Voltaire and Ornex which will take you back to your starting point.

How to get there:

I parked my car along the Rue des Fins.

You can also easily use public transport no matter where you chose to start from. In Ornex, the nearest bus stop will be Preneplan if you take the F bus. In Ferney-Voltaire, there are different bus stops: the nearest is Ferney-Lycee on the 66 route. For Collex-Bossy, take bus 52 and leave at Bossy.

Happy walking, and feel free to share!

Short, Walks around Pays de Gex

France: Marais de l’Etournel in Pougny

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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!

Walks around Pays de Gex

France: Segny to Veraz – along the Grand Journans

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When you’ve decided to go for a walk in the Jura on a rainy, cold and grey Sunday in late August, and it looks like this up at Col de La Faucille

and you realize yours is the only car in the parking lot, there’s only one thing to do: drive back down and decide to revisit parts of a walk in the lowland that you’ve blogged about earlier from Segny to Chevry. The new itinerary can be found and downloaded at the bottom of this post.

Time: just over 1 hour              Km: 5                      Hight to climb: 61 meters

With today’s view of the Jura and the Alps I should have known better than to drive all the way up there…

Actually, it is very refreshing to be out in the rain and it always makes coming back home so much more of a pleasure.

I stopped in Segny and walked towards Veraz. This time I decided to walk along the Grand Journans river.

When you reach to the bridge, take left instead of continuing directly to Chevry.

Walking along the stream is so calm and peaceful. With newly built houses on both sides I was amazed to realize I was the only one out and about.

When I came to this little bridge…

…I crossed over and walked through the little hamlet of houses with beautiful gardens in Veraz.

After a few meters on Rue des Moraines I turned right, and before I knew it I was on the Sentier des Vignerons. I did not see any signs of grapes or wine but if you are a tall person there are plenty of blackberries to pick if you do this walk at the right time of the year.

Can you see the house?

When you see a narrow path to your left that goes up across the field, choose this as it will take you up to the bigger path called Sentier des Boraz. Follow this path back to your staring point.

Happy walking, and feel free to share!