Tag Archives: river

Walks around Pays de Gex

France: Discovering Bois Chatton

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Features: Forest – horses – 1970’s architecture

Overview: Accessible for all

Time: around 1 hours    Km: 3,5 km

Description: This is the perfect walk to do with small children, because it is not too long and there is enough to see and explore to keep them entertained.

I parked my car at the entrance of the quartier near the school. See map below if you do not know the area very well.

The residential area of Bois Chatton was built in 1973 and it consist of 225 houses.  If you look closely, all the houses must have looked more or less identical when new, but the residents have individualized them over the years.  It is actually a very charming residential area built like a labyrinth with a communal area/playground in the middle.

The entrance to the forest is where Rue Turet and rue Versoix meet.

Follow the trail into the forest until you come to a crossing with a wide path, then take left.  Follow this path across the fields until you come to a new crossing and spot the sign that says Chemin Battoir.

You will now walk along a small stream, La Lillette, where you can see the horses from Bellevue stables. There are benches and picnic tables along this path, so why not bring your lunch or snack and enjoy an outdoors meal?

Next to the stable, there’s even a skate park.

Follow the path back to the entrance to the residence, where you started the walk.

Happy walking, and feel free to share!

Walks around Pays de Gex

France: Promenade des Tattes – Prevessin and Ornex

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Features: River – Views – Birds- Trees – Animals

Overview: Accessible for all

Time: around 1-hour      Km: 4,8

Description: The best starting point for this walk if you come by car is the big car park in front of the Gaston Laverriere sports complex.

Next to the car park there is a playground, a small skate park and also various possibilities for ball games (basketball, football and volleyball).

You will find a walking path that starts between the buildings to your left when standing in front of the Gaston Laverriere building.

After passing the buildings take right on Chemin des Tattes. After around 500 meters you’ll come to a crossing and because this is a circular walk you can choose to go left or right.

I normally start off to the left and has done so for this description. The left side will take you across the fields along the stream of Le Lion and you will find benches to sit down and rest if you need.

You will have the views of the Jura mountains on one side and the Alps on your other side.

After around 1,8 km you will arrive at a residential area. At the crossing, keep right.  You will soon be passing the two tennis courts and a small playground.

Keep going straight on. When you reach the crossing with the possibility to take left to Ornex, you should stop to take a look at the Marais de Bois de Vessy. Here, the commune of Ornex has installed ponds for birds. Because of the large number of insects found around these types of ponds, many species of birds seek out these areas to find food. These ponds also provide an important source of drinking water for the birds. You will find observation platforms allowing you to get a better view of the animal life in and around the ponds. 

When you’ve finished your bird watching, return back on the walking route towards Prevessin. Very shortly, you’ll reach the BMX and street work-out park.  Turn right after the BMX park and continue straight on until you find yourself back at the starting point for this walk.

Happy walking!

Walks around Pays de Gex

France: From Vesegnin to Pregnin – along Le Lion (river)

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Features: River – Views – Birds- Threes – Animals

Overview: Accessible for all

Time: around 1,5 – 2hours          Km: 8,2

Description:  I started this walk from the small car park in the centre of Vesegnin, next to the Domaine de la Boissière. You can find the exact starting point on the map further down if you don’t know the area. Further away, next to the elementary school of Grand Chènes, there’s a bigger car park and also a play area for those kids who still have some energy left to burn after the walk.

Starting from the Vesegnin car park, you walk along Route de Vesegnin through the small hamlet of buildings. After about 500 meters, take left onto Promenade de la Manchette.

Continue straight on. After another 500 meters, take left and follow the promenade de la Manchette. Keep walking straight on, after yet another 500 meters you again keep to the left and walk through a small barrier and continue straight on. 

Now, walk until you see a bridge on your left side. Cross the bridge and you will see a small pathway that takes you along the river Le lion. In the springtime when there is plenty of water you may come across one or two people fishing.

If you are the proud owner of a fishing rod and would like to try catching a nice trout or two, don’t forget to buy the fishing licence before you start fishing. You can get this at the tourist information. Fun fact: women pay less for these licences in France, as a way to promote fishing as a less gender-specific activity!

Walking along Le Lion is peaceful, and you won’t meet a lot of people. In the springtime, you will be sure to smell the wild garlic that grows here in large quantities.

If you pay attention to the river you will also see the point where the rivers Le Lion and Le Grand Journans meet.

Where the pathway joins the road, continue to the right, and soon you will be walking past a small farm with chickens, horses and cows.

Continue along this road until you reach a roundabout. Here, keep right and walk on the Vie Detraz through another roundabout. When you reach the third roundabout, take right and you’ll soon be on the carriage road again.

When you are back at the bridge where you found the pathway, you now take left and continue back to Vesegnin.

Happy walking!

Walks around Pays de Gex

France: Promenade des Berges du Journans – from Gex to Cessy

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Features: River – Views – Birds- Threes – Playground- Skate park

Overview: Accessible for all

Time: around 1-hour      Km: 3,9

Description:  Start from the centre in Gex and walk down Avenue Francis Blanchard until you see the the entrance to the park Promenade des Berges du Journans. 

You will enter by walking own a flight of stairs where you have can look at the backside of the houses that used to be on the main street. The waterfall, the river, the threes and birdsong will give you the feeling of being out in the forest even if you are surrounded by houses and apartments. Choose you path and follow the river down towards Cessy.  You will find several benches and there are many picnic  tables available.

When you have crossed Chemin de la Poudriere you will find a nice and new playground and also one of the best skateparks in the area. Here you will also find the restaurant Mamma Mia that serves Italian food as well as ice-creams and refreshments.

In this part of the park you can also find a fitness trail.

The park ends when you come to Route the Mury and you have to turn around and walk back with the beautiful view on the Jura mountains ahead of you.

If you visit in the spring the you will be sure to smell the wild garlic!

Gex is the administrative center in the Pays the Gex and offers a variety of shops and restaurants and coffee places. If you have time, I recommend a walk around the streets in the town center.

Happy walking!