Tag Archives: Switzerland

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: Museum to Museum in Geneva, Switzerland

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Museum to Museum, a different Sunday walk in Geneva

On those days where you don’t want to travel very far, a walk around the city can be a good way of getting some fresh air and exercise. To add in a history lesson or two is just a bonus.

I came across the Geneva Culture Trails last year when I picked up a leaflet just before the pandemic closed our borders between France and Switzerland. Since Geneva was out of limit for those of us living on the French side, I forgot about it, but still kept the leaflet because I still hoped to use it one day.

The Canton of Geneva has done a really good job mixing walking with culture and history. There are several trails available to download or you can pick up their respective leaflets in many local museums. The best part is that you can also install an app on your phone that will explain the sights you pass on your walk in English. You can find and download the app by searching for Geneva Cultural Trails in your preferred app store. Each audio explanation of the different sights that you walk past is two to three minutes long. Listening to these on your phone while you observe whatever is being explained with your own eyes makes the whole experience interactive, fun and educational.

The different walks take you around the United Nations area, the old town, and Plainpalais. On my first Geneva Museum to Museum walk I decided to try out the walk that explore the Plainpalais area.

I have been to the Parc de Bastion several times, and it is the starting point of this particular walk. Using the app with explanations in English made me see the Geneva Library and the Reformation wall  with fresh eyes, and it was almost like exploring them for the first time. Even for people living in and around Geneva and knowing the history of the city it must be nice to have a little history lesson every now and again.

The walks also take you to some of the more hidden parts of Geneva – or at least they were for me. As an example, I did not know about Cimentiere des Rois, which is Genevas answer to the famous burial place Pantheon in Paris. Contrary to Pantheon, the Cimentiere des Rois is outdoors, which make each visit special depending on the weather, season and light. I had to ask my son who has been exploring Geneva with his friends for years if he knew and had visited this extraordinary place. He had not, so I assume this is a hidden treasure a little outside of the more known tourist areas.

Along the way was a museum I had no idea existed, The Museum of the Fire and Rescue Service. I wish I had known about this when my son was younger. Along with the Natural History Museum, I’m sure this would have been a favourite.  My son is a young adult know, but as a good mum I will take him with me to explore this Museum next time he comes home. It is never too late to bring your kids to a museum!

The walk along the Rhone was so nice on this sunny Sunday, so I deviated from the marked trail on the map. I walked all the way to La Pointe de la Jonction. Seeing the different colours of the River Rhone and the River Arve is extraordinary. The best spot for seeing the colour differences in the rivers merging at Jonction is the big bridge that you see in front of you.

For those old and young with an interest in trams and buses, you will find the Transport de Geneve (TPG) depot interesting. You won’t be allowed to enter, but you can walk past the huge garages they have for trams and buses and peek at them through the windows.

Just around the corner is the Usine Kugler, which is an old faucet foundry turned into a Gallery for visual arts. Since the opening in 2011 over 400 artists have had this old faucet foundry as their workplace. Usine Kugler is the place to look for art exhibitions, festivals and workshops for both children and adults, especially when Covid is over, and we get back to a normal way of life.

Back on the marked trail all museums are open, but there is a limit on the number of people allowed inside, so for the moment be prepared to line up, be patient, and keep your distance to people that are not part of your cohort.

The market stalls selling food and clothes on Sundays were still in action at Planpalais, but maybe not in the same numbers as would be normally.

Enjoy exploring Geneva!

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!