But after all, in the Pays de Gex – Monts Jura, there are plenty of activities you can enjoy without skiing! Ready to discover them?
It’s raining, shepherdess, great visits!
Our museums and places of interest welcome you, come wind or shine.
Voltaire’s château, open all year round, is the place to be. The famous philosopher lived here for 20 years and left us a unique residence that you absolutely must visit. The big plus: the magnificent gardens give you a great view of Mont Blanc if it decides to show itself!
For us, craftsmanship is sacred, and what’s more, it can be visited:
- The Trabbia Vuillermoz Museum, the last stonemason in the Valserine valley, invites you to discover the trade and stones from all over the world! A guaranteed trip without taking the plane!
- The l’Abbaye cheese dairy, one of the last 3 producers of our famous cheese, Bleu de Gex, will be opening its doors at 8.30 a.m. so you can admire the different stages in the making of this emblematic cheese. Don’t forget to take your piece home with you!
- The Ferrone soap factory welcomes you by appointment (from January) to show you how cold-saponified soaps made with essential oils are made. You’ll love the smell of the workshop!
- The Anvi glass workshop is run by two enthusiasts, Anne and Vincent, who will be delighted to show you around their magical workspace.
And finally, you can always relax in the cinema thanks to our two cinemas: the Voltaire cinema in Ferney-Voltaire and the Patio cinema in Gex. There’s no Avatar on at the moment?
How about a shot of adrenalin?
This winter, we’ve got two new attractions for you to enjoy! Drum roll… Our summer toboggan is transformed into a 4-season toboggan to send you spinning at top speed! At the Col de la Faucille, it’s open every day from 10am to 4pm during the school holidays, then on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
And now you’re ready to take off! The steepest zip line in France awaits you for a descent at over 70km/h with the Valserine valley as your backdrop. Also on the Col de la Faucille, you can combine it with tobogganing. They have the same opening times. What’s more, you can book online. Find out more here.
There’s no season for speed enthusiasts! Be fast and curious in the Pays de Gex – Monts Jura.
Cap and sun cream to make the most of the outdoors
We look at the weather forecast and it’s looking fine! So we bundle up and head outside to enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities. The first, and probably the most classic, is hiking. With over 500 km of signposted trails, there’s plenty of opportunity to get some fresh air between the mountains and the plains. Which hike will you choose? A hike in the forest or one on the ridges? We’ll let you discover them all here and decide for yourself. That is, if you can manage it.
You can also take advantage of the expertise of our mountain guides to discover the nature of the Pays de Gex and its Monts Jura resort. They offer half-day, full-day and evening outings.
For the occasional hiker, you can take the cable cars up to the destination’s most remarkable viewpoints overlooking Mont Blanc. And since the view makes you hungry (didn’t you know?!), we suggest you extend the experience with a meal in one of the high-altitude restaurants?
If you’re more interested in Sunday strolls, we’ve got some gentle, historical walks for you: discovery rallies. At your own pace, discover the heritage of our towns and villages through riddles and amusing questions such as “what does this phrase mean in Gessian dialect: rapercher les grolles et leurs mojons?” mean? We’ll let you find the answer by taking part in our rallies.
An alternative to walking is mountain biking! Enjoy the beauty of the Pays de Gex on a mountain bike, a fun and effortless option. Our sports shops can hire you all the equipment you need to enjoy this gentle form of mobility. Now isn’t that freedom?
And why not let yourself be tempted by an original activity such as a horse-drawn carriage ride or a cani-biathlon? Have you heard of it? Next to the 40-dog paddock, you’ll learn to hit a small target 5 m away using a laser rifle. No risk, but lots of fun! Try it out!
And to round off the outdoor activities, paragliding is also on offer in these mild temperatures. In a two-seater, soar above the clouds and gaze at Mont Blanc.
Family party
Are you coming with your family and looking for specific activities?
We suggest you stop off at the Cessy leisure games centre. Over 1200m2, your little family will have access to bowling lanes and an arcade and virtual reality games room.
And to finish off our round-up of snow-free activities, you can consult our online diary if you fancy a little outing!
At the end of the day, you’ll be enjoying the mountains in a different way this year, but with a breath of fresh air. Just what you were looking for when you came here! And who knows… you might even want to come back this summer!
Thematics
