In the Pays de Gex-Monts Jura region, there’s no shortage of ideas and discoveries! We’re sharing our favourites and good ideas for the spring holidays!
Do you enjoy walking in the countryside?
Here are a few suggestions just for you.
On the southern side of the Pays de Gex, head for the Marais de l’Etournel in Pougny, to admire the birds that like to stop off here – there’s even an observatory so you don’t disturb them. This sensitive natural area is a calm and relaxing place along the ponds.
Fancy a walk on the plain with a view of Mont Blanc? Well, here are two suggestions: Mont Mourex in Grilly (2 hours) and the Riantmont chapel in Vesancy (40 minutes round trip from the village). Your children will be revising their geography without even knowing it, thanks to the orientation tables!
Some might say that we’re only talking about Mont Blanc (it’s not our fault that we have one of the most beautiful panoramas in Europe 😊 ), so here’s a walk that offers a great view of the Jura. Le Creux de l’Envers is a 2h30 hike accessible from the top of Gex. It is very pleasant and offers different landscapes: forest path, undergrowth, waterfall, all in a nature reserve (please respect the regulations).
A number of communes also offer family walks along specially developed paths: Ferney-Voltaire, Challex, Ornex, Mijoux, Prévessin-Moëns…
Discover all the walks
Explore our landscapes, stroll through our villages… The charm often works where you least expect it.
A place for bike fans
For budding cyclists, take the Big Bang Passport, a 54km Franco-Swiss route that takes you to the heart of CERN’s experiments. At the 10 platforms along the route, you can solve riddles together as a family. Don’t want to do the whole loop? You can! The map will show you loops of just a few kilometres. And since you’ll sometimes have to cross the border, don’t forget to take your identity card with you.
Greenways are on the increase in Pays de Gex! Even if they’re not yet connected, they’re still a great way to go for a safe walk. Try the Gex-Grilly-Divonne greenway, which starts not far from the old railway station (now a restaurant), on the rehabilitated railway line. It takes you as far as the spa town of Divonne-les-Bains. Our advice is to stop off at the Bergers restaurant for cheese specialities at lunchtime, or for a sweet break in the afternoon.
Why not try your hand at fishing at the Etang de Cessy? As well as taking a leisurely stroll around the lake, you can also tease the fish! All you need to do is buy a fishing permit (€10 or €20) from the Tourist Office (Gex branch), pick up your rod and off you go for a lovely day by the water.
The great thing about Pays de Gex-Monts Jura is that there’s so much to do here. After a short tour of the countryside, it’s time to explore the region’s heritage.
And for food lovers
Let’s start with our gastronomic heritage. We don’t need to introduce you to the local jewel: Bleu de Gex, the blue-veined cheese produced in Chézery-Forens, which you eat with a slice of good bread or in a delicious gexiflette! What’s less well known is that many producers are based in the Pays de Gex and offer a wide range of local products: milk, yoghurts, butter, goat’s cheese, organic beers, organic wines, oil, flour, liqueurs, chocolates, jams, vegetables and meat… You can prepare 100% local meals for yourself and your children! Oh, you haven’t been offered dessert? Go to a bakery and buy the traditional papette, made with flan on a brioche pastry, a pure delight. Drop in at the Tourist Office and they’ll tell you where to find the best 😊
And heritage enthusiasts
Welcome to the home of the most famous philosopher of the Enlightenment! Voltaire lived for almost 20 years in his château in Ferney, which was completely restored in 2018. Whether you choose a self-guided or guided tour, the choice is yours. You won’t be disappointed by your trip back to the 18th century! In Ferney-Voltaire, you can also discover the town shaped by the Patriarch between 1758 and 1778 thanks to the discovery rally “Voltaire with Plumette” prepared by the Tourist Office, and downloadable in paper or digital version. You can also explore the towns and villages of the Pays de Gex with our other rallies.
To round off the holidays, there’s nothing like a good cinema session. There are plenty of cinemas in the Pays de Gex.
Any last words of advice?
Check out the online diary to make sure you don’t miss any of the exhibitions and events taking place at this iconic venue.
Thematics
