Whether you’re a novice or an experienced cyclist, the region is dotted with numerous paths and greenways. Follow us to (re)discover them, with family or friends, on an electric or muscle bike.
Cycling in Pays de Gex: The Tattes green route
A pedestrian and cycle path, the Tattes green route passes through the hamlet of Moëns. After passing in front of the Galopain farm, this path runs for 3 km in a safe area, which can be used in either direction. From here, you can continue your cycle ride towards the future Ferney-Gex greenway, passing through Maconnex and then the Ornex business park.
Once in Ornex, stop off at la Brasserie Gessienne to recharge your batteries. This traditional brewery offers a wide range of tasting beers, each more refreshing and tasty than the last.
After quenching your thirst, head off to one of the platforms on the Big Bang Passport, a 54 km route around CERN ‘s experiments (best done on a mountain bike). There are 10 stages that explain CERN’s missions and technologies, while activities and a special mission will keep the whole family on their toes.
In summer, the Tattes green route also hosts Art en Campagne, a cross-border countryside exhibition.
If you still have some energy left, you can reach Divonne-les-Bains via Collex in Switzerland. Don’t forget to take your ID with you, as well as your water bottle!
The Gex-Grilly-Divonne route
Another idea for a great cycle ride in the Pays de Gex is the Gex-Grilly-Divonne greenway, built on the old railway line. A very pleasant route, it starts next to Gex station and runs through Grilly to Divonne-les-Bains. The 20.5km route links the capital of the Pays de Gex with the spa town, and features a variety of surfaces and widths.
In Grilly, if you feel like it, take a break at the Michelin cheese dairy (you’ll see there’s a small passageway to get there). Here, you can choose from 350 varieties of cheese and even take a well-deserved lunch break at the Bergers restaurant, located in the heart of the cheese dairy. These cheese specialities will give you all the energy you need to continue on your way to Lake Divonne. If you’re feeling more sporty, continue your cycle tour with the Tour du Léman via the Ain loop. This 18km cycle route offers splendid views of the Alps.
Many municipalities, including Ferney-Voltaire, Prévessin-Moëns, Thoiry, Saint-Genis-Pouilly and Péron, have also built (and continue to build) cycle paths and lanes along their roads. So it’s easy to cycle safely and join other white paths.
Two essential cycle routes in Pays de Gex
Did you know that Pays de Gex is a great cycling area? Two major routes pass through or near the area: the ViaRhôna and the Grande Traversée du Jura (GTJ).
The first of these passes just 6 kilometres from the destination in Gascony and links the shores of Lake Geneva to the beaches of the Mediterranean over a distance of 815km. Crossing emblematic landscapes, it can be completed in a fortnight. You can, of course, decide to do just a few short sections.
The second route runs from Montbéliard to Culoz and takes in all the magnificent scenery of the Jura Massif and the Valserine Valley. You can stop off at Morteau, home of the famous sausage, Lélex, Lake Saint-Point, or even climb the legendary Grand Colombier (if you’re really good at cycling!).
These two renowned cycle routes have enabled the Tourist Office to label establishments as “ Accueil Vélo“, a national label that guarantees cyclists all the services they need. So, are you ready for some unforgettable cycling in the Pays de Gex?
Other routes in the region
There’s no shortage of cycle paths in the Pays de Gex! In addition to all the itineraries we’ve already suggested, the more sporty among you can also cycle the ten kilometres or so that separate Gex from the legendary Col de la Faucille, crossed several times by the Tour de France, thanks to the boundary pass.
This 654m ascent is in the 2nd category of the Tour de France’s Grand Prix de la Montagne. Once you’ve reached the top, you’ll have a magnificent view of the Alps, including the legendary Mont Blanc.
Another trail, another landscape: the Ain cycling loops, which take you through the Pays de Gex on a variety of cycle routes.
And if you’re really into cycling, here’s some news that should make you happy: every year, Pays de Gex also hosts a stage of the Tour de l’Ain cycliste! Spread over 3 days, with 400km of trails and 6,000m of ascent, the race starts at Plaine Tonique and finishes in Lélex. If you’re in the Pays de Gex at the end of July or beginning of August, you can go and cheer on the riders!
So now you’ve got plenty to do when it comes to cycling in Pays de Gex. All that’s left to do is get on your bike and hit the cycle paths!
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