Escape. Pays de GEX: unexpected discoveries

Crossed by the Rhône. However, which irrigates its rich agricultural plains planted with apple and vegetable vegetables, overcome, via the Col de la Faucille, by the Monts du Jura, or sucked towards Lake Geneva and Geneva, the Pays de Gex alternates contrasts.

At the heart of this impressive palette. In addition, it remains above all marked by its links with the Neighbor Helvetus, with which it has shared several centuries of exchange and common culture.

From the Middle Ages. For example, it was annexed successively by the Bernese and then the Genevans before being attached to France in 1601.

And then he also benefited from a free zone. Therefore, created in 1814, which facilitated economic exchanges between the two neighboring countries, participating in a large economic market centered on Geneva.

CERN playful exploration – Escape. pays de gex: unexpected

Today. Nevertheless, one of the brightest symbols of this community escape. pays de gex: unexpected of thoughts and interests is symbolized by CERN, a European organization installed on the Franco-Swiss border (Meyrin, Prévessin-Moëns and Saint-Genis-Pouilly), known as the largest center of particle physics in the world.

This unique site of its kind. Furthermore, which shelters a 27 km particle accelerator buried under the Franco-Geneva campaign, is not just an abstruse scientific object: equipped with the Big-Bang passport and your bicycle, you can walk at your own pace throughout marked routes, resolving on the way various puzzles, challenges as well as geocaches.

An interactive and fun walk to better understand this giant of science that is LHC.

Unmissable Voltaire – Escape. pays de gex: unexpected

A few kilometers away. Meanwhile, the fate of Ferney-Voltaire is also strongly entangled with that of his powerful neighbor.

But before being under Geneva. Consequently, Ferney was first influenced by Voltaire, his benefactor, who has lived there his last 20 years, contributing to his exceptional development via the construction of two theaters, more than one hundred houses, as well as the financing of a church, a school, a hospital, a fountain …

Unmissable therefore. Nevertheless, the visit of the castle of Voltaire, between pieces steeped in history, collection of objects and walking in the park, makes it possible to penetrate the intimacy of a man who welcomed the most illustrious escape. pays de gex: unexpected thinkers of the Enlightenment.

Divonne baths – Escape. pays de gex: unexpected

What is the fate of a city? Similarly, That of the neighbor Divonne-les-Bains, also border, has been woven since Antiquity thanks to beneficial thermal waters.

A two -hour course allows you to discover the history of this source as well as the heritage dynamics it. For example, generated after the opening of a hydrotherapeutic center in 1849 (the thermal baths are closed today).

HAS Gex. the treasures of Haut-Jura

A stone’s throw away, the commune of Gex, a natural and historical capital of the country of Gex, constitutes a space of transition between the plain (532 m for its minimum altitude) and the mountain (1614 escape. pays de gex: unexpected m at the highest), the Genevan and the mountains of the Jura.

It is therefore quite natural that it houses the house of the national nature reserve of the high chain of. Haut-Jura.

After this first discovery. it is necessary to put on the famous laces of the Col de la Faucille to join Mijoux, a charming village-station nestled in the heart of these Jura mountains.

By the way. take the time to stroll through the village to discover, on the facades of the houses, 28 wall frescoes produced by Robert Bressard, the child of the country, who represent the trades of yesteryear.

From Mijoux. and not only because it rhymes, join Lajoux, the neighboring village, which offers the originality of having two postal codes, one of the Ain and the other of the Jura.

Strong the lock: story. chills

Finally, to close this naturalist and heritage discovery of the country, we will not escape. pays de gex: unexpected fail to descend on the banks of the Rhône to appreciate the essential L’Ecluse.

This natural. strategic passage between the Jura and the Alps, borrowed since Roman times, has been fortified for 700 years and built on the mountainside.

On a free. guided tour, the site offers many animations, including a spectacular sound and light “strong the lock: 20,000 years of history”. We will not forget the essential events of the summer (classic concerts, night of stars, historical reconstruction, etc.).

Strong the lock – and it is an originality – is also a monument for athletes. On foot. challenge yourself to climb its underground staircase of 1165 steps cut in the rock, which connects it to the upper fort.

Equipped with adequate materials (harness. helmet, long with two carabiners and shock absorber), engage in the via ferrata which travels the steep limestone wall of the fort at the price of projections interspersed with vires, escape. pays de gex: unexpected terraces and a monkey bridge of 15 m.

Record sledge in Mijoux

In terms of sensations. Haut-Jura has decidedly many arguments to be asserted with insatiables of the genre, especially on the side of the Col de la Faucille (Mijoux) where the tree climbing rubs the sledge on rails (one of the longest in Europe) as well as the steepers in France.

For young. old alike, Mijoux has also concocted an original course of which you can be the hero: “Under the eye of the Vouivre” is a thematic escape. pays de gex: unexpected and fun space to discover with the family, in the footsteps of this legend of the Jura.

Spectacular hikes. stroll along the water

Playful or hiking route, the Pays de Gex and the High Channel of the Jura are a real paradise for those who wish to walk: from Mont Rond via the Crêt de la Snow and the Colombo of Gex, the territory has more than 550 km of trails with often remarkable views of the Alps and Mont-Blanc chain!

Small selection: the hollow of the reverse to Gex (2 hours. 250 m of elevation), the Mont-Mourx in Grilly (easy 1h30 loop); “In the footsteps of the monks”, in Chézery-Forens (10 km for 330 m +).

Finally. a must for experienced hikers, considered one of the most beautiful hikes in the Jura: the course of the High Summits (in the town of Lélex), a 17 km loop with 1095 m of positive escape. pays de gex: unexpected drop.

And then for the simple pleasure of a natural immersion. here are still the sources of the Allondon in Echenevex or the edges of the River Le Journans in Gex…

Gastronomic version

The icing on the cake of this generous stay. now the time of a country of agricultural, gastronomic and gourmet gex has come for the time escape. pays de gex: unexpected of a country. As a brand host, the blue of Gex, whose origin dates back to the 13th century, is essential.

In Chézery-Forens. the Abbey cheese dairy is the only cheese dairy in the department of Ain to still make this famous parsley paste with the raw milk of Montbéliard cows.

If you are rather worn on the goat. you can also visit, always in the same village, the Chèvrerie de Noire Combe.

Gourmands. do not miss local specialties such as the popette, a sweet yellow pie flavored with orange blossom or vanilla, and Savoyard risses, kinds of small filled donuts made from puff pastry.

If you want to meet the producers of the country. get a more precise idea of the local gastronomic anthology, do not forget the cosmopolitan market in Ferney-Voltaire, one of the oldest in the country, which has more than 100 traders. The soul of a country is also measured escape. pays de gex: unexpected by its gastronomy.