Dominating Geneva and Lake Geneva, the Salève offers a pleasant walk along a very good tourist route, which crosses the entire ridge and offers some of the finest panoramic views in the region.
Leave Annemasse towards Saint-Julien-en-Genevois, via the Étrembières bridge, then towards Reignier and follow Monnetier Mornex.
Monnetier Mornex (8 km): traditional tourist village between the Petit and Grand Salève, set in a rocky fault.
Le téléphérique du Salève (13 km): upper station, panoramic view, children's garden, botanical area, departure point for hiking trails.
Les treize arbres (14 km): panoramic view, nature walk.
L'Observatoire and surroundings (15 km): restaurant, panoramic view, paragliding runway a 5-minute walk away, Buddhist temple and orientation table.
La grande gorge (16 km): panoramic view of the Jura chain, the lower Arve valley and Geneva.
La route des Trois Lacs and les rochers de Faverges (17 km): magnificent views of Mont-Blanc (4807 m), the Alps and the middle Arve valley.
La Croisette (18 km): small, welcoming village with characteristic mountain inns, beautiful view of Mont-Blanc. Very sunny in winter, even in the foggy plain.
2 options:
- 1. Shorter loop, down to Annemasse via La Muraz then Monnetier-Mornex, on a winding road through alpine pastures with traditional hamlets inhabited by the farmers who farm them.
Return to Annemasse (total approx. 37 km)
- 2. a longer loop that takes in the full length of the Salève via the road to Cruseilles, through forests and alpine pastures. Numerous viewpoints: Lac Léman, Mont Blanc, Lac d'Annecy.
Le Grand Piton (23 km): the highest point of the Salève massif, at 1380 m, the Tour du Piton is a typical Salève panorama, accessible only on foot in around 15 minutes.
La grotte du diable (24 km): accessible on foot from the Tour du Piton parking lot (cross the road) or park at the old mountain inn in the forest. Beautiful views of the Aravis chain and the Bornes plateau, forest walks.
Cruseilles (34 km): village on the R.N. 201 Annecy-Geneva, old quarter (Le Corbet) with old houses, church with a superb bulbous bell tower in the Savoyard tradition.
Return to Annemasse: over the Col du Mont Sion (786 m), with views of Geneva and the Jura chain, along the foot of the Salève via Collonges-sous-Salève.
Total approx. 65 km
Leave Annemasse towards Saint-Julien-en-Genevois, via the Étrembières bridge, then towards Reignier and follow Monnetier Mornex.
Monnetier Mornex (8 km): traditional tourist village between the Petit and Grand Salève, set in a rocky fault.
Le téléphérique du Salève (13 km): upper station, panoramic view, children's garden, botanical area, departure point for hiking trails.
Les treize arbres (14 km): panoramic view, nature walk.
L'Observatoire and surroundings (15 km): restaurant, panoramic view, paragliding runway a 5-minute walk away, Buddhist temple and orientation table.
La grande gorge (16 km): panoramic view of the Jura chain, the lower Arve valley and Geneva.
La route des Trois Lacs and les rochers de Faverges (17 km): magnificent views of Mont-Blanc (4807 m), the Alps and the middle Arve valley.
La Croisette (18 km): small, welcoming village with characteristic mountain inns, beautiful view of Mont-Blanc. Very sunny in winter, even in the foggy plain.
2 options:
- 1. Shorter loop, down to Annemasse via La Muraz then Monnetier-Mornex, on a winding road through alpine pastures with traditional hamlets inhabited by the farmers who farm them.
Return to Annemasse (total approx. 37 km)
- 2. a longer loop that takes in the full length of the Salève via the road to Cruseilles, through forests and alpine pastures. Numerous viewpoints: Lac Léman, Mont Blanc, Lac d'Annecy.
Le Grand Piton (23 km): the highest point of the Salève massif, at 1380 m, the Tour du Piton is a typical Salève panorama, accessible only on foot in around 15 minutes.
La grotte du diable (24 km): accessible on foot from the Tour du Piton parking lot (cross the road) or park at the old mountain inn in the forest. Beautiful views of the Aravis chain and the Bornes plateau, forest walks.
Cruseilles (34 km): village on the R.N. 201 Annecy-Geneva, old quarter (Le Corbet) with old houses, church with a superb bulbous bell tower in the Savoyard tradition.
Return to Annemasse: over the Col du Mont Sion (786 m), with views of Geneva and the Jura chain, along the foot of the Salève via Collonges-sous-Salève.
Total approx. 65 km
Plain text period
From 01/01 to 31/12 daily.In winter the Col de la Croisette is closed.
Accepted customers
Accepted customers
- Individuals
Points of interest
Points of interest
Points of interest
1Viewpoint: L'Observatoire
Above the plain of the Genevois, an impressive view of Geneva harbour and its Jet d'Eau. The Jura in front of you.
2L'Observatoire
At the summit of Mount Salève, the Observatoire offers you a traditional, simple but generous cuisine. Relax over a cup of real hot chocolate, just like you can at grandma's<br/>At the summit of Mount Salève and twenty minutes' walk from the cable car station, you will find what you need to quench your thirst and satisfy your hunger. In the sunshine or curled up on a sofa, you are guaranteed a relaxing time. And especially look out over the 360-degree view of our beautiful region.... Not to be missed!
3Shedrub Choekhor Ling Buddhist Temple
Located on Mont Salève in Haute-Savoie, near Geneva, the Shedrub Choekhor Ling Buddhist monastery opened its doors in September 2010 and was inaugurated by the XIVth Dalai Lama on August 12, 2011. Open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday.<br/>The name given to it means ‘The Garden of the Wheel of the Dharma for Teaching and Practice’.
4Viewpoint: Le grand Piton
Le Grand Piton is the highest point of Le Salève offering a view mainly focused on the Genevois region and Jura.<br/>The tower was built between 1820 and 1830 by Claude-François Bastian, a wealthy notary and mayor of Frangy. Prior to the construction of this tower, this small plateau on the edge of the cliff, which features some of the Salève's finest lapiaz, was home to a 14th-century lookout post.
At the foot of the tower to the north-east, you can enjoy finding a cartouche engraved on the limestone with the names of Lord Byron and Lamartine.
Also on this site is Rocher de la Sorcière, a large limestone boulder popular with climbers, whose shape evokes a stern-looking old woman.
5Le Grand Parc d'Andilly
France's 8th largest theme park, the Grand Parc d'Andilly welcomes you with its four universes that punctuate the year.<br/>Discover the different worlds of the Grand Parc d'Andilly, designed and run by the Petit Pays association.
- Les Grandes Médiévales d'Andilly, a 5-day festival in the heart of the Middle Ages in spring.
- The Grand Parc d'Andilly in summer
- Le Hameau du Père Noël open from spring to early winter.
-Le Grand Parc in winter
6Le Hameau du Père Noël
All year round, discover the home of Santa Claus and his elves, Mother Christmas and the Attic with its sandman. A marvellous world offering a variety of activities depending on the season, but always at the heart of the magic of Christmas.<br/>It's in the Savoy region of France that Santa Claus has made his home, and opens the doors of his dwelling to you. You'll plunge into his daily life as you visit his workshop, his kitchen, his bedroom... all places that have been kept secret until now, and which will be revealed before your very eyes...
A little further on, push open the door of the Maison des Mères Noël to discover their very feminine world. They'll then invite you to come and listen to one of their wonderful stories by the fire in the storytelling house in the garden.
Finally, the Marchand de Sable, guardian of the splendid attic, will encourage children who are old enough to give up their pacifier forever by placing it on the giant luminous Christmas tree.
To prolong the magic a little longer, the crêperie and souvenir store await you.
Open at different times of the year, don't hesitate to check the opening times and seasonal activities. Santa Claus, Mothers Claus and the Sandman will be there every time you visit, to meet you and tell you their many anecdotes.
7Maison du Salève
The Maison du Salève is a lively, friendly place where you can discover the history and heritage of the Salève massif through exhibitions, workshops, guided tours, discovery trails, conferences and even anniversaries.<br/>Located in the countryside at Présilly, Maison du Salève offers unusual activities connected to its exhibitions, including guided tours, workshops, lectures and nature trails. Walks suitable for people of all ages start from the Maison, including the ‘In the footsteps of the Carthusians’ discovery trail, the pilgrim route to Santiago da Compostela, and the Chemin des Convers, which takes you to summit of the Salève.
The Maison du Salève’s eco-boutique features local artisans, food producers and writers.
