This itinerary winds its way through the Geneva countryside, past several castles and strongholds on the left bank of Lake Geneva. Between fields and orchards, and picturesque villages, you'll follow part of the signposted route n°171 (SwissMobile).
Departing from the Maison de la Mobilité et du Tourisme (MMT) in Annemasse, ride towards the Étoile-Gare car park, which you need to cycle past to get to Rue des Frères Tassile. Go left at the mini-roundabout. You will pass the Villeventus complex and then get to a roundabout. At the roundabout, turn left, then left again under the arch.
Cross the town centre of Ville-la-Grand with its cobbled streets. Go straight ahead at the crossroads where you’ll see the Clown sculpture. Heading in the direction of the Parc des Écureuils, you will go under another arch before turning left, then right into the Impasse du Stade, where you will take the gravel path.
Follow this track along the Foron River to the end. You’ll see a small road, turn left.
Continue until you join the main road (Route de Juvigny). Turn right, then take the first left on a track (Route de la Louvière). At the end of this track, continue straight on until the crossroads with a fountain, then turn right to join the signposted cycle route (171).
Continue on this route through the Swiss countryside, past castles and strongholds: first of all, you’ll pass the Château du Crest, a 13th century castle that is today a wine estate and B&B, then you’ll pass the ruins of the medieval castle, Château de Rouelbeau. For more information about the castle and its history, see: batie-rouelbeau.ch.
Arriving in Vésenaz, you may want to make a detour to the lake (Pointe-à-la-Bise or Plage de la Savonnière), but beware, there’s an uphill climb on the way back!
Next, take the cycle 171 route again, which will take you past the Château de Vésenaz . Continue on the Chemin des Princes, until the crossroads with the Route de Pressy, where you’ll leave the signposted route and go straight ahead.
Continue straight ahead until Choulex, Chemin de la Gouile-Noire, where you’ll find route 171 again.
Follow route 171 to Présinge. At the crossroads with the fountain you passed on the outward journey, leave the signposted route and turn right (Route des Champs-de-Jus).
Continue along this road to the end, then turn left. At the end of the road, just before the gravel path, get off your bike to take the very small path on the right and cross the small wood (a few metres).
You’ll arrive at the edge of the Route de Juvigny, which you need to cross to get to the hamlet of Marsaz with its Château (caution, busy road, be careful!).
Scan this QR code to follow the route in real time!
Next, head in the direction of the Moulin de Carra, and you will pass in front of the mill. Don’t hesitate to stop and look around the gardens or visit the mill when it’s open.
Continue until you get to the Lycée Saint-François le Juvénat, turn left. Cross the level crossing and turn right onto Rue du Révérend Père Favre.
Follow the road, then turn left into Rue Edouard Thouvenel, then right into Rue de la République, and right again at the roundabout. At the end of this street (just before the entrance to the station car park), turn left onto the bus lane until you reach the Maison de la Mobilité et du Tourisme.
Departing from the Maison de la Mobilité et du Tourisme (MMT) in Annemasse, ride towards the Étoile-Gare car park, which you need to cycle past to get to Rue des Frères Tassile. Go left at the mini-roundabout. You will pass the Villeventus complex and then get to a roundabout. At the roundabout, turn left, then left again under the arch.
Cross the town centre of Ville-la-Grand with its cobbled streets. Go straight ahead at the crossroads where you’ll see the Clown sculpture. Heading in the direction of the Parc des Écureuils, you will go under another arch before turning left, then right into the Impasse du Stade, where you will take the gravel path.
Follow this track along the Foron River to the end. You’ll see a small road, turn left.
Continue until you join the main road (Route de Juvigny). Turn right, then take the first left on a track (Route de la Louvière). At the end of this track, continue straight on until the crossroads with a fountain, then turn right to join the signposted cycle route (171).
Continue on this route through the Swiss countryside, past castles and strongholds: first of all, you’ll pass the Château du Crest, a 13th century castle that is today a wine estate and B&B, then you’ll pass the ruins of the medieval castle, Château de Rouelbeau. For more information about the castle and its history, see: batie-rouelbeau.ch.
Arriving in Vésenaz, you may want to make a detour to the lake (Pointe-à-la-Bise or Plage de la Savonnière), but beware, there’s an uphill climb on the way back!
Next, take the cycle 171 route again, which will take you past the Château de Vésenaz . Continue on the Chemin des Princes, until the crossroads with the Route de Pressy, where you’ll leave the signposted route and go straight ahead.
Continue straight ahead until Choulex, Chemin de la Gouile-Noire, where you’ll find route 171 again.
Follow route 171 to Présinge. At the crossroads with the fountain you passed on the outward journey, leave the signposted route and turn right (Route des Champs-de-Jus).
Continue along this road to the end, then turn left. At the end of the road, just before the gravel path, get off your bike to take the very small path on the right and cross the small wood (a few metres).
You’ll arrive at the edge of the Route de Juvigny, which you need to cross to get to the hamlet of Marsaz with its Château (caution, busy road, be careful!).
Scan this QR code to follow the route in real time!
Next, head in the direction of the Moulin de Carra, and you will pass in front of the mill. Don’t hesitate to stop and look around the gardens or visit the mill when it’s open.
Continue until you get to the Lycée Saint-François le Juvénat, turn left. Cross the level crossing and turn right onto Rue du Révérend Père Favre.
Follow the road, then turn left into Rue Edouard Thouvenel, then right into Rue de la République, and right again at the roundabout. At the end of this street (just before the entrance to the station car park), turn left onto the bus lane until you reach the Maison de la Mobilité et du Tourisme.
Plain text period
All year round daily.Accepted customers
Accepted customers
- Individuals
Points of interest
Points of interest
Points of interest
1Moulin de Carra
The Moulin de Carra mill is a cultural and natural heritage site in Ville-la-Grand. It’s restoration has made it a lively place for meetings, education and raising awareness of sustainable development.<br/>In this green setting on the edge of the Annemasse conurbation and on the border with Geneva, all publics are invited to visit this breathing place.
The Moulin de Carra offers exhibitions, events and activities on the theme of nature, well-being and cultural heritage. The Moulin de Carra is also a leisure center, a shared garden and a landscaped public park.
Together, let's experiment, marvel at nature and discover the richness of our heritage.
It's difficult to date the origins of the old Moulin, located below Carra in the commune of Ville-la-Grand. In the 19th century, it was one of 13 mills on the Foron and one of 200 in the Geneva basin. At that time, nearly 100,000 watermills were generously dispensing abundant, indefinitely renewable energy along France's waterways. Mills played an important economic and social role. They mechanically ensure the manufacture of basic products: grinding flour for bread, extracting oil, whipping cloth, beating iron, grinding gunpowder, chopping paper pulp.
2Parc des Écureuils
This beautiful, recently-built park designed by the architect Biking is located on the Foron’s bank in a natural setting. The centre of its rolling lawns is decorated with a waterfall and water jets.
3Sculpture : Le clown
Monumental sculpture in the town center near the church, built in 1999 by Daniel Chassin in honor of the new century.<br/>A symbol of the town that was the birthplace of the "fédération internationale des boules ferrées". The clown also symbolizes earthly feelings, mixing sadness and gaiety, with make-up that conceals emotions or costumes that convey mordant joy.
