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 Starting point :
The Col de Joux plane
Ascent time :
45 minutes
Descent time :
30 minutes
Departure Altitude :
1691 m
Maximum altitude :
1770 m
Altitude difference : 79 m
Difficulty : easy
Path marking : yes
Type of terrain : Alpine paths
Recommended period :from june until the first snows (cross country area in winter)
City: Samoëns
From the first car park on arriving at the summit of the Col, take the right-hand track immediately after the Col de Joux Plane sign. After a short uphill stretch trough the pastures, the tracks turns right and goes through a forest of alders (which colonise the land as soon as farming activity diminishes).
The path soon brings you to a wide plateau: the Plan des Vacherets, from where there is an exceptional panorama over almost all the Mont Blanc Massif. In the past, cows were taken to the plateau on 15 august to fight. A the end of these combats, which only rarely caused serious injuries, the victorious cow was "enthroned" as queen of the herd. This tradition continues and combats between queens are organised every year. Farmers raise a few Herens cows, black, stocky and armed with big hrnsn especially for this purpose.
The path continues above the Chalets of Mappelet and after a short uphill stretch, arrives at the Croix of Mappelet and the triangulation point marking the summit of the Bourgoise. From this viewpoint you will see the Haut Giffre Valley, bright, green and dominated by the snow-capped summits of the Haut Giffre and Mont Blanc.
This is also the launching point for paragliders when there's a southerly wind.
You can return the same way, or from the Chalets of Mapellet: follow the stone track which descends towards the road. You can follow this to the car park.
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WALK-THE CHAPEL OF JACQUICOURT |
THE CHAPEL OF JACQUICOURT
Starting point: The center of the Verchaix Village Ascent Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Duration: 2 hours
Descent time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Departure altitude: 940metres
Maximum Altitude: 1610 meters
Altitude difference: 670 meters
Difficult: Rather
Difficult Path Marking:Yes
Type of terrain: paths and forest tracks
Recommended period: from june to first snows
Commune: Verchaix The remarkable plateau of Loex is protected by biotopic bylaw covering 400 hectares.
This byelaw is to protect vegetable and animal species in the massif, such as the sundew and the large black old world grouse. The sundew is the most common carnivorous plant.Rather than being imposing and agressive, this little plant is not easy to see.
As for the large black Old World grouse, this is a bird of arctic origin of the Urogallus species.Here it finds climatic conditions corresponding to its biotope;thanks to the moderate altitude of the plateau (1500meters). From the center of Verchaix take take a small road to the hamlet of the frêne.
At the end of the village take the left-hand path which leads to the plaigne of etry. At the entrance of the village; follow the road to the right through a very pretty spruce forest to a wide track which goes off the right.
The track becomes a path and a few metres before it branches of towards the Chalet of Sonjeons, it goes over an attractive dry stone bridge.
Don't take the track towards the chalets, but instead take the right-hand one which goes to the Chalets ok the Fetaz and then on to the Chalets of Têtes.
Just above these chalets rejoin a wide vehicle track, which comes from Les Gets. Follow it towards thr right before taking a firest track on the left. This leads to two small lakes and gives a good view over the Mont Blanc Valley.
Go round the right-hand site of the lakes and follow the path to the chapel of jacquicourt where you'll have a view over Joux-Plane and the Bourgeoise.
To return, retrace your steps as far as the wide track. Turn left and follow the path whitch passes the chalet and on to the hamelt of praliou.
From the hamlet you just need to follow the road which, after three hairpins, takes you down to the Frêne then Verchaix.
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Duration: 1 hour
Departure Altitude: 788 meters
Altitude Difference:95 meters
Difficulty: Easy
Path Marking: Yes+Explanatory signposts
Type of Terrain: Goog paths
Recommended Period: All
Commune: Verchaix
This circuit, organised by the Association for the defence of the Environement of Verchaix in partnership with the commune, aims to explain the historical and natural wealth of this site.
This walk begins at the church in the old village of Verchaix (Chef-lieu).
Built in 1783 and dedicated to Saint-Guerin, the church is plain but full of charm. Inside and to the right of the entrance, a plaque out-lines (in french) major events in the church's history.
On leaving the church, turn ti the left and pass in front of the Mairie (town hall).
Turn left again, passig in front of the remarkable "Maison Rouge" (red house), with its attractive front door and 'courtine" (an entrance set back under a balcony or upper floor a building paved with pebbles).
Continue towards the chalet-hotel and Restaurant La Terrasse de Verchaix (formerly le Vuairneige) pausing to study the giant copper cauldron (1891) once used to make cheese!
http://www.terrasse-de-verchaix.com
The hotel is owned and run by an English couple (philip et louise TAYLOR), and both the terace and restaurant afford the most magnificent panorama of the Giffre Valley, the village of Morillon and the ski resort of Morillon and SAmoens.
Consider stopping here for a drink or ice cream at the end of the walk! Continue towards the cemetery (behind the church) before joining the voice courbe path (marked sentier thématique) for the descent to the locality of Chariere-Lornaz. The descent takes you through woods mainly composed of beech and a few oaks and yews.
On reaching the road (D154), turn left.
At the cross, turn off the D154, following a small road which quickly becomes a pretty path, where you'll come to the intersection with the path leading ti the bridge over the valentine(stream).
Notice on the left the remains of an hydraulic 'ram", used to supply water to the trough at the hamlet of Lornaz, which is where the path takes you.
When youreach the housses at Lornaz, which are all under the shade of an imposing lime tree, look out for another courtine, this one paved with rounds of wood set verticaly into the ground.
Just above the hamlet there's a panoramic view of the Bourgeoise, the Avoudrues, the Criou and the Buet. As the track widens, it passes a shrine just before re-entering the village of Verchaix.
From here you'll get a panoramic view in the opposite direction over the loxer Giffre Valley: Taninges, the pint of Marcelly and the Môle. In a few minutes you'll be back at the church at Verchaix; now how about that drink we spoke of earlier!
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