Walks and hikes

Cross-border riches around Bonmont Abbey and in the footsteps of the Romans

Departure: recommended from "Les Pralies".

Signs: PR-Yellow, enamelled metal panels and yellow lozenges in Switzerland

Road access:
By car: from Divonne, join the Fleutron, then turn right for 1.5 km
TER line Bellegarde sur Valserine -Divonne les Bains

Height difference: 100m

On the way: La vie de l'Etraz, Recredoz wood, fountain and clock tower, Bonmont castle and abbey, sloping marshes, boundary markers

Heritage: At the beginning of the 12th century, the Sires de Divonne asked the monks of the Balerme convent to build a place of prayer on the territory of Pélens, at the foot of the Jura, on the banks of the "Vie de l'Etraz". Thus, in 1123, the Cistercian Abbey of Bonmont was built. The order authorized economic activity, and Bonmont developed through farming, livestock breeding and crafts. This led to the cultivation of woodland and marshland. Livestock farming was also an important part of the monks' activities, and the Dôle and Sèche des Amburnex mountain pastures belonged to the abbey. From the 13th century onwards, sheep were replaced by cows.

Did you know? Pays de Gex was once crossed by a Roman road, the "via strata" or "vy d'etraz", passing over the springs; it was an important communication route enabling the Romans to reach the stables at Nyon.

Route description:
From Les Pralies, take a path passing between two properties, and follow it to the Chemin de Recredoz. Turn left, then right, along a path that runs parallel to the border to a small road (Alt.548m). Turn right for a few dozen metres, then left into an alleyway, then left into the village of La Rippe (Alt.528m). Join the main road, turn left, reach a crossroads and go right. Follow a farm road to "Les Pelins" (Alt.527m), then climb gently to the left towards Bonmont (Alt.606m).
For the return journey, join the outskirts of Bonmont, then through the piedmont forest to the place known as "Vendôme", then on to "les Pralies" via the Etraz road.