Bornes, Aravis

The area's valleys are open and welcoming, and the mountains are home to a rich variety of animals, including ibex, chamois and lammergeyers. It is also renowned for its reblochon Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) cheese.

Extending from the Plateau des Glières, an important Resistance stronghold during the war, to the Colombière and Aravis Passes, the Bornes-Aravis area is simply idyllic. With its spruce forests, alpine pastures, traditional farms and picturesque chalets, the area has a wonderfully warm and welcoming atmosphere.

From the Pointe Percée to Mont Charvin, the Aravis Mountains run along the border between Savoie and Haute Savoie.

Les Murailles Circuit

District: Manigod

Region: Aravis

Road access and parking: Annecy - Manigod: 27 km.

From Annecy, take the D909 to Thônes. In Thônes, take the D16 to Manigod and park in the church car park.

Total time, not including rest stops: 1hr 25min

Maps: IGN Top 25 n° 3531 OT Megève Col des Aravis

Start height: 950 m

Highest point: 1100 m

Height difference: 150 m

Type of itinerary: (circuit, round trip): circuit

Best season: from spring to summer, when snow free

Description:

Thanks to the dynamism and skills of its farming community, Manigod has retained its traditional mountain-village character. This walk wanders past typical Aravis chalets and takes in some wonderful views of the Montagne de Sulens, Mont Charvin and La Tournette. From the car park, go back along the road to the church. Turn left (signs to "Les Murailles"). Some sections of the descent are steep.

Lac de Lessy

District: Grand-Bornand

Region: Aravis

Road access and parking: Annecy - Le Grand Bornand: 32 km.

From Annecy, take the D909 to Thônes. Go through Thônes and continue to Saint-Jean-de-Sixt. From Saint-Jean-de-Sixt, follow the D4 to Le Grand Bornand. Go through Le Grand Bornand on the D4 towards the Col de la Colombière. Park in the old village of Chinaillon: echelon parking possible next to a pretty stone pool. If there is no space here, continue to the junction with the main road - several possible parking spaces.

Total time, not including rest stops: 6hrs 15min

Maps and guides:  IGN Top 25 n° 3430 ET La Clusaz Grand-Bornand

Start height: 1284 m

Highest point: 1965 m

Height difference: 1070 m

Type of itinerary: (circuit, round trip): round trip. Can be extended by following the tour of the Roc des Tours (circuit)

Best season: from spring to autumn, when snow free

Description:

Formed by glaciers, this mountain lake lies in the heart of magnificent alpine pastures and at the foot of the Pic de Jalouvre, just under the cliffs of Le Buclon.

The Aravis is reblochon country - a cheese that was created in order to defraud tax collectors in the Middle Ages. In local patois, "reblocher" means to milk a second time, as, in order to avoid paying tax on the milk they produced, local peasants would not completely milk their cows, leaving some milk to be collected once the tax collectors had left. This second milking produced a very thick and creamy milk, which was used to make cheese for the farmer's own consumption.

From the chapel, follow signs to the "Lac de Lessy par les Chalets de Mayse" to the lake. Return by the same path.