Sentier du Salève
Overview
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Distance 7 km
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Duration 2 h 40 min
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Ascent 780 m
Intro
A fabulous hike up to Geneva's local mountain. Mont Salève, located in France and just a stone's throw from the city centre, not only offers one of the most beautiful views of the Geneva area, but also holds many surprises in store, both from a historical and natural point of view.
Description
The uphill hike begins near the River Arve, which rises in the Mont Blanc massif. A few steps away, the route passes by the hamlet of Sierne. The place is well worth a short detour, with its building complex of peasant origin and the 17th-century bourgeois residences offering a fascinating journey through time. After briefly venturing into France on a path with magnificent views of the Salève, we arrive in the charming border village of Veyrier. After crossing the border once more, we find ourselves in the forest at the foot of the Salève. Now it's time to climb Geneva's local mountain, even though it is entirely in France.
The cliff trail leads up a staircase cut into the rock dating from the 14th century. It connected the Salève to Geneva before the arrival of a rack railway at the end of the 19th century, which was in operation until the mid-1930s. A tunnel remains from the railway infrastructure, which our path crosses. A long series of eroded steps takes us to Monnetier, a pretty village in the valley between the Petit and Grand Salève.
But the hike isn't over yet, and there are still a few hundred metres to climb. The path continues to ascend through the beech forest, offering stunning views. Meadows, reminiscent of those in the Jura, which the Salève is part of, finally announce the end of the route by the mountain station of the Salève cable car.
At an altitude of nearly 1,100 metres, the place offers fantastic views of the entire Geneva region. From here, you can see the typical elements of Geneva's landscape, such as the harbour, the Jet d'eau, the Rhône and the Arve or the famous buildings of Lignon. Not to forget the Jura mountain range, which can be seen in its entire length. The Salève cable car, whose upper station is a listed historic monument because of its unique architecture, takes you back to Veyrier.
An enjoyable tour includes the careful planning of the same. Please inform yourself in advance at the local information center about the route and weather conditions. Depending on the season and weather conditions, this route may be blocked or interrupted
| Start location |
Veyrier, Pont de Sierne
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|---|---|
| Destination |
Mont Salève
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| Ascent |
780 m
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| Descent |
90 m
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| Distance |
7 km
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| Duration |
2 h 40 min
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| Duration back |
2 h
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| Technical requirements |
Medium
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| Physical requirements |
Medium
|
| Signalization |
Signalisation in both directions
|
Bureau d'information touristique
Quai du Mont-Blanc 2
1201
Genève
Quick Facts
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