ViaJacobi
Overview
-
-
Distance 10 km
-
Duration 2 h 30 min
-
Ascent 180 m
Intro
The city of Genève is followed by surprisingly lovely countryside on the way to the Swiss border. The Compesières fortress, seat of an Order of the Knights of St John until the French Revolution in 1798, is now a museum on the Maltese Order.
Description
The Via Jacobi route's last stage starts at the Geneva railway station. After a few minutes, you cross the Rhone. Catch a glimpse of Geneva's landmark, the Jet d’Eau, with its 140-metre-high water fountain.
The route continues uphill through a narrow alley to St Peter's Cathedral, built in the 12th and 16th centuries. Its basement is home to the largest archaeological site north of the Alps, with treasures from the ancient world. The top of the tower offers 360-degree panoramic views. Passing the town hall, you reach the lively and cosy Place du Bourg-de-Four, the heart of the old town. The houses on this square were raised several storeys over time to accommodate Protestant refugees from all over Europe.
A few minutes later, you cross the Arve river, which rises in the upper Chamonix-Mont-Blanc valley and flows into the Rhone one kilometre downstream. Cross the bridge to the city of Carouge, a trendy artists' district with many cafés, bars and restaurants. Designed in the 18th century by a Turin architect in the Piedmontese architectural style, it has retained its southern charm to this day.
Along Geneva's agglomeration, you enter the Bois de Milly nature reserve, which is home to a variety of amphibians, such as the great newt, and several bat populations. Continuing across wide fields with views of the Jura and Lake Geneva, you pass the Museum of the Order of Malta, the former castle of Compesières. At the L'Arande stream, you reach the border with France and the end of the two-and-a-half-hour stage.
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 |
Genève
|
|---|---|
| Destination |
Charrot (Grenze)
|
| Direction |
One way
|
| Ascent |
180 m
|
| Descent |
90 m
|
| Distance |
10 km
|
| Duration |
2 h 30 min
|
| Duration back |
2 h 25 min
|
| Technical requirements |
Easy
|
| Physical requirements |
Easy
|
| Season |
All year
|
Quick Facts
Route number
