아르브와 론으로 향해

The hike begins just outside the hamlet of Sauverny (F) on the French-Swiss border. The first part follows the meandering course of the Versoix river, which shortly before in France was called Divonne. In this section, the river crosses the Combes Chapuis nature reserve, which is not only a treat for the eyes in itself, but also provides a habitat for a diverse flora and fauna.

After leaving the course of the river for a while to explore the forest paths of the Bois de Versoix, you rejoin the lovely stream not far from the Pont de Bossy. On the other bank, there is a picnic area with tables and barbecues. Here and in La Bâtie, the next hamlet along the way, there are fortifications from the Second World War. However, these are well hidden and have to be looked for. The closer you get to Versoix, the more references to the use of hydroelectric power appear: after all, at the beginning of the last century, there were around 50 mills along the river! The trail leads past the Moulin-de-Richelien, where water power has been used for over 500 years. To this day, a small family-run hydroelectric power station generates electricity here.

After winding its way along the Versoix through several meanders in the Gravines forest nature reserve, the trail then follows an irrigation canal built in 1790, the Canal de Versoix. Here, the path is lined by a centuries-old avenue of plane trees, evoking the feeling of a rural journey back in time. Before heading home, you can make a detour to the old chocolate factory, into the village or towards the lake. Here you meet the renaturalised river for the last time before it flows into lake Geneva.