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Route touristique - Le Tour Insolite de la Mandallaz

Mountain biking, Horse-riding in Cruseilles

33.2 km

Mountain biking

Easy

33.2 km

Horse-riding

Easy

Departure

Cruseilles
Difference in height

688.333 m
Documentation
- GPX Trace
GPX / KML files allow you to export the trail of your hike to your GPS (or other navigation tool)

Accepted customers
- Individuals

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Points of interest

1 Le Pont de la Caille - Charles Albert

2 Viewpoint: Allonzier la Caille

4 Choisy church

5 The Parc des Jardins de Haute-Savoie

6 National collection of Asian cherry blossoms

7 Lac de la Balme de Sillingy

11 La Balme-de-Sillingy church

12 Miroir de Faille

13 Viewpoint: Ferrieres

14 Cuvat church

1 Le Pont de la Caille - Charles Albert

A bridge dating from 1839, representing the industrial engineering know-how of the period. The bridge has been listed as a Historic Monument since 1966. It is also one of the 25 emblematic tourist sites in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.<br/>The idea of building a suspension bridge was approved in 1834 by King Charles-Albert, Duke of Savoy, who gave his name to the structure. 180m long and 147m high, the bridge is now entirely pedestrianized.

Historically, crossing the gorges of the river Usses was difficult and dangerus. From the 18th century, the introdution of a new era of the appeasement of a dispute between the Calvinist Republic of Geneva and the Catholic Duchy of Savoy revitalised the Annecy - Geneva route, requiring a definite need for a suspention bridge. Savoy was under the authority of the House of Savoy, but it was engineers from the French Ponts et Chaussée establishment of engeneering that were retained, M. Belin and M. Lehaitre. Work began on March 10, 1838 and would last 16 months.

2 Viewpoint: Allonzier la Caille

Over a hundred meters above the gorge, this footbridge offers an incredible view of the bridge and the landscape.

4 Choisy church

Consecrated in 1486, the church was damaged during the French Revolution, and repairs began in the early 19th century. In 2008, its steeple was the only one in Haute-Savoie to be gilded with fine gold.

5 The Parc des Jardins de Haute-Savoie

In the heart of an area of greenery on the shores of a lake, come and explore around forty miniature gardens representing the landscapes of the Haute-Savoie foreland in original, highly floral creations.

6 National collection of Asian cherry blossoms

Unique in France, the National Collection currently comprises 350 trees of 145 different varieties, including some rare specimens. Stop off at the Tourist Information Point to discover this collection.<br/>After submitting an application to the Conservatoire des Collections Végétales Spécialisées (CCVS) in 2016, the cherry blossom collection was awarded the "Collection Nationale" label.
This collection will enable you to discover all the diversity offered by these trees (flowering, foliage, bark...). Pure white, dark pink, pale pink, and rare colors (yellow, purple red, green), these single flowers with 5 petals, or double flowers with up to 100 petals, offer an incredible spectacle in spring. Autumn and winter are just as exceptional, thanks to colorful foliage and bark that can sometimes resemble jewels.
This collection is also a way of safeguarding cherry tree varieties, some of which have only one surviving specimen in Japan today. This collaborative initiative strengthens the cultural ties between France and Japan. The collection was inaugurated in 2014 by the Japanese vice-consul, who was very surprised to find these plants in Haute-Savoie. This was the occasion for a grand celebration attended by the people of Haute-Savoie and numerous Japanese nationals.
With the aim of expanding this collection, the site hopes in the long term to be able to accommodate more than 500 trees of 250 to 300 different varieties, not only cherry trees, but also other plants from Asia (Japanese maple, caramel tree, peonies...).

7 Lac de la Balme de Sillingy

The Balme de Sillingy lake is accessible all year round for family outings.

11 La Balme-de-Sillingy church

Saint-Martin church in La Balme-de-Sillingy

12 Miroir de Faille

A rare geological curiosity, the Sillingy fault mirror is one of the largest in Europe (nearly 2000m²).<br/>The fault mirror was rediscovered following the earthquake of July 15, 1996.
Several million years ago, two tectonic compartments slid horizontally. Today, only one of the exceptionally polished surfaces is still visible.
This site at the foot of the La Mandallaz mountain, accessible from the hamlet of La Petite Balme, offers visitors a privileged area in which to observe numerous birds and, with a little luck, a few chamois. The area is also characterized by a specific Mediterranean flora.