GR65 The Way of Saint James
Three-day traverse
Santiago de Compostela was built as a simple regional church to mark the last resting place of St James, whose remains were found there in 813. Then, in the Middle Ages, it became the objective of Western Europe's greatest pilgrimage. The first pilgrims were motivated by their faith but, as the centuries passed, the Way of Saint James has become a pretext for an adventure, a journey, a way of finding oneself.
Of the 1854 km leading to Santiago de Compostela, 52 km are found in Haute Savoie.
District: Archamps
Region: Genevois Haut-Savoyard
Road access and parking: Annemasse - Archamps: 14 km
From Annemasse, follow the N206 to the A40 "Geneva, Lausanne" motorway. Leave the motorway at junction n°13.1 (Parc d'Affaires International). Follow the N206 to Les Combes, between the villages of Lathoy and Archamps. The French section of the Way of Saint James/GR65 starts at the trail marked "Crêts d'Acier".
Type of itinerary: (circuit, round trip): A to B
Best season: from spring to summer, when snow free
Waymarkers: red and white GR signs, "départemental" waymarkers and the Saint James scallop shell, yellow on a blue background.
Maps and guides: IGN Top 25 n° 3430 OT Mont-Saleve/Saint-Julien-en-Genevois/Annemasse
IGN Top 25 n° 3430 OT Bellegarde-Sur-Valserine/Grand Crêt d'Eau IGN Top 25 n° 3331 OT Rumilly/Seyssel/Le Grand Colombier
First stage: hotel in St Blaise
St Julien Tourist Office: 04 50 04 71 63
Second stage: gîte de l'Espérance
74270 Chaumont
Tel: 04 50 32 27 49
Tel: 04 50 32 23 99
Third stage: hotel in Seyssel
Tourist Office de Seyssel: 04 50 59 26 56
Contact TO: Saint Julien
Tel: 04 50 04 71 63
Day 1: Les Combes to the Col du Mont Sion
Start height: 474 m
Highest point: 885 m
Height difference: 450 m
Total time, not including rest stops: 4hrs
Description:
Les Combes is the French and Haute Savoie gateway to the GR65, which begins at St Peter's Cathedral in Geneva. From the cathedral, the trail heads towards the border through the eastern part of the town of Saint-Julien-en-Genevois, where the first GR65 sign is found.
Follow the road and track to go behind the International Business Park (Parc d'Affaires International). At the next road, turn right, go through Lathoy, and then head towards Neydens. Cross the footbridge over the motorway and follow the wide, rocky track. This flat section of the trail offers beautiful views of Mont Salève, to the east, and the Jura, to the north.
Follow signs to Verrières, and then to Beaumont. From the church in Beaumont, head towards Jussy. Continue to Les Crêts, which forms the entrance to the Chartreuse de Pomier. Go through the Chartreuse and back onto the road. Follow the path overlooking the orchards along the base of Mont Salève.
Follow the track on the right (waymarker). After going through a clearing that offers a wonderful view, rejoin the road at St Blaise cemetery. Follow the track to the Col du Mt Sion.
Overnight stop.
Highlight
Jussy and its superb lines of pear treas marking the entrance to the village. Many of the area's orchards still grow traditional varieties. Do not miss the exhibits about Mont Salève at the Maison du Salève. The museum explains the history and geography of man's relationship with the mountain (permanent exhibition, temporary exhibition, shop, picnic room).
Day 2: Col du Mont Sion to Chaumont
District: Saint-Blaise
Start height: 785 m
Highest point: 815 m
Height difference: 420 m
Total time, not including rest stops: 4hrs 20min
Description
From the Col du Mont Sion, start to the left of the road (on the opposite side to the "hamlet of Father Christmas") and follow the track uphill towards Charly. This section of the GR65 follows the same route as the "Balcon du Léman" long-distance footpath: wonderful views over the Vuache and La Mandallaz hills. In Charly, make a short detour (5 min) to visit the Chapelle de St-Jacques. Follow signs to La Croix de la Biche, Chez Grésat, La Motte and Chaumont.
In Chaumont: Arbannaz waterfall and the restored remains of the old castle, which was pulled down in 1616 by Henry 1st of Genevois-Nemours. Due to its geographical position, Chaumont was a town and a fortress in the Middle Ages.
To get to the gîte in Chaumont, head right, uphill, for 10min.
Overnight stop.
Highlight
Several views across the whole of the "Avant Pays Savoyard" region.
Day 3: From Chaumont to Pont de Fier
District: Chaumont, hamlet of Margoët
Start height: 560 m
Highest point: 540 m
Height difference: 380 m
Total time, not including rest stops: 6hrs
Description:
The route to Seyssel offers some excellent views of the Montagne des Princes, the Grand Colombier and the meanders of the Rhone. Do not miss the beautiful houses in the two hamlets of Les Côtes. Savour, in moderation, the still or sparkling white wines of Seyssel, which has enjoyed Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée status since 11th February 1942. The 60 hectares of vineyards that make up the AOC lie in the districts of Seyssel (Ain), Seyssel (Haute Savoie) and Corbonod. Wine has been produced here since the 11th century. Today, the white grape varieties grown are Roussette de Savoie (also known as Altesse), Chasselas and Molette.
From the road, go down the track to the "Vers Rosset" bend. Bear right to cross the vineyards of Roussette de Frangy, a local white wine. From the church in Frangy, cross the River Usses and head towards Désingy. Go through Champagne, Tagny, Vannecy, Pelly and Les Côtes d'en Haut to get to Seyssel. From Seyssel, follow the greenway beside the Rhone to Pont du Fier.
Frangy has a number of shops (grocer's, chemist's, banks, tobacconist's, bar, etc).
Seyssel is unusual in that it is divided into separate towns by the Rhone. The town on the left bank is in Haute Savoie; the town on the right bank is in the Ain.
Highlight
This leg of the trail goes through some wonderfully varied countryside and finishes at the lowest point in Haute Savoie: the banks of the Rhone at Seyssel, a mere 260 metres above sea level.
