The route from Geneva to La Plaine offers many surprises: the natural beauty of the Rhône, the Moulin-de-Vert nature reserve and the enchanting villages of Cartigny and Avully.
The Rhône, a river with a rich history, flows for 812 km from the Gotthard massif to the Mediterranean Sea and crosses the canton of Geneva over a distance of 27 km.
The hike begins at La Jonction. After just a few metres, you leave Geneva’s urban surroundings behind and immerse yourself in a green jungle. The trail follows the Rhône, home to countless bird species, to the hamlet of Loëx, where spectacular views open up over the modern Lignon development. The hike continues opposite the slopes of Vernier to Bois de Châtillon, from where the village of Aire-la-Ville is soon reached.
The Moulin-de-Vert nature reserve boasts a diverse flora and fauna that has developed in the area of a former meander of the Rhône. Above the slopes, a stop in the beautiful village of Cartigny is recommended. Here, an impressive view opens up towards the basin of Fort de l’Ecluse, before you cross the Nant des Crues and reach the village of Avully. This is a place steeped in history: at the foot of the slopes of Avully, overlooking the Rhône, Julius Caesar set out to conquer Helvetia in 58 BC.
