2023 Heritage trail T.vattard Sima 9
2023 Rando Patrimoine T.vattard Sima 3
E19 6772 Randonnee Famillet.vattard Le Grand Bornand
E19 7434 Randonnee Famillet.vattard Le Grand BornandFrom villages to mountain pastures, more than 160 km of signposted hiking trails dot the commune of Le Grand-Bornand. So many possibilities for walks that combine the pleasure of the effort, the beauty of the landscape and the discovery of the many heritage features that, each in its own way, tell the story of Grand-Bornand. Here’s a short (but not exhaustive) tour of the sights you’ll come across along the way…
The marked stone at the foot of the Combe de Tardevant marks the boundary between the communes of Le Grand-Bornand and La Clusaz. Dated 1755, it marks the end of a nearly 300-year dispute over the use of the mountain pastures in the Aravis coombes, whose boundaries are not always marked by natural features (a stream, a ridge line, etc.). This stone still serves as a boundary marker between the two villages, and has done so ever since the Sardinian map, the first European land register, was drawn up in the village, as in the rest of the Savoy States, between 1728 and 1738…
2023 Heritage trail T.vattard Sima 192023 Rando Patrimoine T.vattard Sima 3Listed as a Historic Monument since 1944, the Clos du Pin cross is the oldest cross in Grand-Bornand.
Dating from 1500, it takes the form of a Greek cross with a small niche at the crossing of the arms, which probably housed a statue.
A lovely family walk, this marked stone is an edifying reminder of the French Revolution, when local priests who refused to swear an oath to the Constitution were hidden away by the local population.
Three priests were hidden for 7 months by the widow Janin, at a place called Sous le Cey (under the rock), in Lormay. The inscription that can still be seen today reads as follows: “+ Year ? (undated) of the Republic of France, which by decree expelled more than 40,000 priests and 6,000 from Savoie, Madame Girod took refuge for 5 months in Thônes and the widow Janin for 7 months under the Cey for three persecuted French priests: Pierre Larel, Catapetro, JPJ Terrasse, one of the three (engraved the stone)”. Sous le Cey, Lormay
2023 Rando Patrimoine T.vattard Sima 11E19 6772 Randonnee Famillet.vattard Le Grand BornandAt a height of 20 m and as its name suggests, the Pont des Romains, which spans the Nant du Chinaillon, is located on the old Roman road to the Col de la Colombière. Of Roman, it really only has the name, as it was built in 1836 and for a long time was identified as the “bridge under Bois Bercher”. With its inscriptions and superb wrought-iron cross, this pretty monument is the perfect finishing touch to a pleasant family walk in the forest of around 4 km, starting from the village and covering an altitude difference of 110 m.
E19 7434 Randonnee Famillet.vattard Le Grand BornandFounded in 1888, this Way of the Cross leads to the chapel and oratory of Saint-Bruno, which houses a miraculous spring.
It bears witness to an ancient pilgrimage, commemorating the legendary passage of Blessed John of Spain. Legend has it that he quenched his thirst here shortly before the founding of the Carthusian monastery of Le Reposoir in 1151. In fact, there are two sources of water: the ferruginous spring, known to all, and the sulphurous spring below. Even today, pilgrims still drink this water to treat skin and eye diseases…
Developed by Grand-Bornand’s cultural mediators, “Les Sentiers du Patrimoine” (Heritage Trails) uses QR codes to be scanned as you walk or hike, giving you the opportunity to discover 14 heritage sites and monuments in an interactive way.
bornandin heritage.
Two topographical guides to walks and hikes in the Aravis – including one devoted to family-friendly trails – published by the CCVT (Communauté de Communes des Vallées de Thônes) are on sale at the Tourist Office, priced at €3.
