GRP Littoral du Léman, Etape 1 : St Gingolph – Meillerie

Departing from the Franco-Swiss village of Saint Gingolph, you will follow in the footsteps of the bacounis, the boatmen on the shores of Lake Geneva who gave their name to this ancient towpath along the banks of the lake.

On this short first stage, retrace the history of these coastal towns: the route takes you not far from the old Meillerie quarries, exploited from the 19th century onwards, whose stones shaped the Palais des Nations and Geneva-Cornavin station. On the foothills of the Mémises mountain, you will pass through the hamlets of Locum and Les Plantés. This section through the heart of the Bois des Grandes Feuillasses takes you under the imposing Rochers du Balairon to the beautiful panorama of La Fauconière: Meillerie and Lake Geneva stretch out before you.

As you descend towards the village of Meillerie, you will come across the Pierre à Jean-Jacques Rousseau. It is said to have inspired Rousseau to write his epistolary novel “Julie ou la Nouvelle Héloïse”.

End of the stage at the Meillerie landing stage.