Walking route -" On the former smuggler's trail"

  • Sur les traces des contrebandiers
  • Sur les traces des contrebandiers
  • Sur les traces des contrebandiers
Sur les traces des contrebandiersSur les traces des contrebandiersSur les traces des contrebandiers

Presentation

This walk follows the footsteps of former smugglers and customs officers who criss-crossed the region until the 1950s.
The view over the Illiez and Abondance valleys reveal a fraction of the many routes taken by the smugglers on their clandestine operations. Their encounters have left some wonderful and revealing stories in this frontier region which are starting to fade from memory.
To learn more about their aventures, you can rent a special battery pack from the "Vieille Douane" or Châtel Tourisme, between June and September, which activates the audio posts ("borne sonore") along the way.

From the old customs building "Vieille Douane", follow the RD22 road to Morgins for about 100 metres, then take the track that leads straight to the border and to markers 1737 and 1891.

Carry on towards "La Pointe du Midi". There's a shorcut for families to head back through the forest, if needed.

For a harder walk, head along the border ridge by the "Plan des Mitres", to the "Col de Fecon". Head home via the "Perthuis" chalets and "Aity" before arriving at the "Vieille Douane".
Trail-specific signposting and audio markers.

Departure from the Lake Vonnes lift ticket office car park.
Shuttle line 4 stop Gabelou (July & August).
OpeningsFrom 01/06 to 31/10.
Practical informations
  • Services :
    • 8 yrs old min
  • Services :
    • Pets welcome
  • Levels of sporting experience :
    • Level red – hard
  • Route :
    • daily duration (minutes) 240
    • type of route BOUCLE
    • marked route
    • elevation (m) 653
    • distance (km) 3.6
  • Accessible tourism :
    • Not accessible in a wheelchair
Category
  • Section :
    • Sport
  • Pedestrian sports :
    • Pedestrian sports
    • Hiking itinerary
On-site Services
  • Parking :
    • Car park
    • Free car park

To know

RecommandationWhichever walk you choose, we recommend that you :

- Wear appropriate footwear and always take with you: warm clothing, preferably waterproof, plenty of water, sunglasses, sun cream and a small first-aid kit.
- Do not set off alone.
- Inform someone living in the valley of your plans.
- Do not change the planned itinerary indiscriminately. But do not hesitate to shorten it if necessary.
- Carry a map and even a torch.
- Check the weather forecast before setting off.
- In the event of a thunderstorm, move away from ridges, passes and summits as soon as possible and never take shelter under an isolated tree.

Tarifs

Free access.
We also suggest...
Contact us
Walking route -" On the former smuggler's trail"
Parking Caisses du Lac
74390
Châtel
mail / message
Phone : +33 4 50 73 22 44
FICHE_INFO_SIMPLE_ECRIRE_MESSAGE
Fields with an asterisk * must not be left blank
My request
Your Contact Details
The personal data collected on the site results from the voluntary communication of an e-mail address and/or a postal address when a form is sent. E-mail and postal addresses collected in this way are only used to send the requested information.
The addresses collected will not be transferred to third parties or processed in any way by the editorial manager.
The French Data Protection Act of 6 January 1978, amended by the Act of 6 August 2004, governs the use of files or processing of personal data, whether automated or manual. You have the right to access, modify, rectify and delete data that concern you (art. 34 of the French Data Protection Act). You can exercise this right by e-mail, using the following form.

 

Location

Trail-specific signposting and audio markers.

Departure from the Lake Vonnes lift ticket office car park.
Shuttle line 4 stop Gabelou (July & August).
Additional location
  • Environments :
    • Mountain location
  • Parking :
    • Car park