Hike to Château de Menthon-Saint-Bernard, Rochers des Moillats & Ermitage de Saint-Germain
At the beginning of spring, I went on a hike on the east side of Lake Annecy: Starting at the lake in Menthon-Saint-Bernard, I walked to the castle (Château de Menthon-Saint-Bernard), then below the Rochers de Moillats and, finally, visited the Ermitage de Saint-Germain on the way down to Talloires.
Here is a map of the path I walked (download KML):
In early afternoon, I took a LIHSA bus (61 line) to Menthon-Saint-Bernard. First, I went to the lake and walked along the shore until the Palace de Menthon. I then started on the ascent and headed to the castle. The inside can be visited during summer but it was closed when I was there. I kept walking and took a steep road to Bluffy. From there, I found a forest trail to get to the Rochers de Moillats: They are cliffs with the occasional good view on the lake. After I left the forest, I went down towards the Ermitage de Saint-Germain, where I had already been a few years ago. There was a great view on Lake Annecy and the Bauges from there. Finally, I went down to Talloires in order to take the bus back to Annecy.
Above, in Menthon-Saint-Bernard.
Above, Plage Municipale (public beach).
Above, Montagne de la Mandallaz to the north.
Above, Lake Annecy and Semnoz.
Above, Mont Veyrier and Mont Baret.
Above, Montagne d’Entrevernes and Semnoz, in the Bauges.
Above, Palace de Menthon in front of Roc de Chère.
Above, La Tournette.
Above, Dents de Lanfon.
Above, at the Eglise Saint-Bernard-de-Menthon. It is dedicated to Saint-Bernard, a monk from the 11th century who founded hostels at the Great and Little Saint-Bernard passes (so named in his honor). A legend says he was born here in Menthon: However, he was actually from Aosta.
Above, inside the church.
Above, on the way to the castle.
Above, Château de Menthon-Saint-Bernard and Dents de Lanfon.
Above, take off area for paragliders above Rochers des Moillats.
Above, Mont Baret.
Above, Roc de Chère and Bauges behind it.
Above, Semnoz.
Above, on the way up to Bluffy.
Above, Mont Baret.
Above, the castle seen from Bluffy.
Above, start of the forest trail.
Above, cliff at Rochers des Moillats.
Above, Roc de Chère.
Above, exiting the forest in Ponnay..
Above, La Tournette.
Above, Bauges.
Above, Dents de Lanfon and Lanfonnet.
Above, Rocher du Roux and Pointe de la Rochette.
Above, on the way to the Ermitage.
Above, view of the lake from the Ermitage de Saint-Germain.
Above, chapel at the Ermitage. That tree has been cut since I went on the hike.
Above, tomb of Saint Germain.
Above, Château de Châteauvieux in Duingt, with Taillefer and Montagne d’Entrevernes behind it.
Above, Semnoz.
Above, at the Belvédère de la Vierge.
Above, Talloires below.
Above, Saint-Jorioz.
Above, on the way to Saint Germain’s cave.
Above, shrine to Saint Germain inside the cave.
Above, road to Annecy.
Above, on the way down to Talloires.
Above, paragliders above the Rochers des Moillats.
Above, LIHSA bus stop and Mont Baret behind it.
Above, there is a landing area right next to the bus stop.