August 18, 2021

Hike to Circuit du Calvaire (Thônes)

Last fall, I walked Circuit du Calvaire in Thônes: It is a short trail that starts at the Calvaire near the bus station then goes for a loop in the forest.

Here is a map of the path I walked:

In early afternoon, I took a LIHSA bus (line 62 / 63) to Thônes. A large path starts just across the road from the bus station. At first, it goes up along a way of the cross: The stations are wood panels carved by Jean Constant Demaison. At the end of the large path is the Chapelle du Calvaire. The Circuit du Calvaire continues upwards using a trail in the forest. The autumn colors were at their peaks. There is a viewpoint on Vallée de Thônes on the way. At the top of the marked trail (L’Hermitage), I took a path I found on OpenStreetMap. It actually led to an exit of the Via Ferrata de la Roche à l’Agathe. At some point, the trail marked on the map became very steep and probably a bit dangerous for someone without equipment: I stopped there before that last section. There was a viewpoint on the city of Thônes nearby. After that, I went down. I crossed the path to the start of the Via Ferrata on the way. Once in the valley, I walked back towards the bus station. After the Circuit, I didn’t go back directly to Annecy. Instead, I walked along the Nom and to Circuit de Jean-Jacques Rousseau but I will post a separate article about it.

▲ At the bus station (Gare Routière), looking towards La Tournette in the clouds.

▲ Roche à l’Agathe and the start of Circuit du Calvaire across the street.

▲ Roche à l’Agathe.

▲ Sign to the Via Ferrata.

▲ Start of the path of the cross.

▲ Wood carving by Jean Constant Demaison.

▲ Bus station.

▲ Chapelle du Calvaire.

▲ Dent du Cruet.

▲ The chapel was closed.

▲ Trail up.

▲ Belvédère du Mont. There is a great view on Thônes from there.

▲ Mont Lachat de Châtillon, in Le Grand-Bornand.

▲ Lycée-Collège Saint-Joseph.

▲ Vallée de Thônes.

▲ Montagne de Cotagne.

▲ Bois du Mont.

▲ Thônes towards Col du Marais.

▲ Place Joseph Avet.

▲ Bench at the top of the official trail of Circuit du Calvaire (L’Hermitage). There was path to go down directly from there. Instead , I made a detour towards the Via Ferrata before joining with that trail afterwards.

▲ There was a rope to attach the Via Ferrata equipment but it was not really needed on that part. The ground was a bit slippery because of the fallen leaves however.