February 13, 2022

Hike to L'Étang, Vieille Grotte de Chantemerle & Fontaine aux Oiseaux (Semnoz)

In spring 2021, I went on a hike on the east flank of Semnoz: I walked from Sevrier to Annecy, passing trough L’Étang, Vieille Grotte de Chantemerle, Croix du Crêt and Fontaine aux Oiseaux (aka L’Ermitage).

Here is a map of the path I walked:

In the morning, I took a Car Région bus (line Y51) and got off at Lycées Les Roselières in Sevrier. I starting walking up towards the forest. In the forest, the trail was more or less flat. I passed by a pond (L’Étang) and a former shrine (Vieille Grotte de Chantemerle). At some point, I made a detour off trail because of a sign warning of bulls in the pasture ahead (although there wasn’t any in the end). I then took a trail up to reach Croix du Crêt and its viewpoint on Lake Annecy. After that, I walked in the forest towards the fake ruins of Fontaine aux Oiseaux. I arrived at La Tambourne and Basilique de la Visitation after a while. Finally, I walked down to the Old Town of Annecy and took a local bus back home.

▲ LIDL supermarket near the bus stop in Sevrier.

▲ Lake Annecy seen from near Cimetière des Provendes.

▲ Trailhead. It is not marked on the IGN map but is there on OSM.

▲ Lake Annecy and Église Saint-Blaise of Sevrier.

▲ At L’Étang.

▲ Mont Veyrier.

▲ Château de Menthon-Saint-Bernard.

▲ La Tournette.

▲ Vieille Grotte de Chantemerle.

$Entrer Interdite \$

▲ Entrer Interdite “Taureaux” (Forbidden Entry Bulls). I went around to find the trail on the other side, although it was unlikely there would be any bulls.