The Jet d’Eau is a large 140m-high fountain in Lake Geneva, located in the Eaux-Vives district of Geneva next to where the lake flows into the Rhône. It is one of the city’s most famous landmarks and is visible from far away. There is a walkway, the Jetée des Eaux-Vives, to get right next to the nozzle. Here is a schedule of the operating hours of the fountain.
The Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Genève is a church in the old town of Geneva. It was built as a roman catholic church in the Middle Ages but became the adopted home church of Calvin, one of the leaders of the Protestant Reformation. Entrance to the main building is free, however access to the towers, with an open air observatory and a great view of Geneva and the lake, costs 5 Fr.
La Jonction is a place in Geneva where the rivers Rhône and Arve join with each other. The rivers have different colors and, when meeting, their waters mix together into the one final river, Rhône. For a good view of this phenomenon, there is a viewpoint next to the water, as well as a bridge (Viaduc de la Jonction) 40m above.
During summer, I went on a hike to Aiguille Croche and Mont Joly, in the Beaufortain mountains above Saint-Gervais.
Last summer, I went on a hike to Crêt des Mouches, a mountain in the Bornes next to La Tournette.
During summer, I went on a hike to Roc des Boeufs in the Bauges mountains near Annecy.
Last summer, I went on a hike to Roc des Tours and Aiguille Verte in Le Grand-Bornand.
Fort l’Écluse is a fortress near Bellegarde-sur-Valserine. It guards the Rhône valley between the Vuache hills and the Jura Mountains and is a natural entrance into France from Geneva. The fort was founded by the Duchy of Savoy in the 13th century and, after it was ceded to France along with the Pays de Gex during the reign of Louis XIV, completed by Vauban. It was destroyed by the Austrians in 1815, but was rebuilt by the French and considerably strengthened and heightened. The fort is open to visitors during summer.
Earlier this summer, I went on a hike in the Bellegarde-sur-Valserine area: I visited the Pertes de la Valserine, Fort l’Écluse, Rocher de Léaz and Pont de Grésin.
The Promenade des Pertes de la Valserine in Bellegarde-sur-Valserine is a short and easy walk that follows the Valserine, a river that takes its source in the Jura mountains and empties into the Rhône. Starting near the train station in the city, the path goes upstream to the Pertes (French for “losses”), where the river disappears in natural canyons dug into limestone rocks.