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Hiking: Gex - Vesancy via Chapelle Riantmont
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Description
Departing from Gex, this pleasant circuit traverses the picturesque village of Vesancy, overlooked by the Riantmont chapel. This is a nice family outing with a gentle gradient, allowing you to soak up the authenticity of the local heritage and architecture.
From the center of Gex, the route passes through rural landscapes before reaching the village of Vesancy with its restored farmhouses, fountains and church of Saint-Christophe. The climb to Riantmont offers magnificent views over the valley and the Geneva basin. Built in 1868, the chapel is a place of pilgrimage for the region's faithful on Whit Monday. After a pleasant descent through the surrounding hamlets, the return to Gex offers a final opportunity to appreciate the diversity of scenery on this charming walk.
The route runs through the heart of the Haut-Jura Regional Nature Park, and part of it passes through the Haute Chaîne du Jura National Nature Reserve: a protected, unspoilt area that should be explored with respect.
Good to know - Protected area
Part of the route passes through the Haute Chaîne du Jura National Nature Reserve, which is subject to special regulations:
Dogs are not allowed, even on a lead.
Please respect these rules to preserve the richness of this exceptional environment.
Technical Information
Altimetric profile
Starting point
Points of interest
Additional information
Contact
Phone : 04 50 28 09 16
Email : contact@paysdegex-tourisme.com
Website : https://www.paysdegex-montsjura.com
Open period
All year round daily.
Subject to favorable snow and weather conditions.
Environments
Mountain view
Panoramic view
Lake view
In a nature reserve
Type of land
Stone
Ground
Grit
Not suitable for strollers
Topo guides and map references
Topo guides references :
Hiking in Pays de Gex and the Haute Chaine du Jura: on sale at Pays de Gex tourist agencies: 9€.
Map references :
3327ET - MOREZ LES ROUSSES
Updated by
Office de Tourisme du Pays de Gex - 02/12/2025
www.paysdegex-montsjura.com
Report a problem
Reception complements
▶ This route crosses the Haute Chaîne du Jura National Nature Reserve. Please respect the regulations.
The rules include the following:
Dogs are strictly forbidden, even on a lead.
Plant picking and mineral collecting are also prohibited.
▶ Before setting off :
Check the general and local weather forecast, and make sure there's no precipitation.
Find out about the approach route, the height of the itinerary, the time it will take to complete the climb, and any possible escapes (IGN map, GPS, topo-guide, etc.).
Evaluate possible risks by asking mountain professionals, mountain huts and gîtes.
Inform someone close to you of your objective, and contact them again in the event of any changes: departure and return times, number of participants with telephone numbers for each, vehicle(s), parking, etc.
Avoid setting off alone, and use equipment that is suitable for the activity, adjusted and in good condition: headlamp, complete first-aid kit, survival blanket, etc.
In the event of a problem, call 112 (European emergency number).
Guidebook with maps/step-by-step
(1) From the center of Gex, on Place Perdtemps, take the avenue on your right all the way to the end. Continue along chemin du Crêt, keeping to the right. Follow the housing estate to the end of the road. At the Creux du Loup crossroads, turn left, then immediately right onto Rue de la Forêt de Disse, which leads to Le Pérsoset.
(2)Continue straight ahead. At the crossroads, turn right between the hedges onto chemin de l'Ouche de la Croix. Ten metres further the path turns left, crosses the Oudar river and runs alongside it for a short distance. Continue left towards Vesancy, through hedgerows and fields. The path becomes a road at the entrance to the village.
(3) Enter Vesancy on the Route de Bottenay, and continue straight ahead until you reach Rue du Château which crosses the village in front of the château. Continue to the intersection with the route de Divonne, then turn left onto route de la Chapelle. It climbs gently. At the next intersection, keep right. Follow the signs for the Chapelle de Riantmont. After roughly 500m, the road turns left and reaches the chapel.
(4) A beautiful panoramic view awaits you. Three orientation tables give you a better understanding of the landscape. Take a break at this peaceful spot before continuing on the route behind the chapel keeping to the left at the next three intersections, then crossing the route de la Vesancière. It skirts the edge of the forest, forks left, then descends towards a water reservoir. At the crossroads below, continue straight ahead on route de la Combette, then take the path to the right. This forest trail passes the houses of La Ganguillette and La Pinière, before reaching the locality of Saint Martin. Turn right at the cul-de-sac to enter the Nature Reserve. Follow this path for 600m to the highest point of Sous Disse.
(5) Turn left to descend the ridge into the woods. The path soon joins the locality of Chaumois via the Chemin de Chaumois.
(6) Go straight ahead, then take the Forêt de Disse road on the right. Follow this road, cross the Oudar river again and return to Le Pérsoset. From here, take the same route as before, back to the center of Gex, to Place Perdtemps.
Animals
No. Dogs are not allowed in the Haute chaîne du Jura National Nature Reserve.
Data author
