Tours
Activities
Places of interest
Where to eat
Where to sleep

Discover Clarafond-arcine in Haute-Savoie

Are you in charge of the destination?
Nestled in the beautiful region of Haute-Savoie, Rhône-Alpes, Clarafond-arcine is a charming destination offering a variety of activities for nature lovers and culture enthusiasts. Situated near the majestic Alps, it serves as the perfect starting point for breathtaking hikes. Marked trails guide you through stunning mountainous landscapes, where you can admire local flora and fauna.

History buf...
See more

Walking around Clarafond-arcine

See more suggestions
Discover the trails of Clarafond-arcine.
See more suggestions
Hiking loop: de Nant en Rhône
742 m

Hiking loop: de Nant en Rhône

A trail which crosses the communes (villages) of Eloise, Clarafond and Arcine. With rich heritage to uncover: panoramic views, Défilé de l'Ecluse, bridges, the river Rhône, ancient hamlets... Leaving from: Clarafond/Tanay, 350m Tourist area: Albanais - Pays du Rhône Maximum altitude: 600m Follow the route to Arcine for 15 minutes in the direction of the little tarmacked road as shown on the signpost. Then at the next crossing take a left onto a tarmacked road. Follow the signs on the markers provided which will take you to Bartomière. Pick up the RD908a and continue straight ahead in the same direction which will take you directly to the centre of Arcine. A little further from the church in the centre there is a beautiful view to the left of the Château d'Arcine. From the village centre, continue your descent through the village following the signs. There is a panoramic view of the river Rhône. A few metres later, on reaching the road at the bend, continue straight ahead on the dirt track (do not follow directions for Les Banges and Beauchatel). This will take you to a place called Route d’Entremont. Take the left turn in the direction of Eloise and continue for 1 hour 55 minutes. The track passes along the Rhône and leads to a picnic area. Keep going in the direction of Eloise for 1 hour 35 minutes. At the hamlet of Banges continue straight on until you reach Beauchatel. Follow the signs put in place. At the end of the village take the path in front of you. After a few metres you will come to a grassy field. Follow the path. You will find yourself at Crêt de l'Aigle. Continue in the direction of Eloise for 45 minutes. Make a descent in the direction of the Rhône to come upon some magnificent small gorges. Take a left in the direction marked on the signs which will take you to Pont de Gresin. Take the path that climbs in the direction of Eloise for 20 minutes. On the approach to Eloise, turn left and on picking back up the dirt track, take the path that drops down on your right. At the village greengrocers, take a left turn to go along a road with pleasant views. You will reach a beautiful cross made of wood. Take the right-hand turn following the signs. At the reservoir leave the road to pick up the rural path closest to the reservoir itself. At the end of the path, take the tarmacked road on your left leading to the Croix du Tanay.

3 h
14 km
Easy
Parking du Crêt du feu 74270 Clarafond-Arcine
Show
Hiking loop: aux sources du Parnant
2.1 km

Hiking loop: aux sources du Parnant

A beautiful loop, skirting the sources of the Parnant (a small tributary of the Rhône) and offering a variety of paths, through the agricultural plain, undergrowth or on an ancient glacial moraine, where the views are astonishing. The hike starts near the Clarafond church, remarkable for its narrow white cement spire topped by a cross! The name of this commune comes from the Latin "clara" (clear), and the Old French "font", which translates as "spring, fountain, spring water". The parish was even called "Claire Fontaine" in the 14th century. Go around the church to the left and follow the road as it winds its way between the houses to the west. Continue along the farm track, which first skirts a beautiful hedge, then the edge of the wood. After about a kilometer, at the corner of the wood, leave the track (which continues straight ahead) and fork left onto a small forest track. Shortly afterwards, this joins the Chemin Rural de l'Epery, which you then take to the right, descending through the bocage. As you approach the farm buildings (private property), turn left and follow the edge of the forest for around 100 metres. Turn right on the path through the grove, then right again at the entrance to the forest clearing. The path then descends along the municipal boundary between Clarafond and Eloise, in the heart of the Bois de l'Epery. After reaching and crossing the Parnant stream, turn right and head uphill towards the hamlet of Fruitière. After the first houses, turn left onto the road and follow the signs for Trainant. At a fine wooden cross, fork right and climb up to "Les Crêts", where the landscape gradually opens up, revealing a breathtaking panorama of the Haute-Chaîne du Jura and the Vuache massif, both separated by the famous "Défilé de l'Ecluse" (a historic passageway and migration hotspot for birds). At the "Trainant - 550 m" signpost, turn right onto the road leading down to Clarafond. At the bottom of the hamlet, stay on the road and climb up the hill to reach "Marlogne" and the ancient château de Verboz. This area was the seat of the seigneury of Verboz, whose late medieval castle is now a farm overlooking the road to Arcine. In 1215, Clarafond was included in the donation of the Peillonnex estate to the abbey of Chézery (Valserine valley) by the Count of Geneva. The vines on the Clarafond hillsides were first cultivated by the monks of Chézery, then by farmers. The first of these was a certain Louis Prodhon, a resident of Chézery, who came to live in Clarafond and settled there. In those days, Roussette du coteau de Tempoury, a grape variety brought to our land by the Duchess of Savoy Anne of Cyprus, was renowned. Even today, the commune is part of the AOC terroir for wines and Roussette de Savoie. As you approach the town center, turn right onto the Chemin de l'Oratoire, then join the Route de la Mairie and finally the parking lot.

2 h
8.2 km
Easy
Parking de l'Eglise 74270 Clarafond-Arcine
Show
Crossing the Jura, from Eloïse to Chaumont - Mountain biking
3 km

Crossing the Jura, from Eloïse to Chaumont - Mountain biking

Along the way, you'll discover magnificent views of the Vuache and the Ecluse defile. You'll find yourself moving through undergrowth at the foot of the Vuache and its protected cliffs. On arrival, don't miss the village of Chaumont. Along the way, don't miss the village of Chaumont. A typical village with the ruins of its ancient castle, its lively center... Go around the Eloise church to the right and follow the road northeast. At the "Eloise - 510 m" sign, turn right. After 200 m, take the carriage road straight down into the forest (be careful, the slope is steep and the path can be slippery in wet weather). At the bottom of the descent, cross the Parnant stream and climb back up the hill. At "Champ du Chêne - 420 m", turn right to reach the hamlet of Fruitière. Follow the road to the left towards Trainant for 700 m. As you approach a beautiful wooden cross, leave the road and turn right onto the carriage road. This gradually rises over the Crêts de Fruitière (glacial moraine), offering a remarkable panorama of the Haute-Chaîne du Jura, the Défilé de l'Ecluse (bird migration corridor) and the Vuache mountain range. At "Trainant - 550 m", turn left onto the road to reach the "Crêt du Feu" parking lot (take care as you cross a départemental road). Continue straight on uphill, past the "Arcine - 600 m" signpost, cross the A40 freeway and continue straight on along the forest edge. Turn left into the woods, then right after 250 m. Near the wooden hut, you can see a beautiful "Pierre à cupules", an erratic boulder deposited by the Rhône glacier and sculpted by prehistoric man. From here, take the forest path that runs 3.5 km along the edge of the Vuache mountain. The cliffs on the south-western slopes of the Vuache massif are protected by an Arrêté Préfectoral de Protection de Biotope (APPB), which prohibits climbing and paragliding from January 15 to July 15. This exceptional natural environment is home to several pairs of protected birds of prey (Peregrine Falcon and Eagle Owl), as well as rare plant species such as the Dictamne blanc. Reach "Vovray - 740 m", then leave the road and continue straight on towards Chaumont. Pass the "Champ Rosset - 730 m" signpost and reach the hamlet of Chaumontet (road). After the last houses, turn left onto Chemin des Voiries, which descends and rejoins the road after 300 m. Continue straight ahead, past the cemetery, then the Caveau de La Treille (selling Roussette and Savoy wines), and turn left into the Rue des Ecoliers, which leads up to the village. In the heart of Chaumont, you can continue your hike by turning right in front of the church and following the GR "Saint Jacques de Compostelle" / Chemins du Soleil signs, towards Frangy.

3 h
13 km
Easy
Rue du 14 juin 1944 01200 Éloise
Show

What to do in Clarafond-arcine

See more suggestions
Find the best activities in Clarafond-arcine and book easily online.
See more suggestions
Fort l'Écluse
4.4 km

Fort l'Écluse

Concerts, festivals, events and exhibitions, enjoyed by thousands of visitors, make Fort l'Ecluse an unmissable place to discover and enjoy... Well beyond the borders of Pays de Gex. Perched high above the Rhône, Fort l'Ecluse dominates the horizon. Over 700 years old, it has many stories to tell. Come and discover them on guided or self-guided tours, through the fascinating scenography of the "Au cœur de la Cluse" exhibition and the spectacular sound and light show "Fort l'Ecluse: 20,000 years of history". Something for everyone! Thanks to its immersive exhibitions, plunge "Into the heart of the storm" and "Discover the little rhinolophes", the bats of the Fort. This year, 2 new temporary exhibitions: "Intimité sauvage", fantastic animal photos by Adrien Favre, and "Gendarmes résistants dans l'Ain, le choix de l'impossible" by the association Mémoires de l'Ain 1939 - 1945. Summer events are sure to get you moving: the 12th edition of the Jazz in Fort l'Ecluse festival, classical concerts by the Soloist Academy, Nuit des étoiles, historical re-enactments... And for those who want to get moving, there's a range of sporting activities: an adventure course with a breathtaking view of the upper Fort, a free-access via ferrata and hiking trails. And let's not forget the challenge of obtaining the famous staircase diploma: climbing the 830 steps of the underground gallery linking the Lower Fort to the Upper Fort.

Longeray 01200 Léaz
Book from 0 €Book
Show

What to visit in Clarafond-arcine

See more suggestions
Shop in the boutiques of Clarafond-arcine.
See more suggestions
Fort l'Écluse
4.4 km

Fort l'Écluse

Concerts, festivals, events and exhibitions, enjoyed by thousands of visitors, make Fort l'Ecluse an unmissable place to discover and enjoy... Well beyond the borders of Pays de Gex. Perched high above the Rhône, Fort l'Ecluse dominates the horizon. Over 700 years old, it has many stories to tell. Come and discover them on guided or self-guided tours, through the fascinating scenography of the "Au cœur de la Cluse" exhibition and the spectacular sound and light show "Fort l'Ecluse: 20,000 years of history". Something for everyone! Thanks to its immersive exhibitions, plunge "Into the heart of the storm" and "Discover the little rhinolophes", the bats of the Fort. This year, 2 new temporary exhibitions: "Intimité sauvage", fantastic animal photos by Adrien Favre, and "Gendarmes résistants dans l'Ain, le choix de l'impossible" by the association Mémoires de l'Ain 1939 - 1945. Summer events are sure to get you moving: the 12th edition of the Jazz in Fort l'Ecluse festival, classical concerts by the Soloist Academy, Nuit des étoiles, historical re-enactments... And for those who want to get moving, there's a range of sporting activities: an adventure course with a breathtaking view of the upper Fort, a free-access via ferrata and hiking trails. And let's not forget the challenge of obtaining the famous staircase diploma: climbing the 830 steps of the underground gallery linking the Lower Fort to the Upper Fort.

Longeray 01200 Léaz
Book from 0 €Book
Show

Where to eat in Clarafond-arcine

See more suggestions
Come and taste typical dishes of Clarafond-arcine.
See more suggestions

Where to sleep in Clarafond-arcine

See more suggestions
Explore accommodation options in Clarafond-arcine.
See more suggestions
Caution!
We have no information on the difficulty of this circuit. You may encounter some surprises along the way. Before you go, please feel free to inquire more and take all necessary precautions. Have a good trip! 🌳🥾