Easy walk (2km round trip without elevation gain) in Grésy sur Aix, recommended for families with toddlers and/or people with reduced mobility. Access 29 km from the gîte.
Road access: take the highway towards Annecy, then exit no. 14: Grésy sur Aix / Aix les Bains. The departure point is in the carpool parking lot at the entrance to Grésy.
This marked route is a walk suitable for people with reduced mobility. In a green setting, almost entirely covered by woods, this site, classified since 1910, was redeveloped in 20211. It is located less than 5 km from the Grand Port and the Aix les Bains esplanade, which also deserve a deviation.
Start the walk on the left to see on the other bank the old pier and the location of the dam which made the river navigable for tourists along the length of the gorges. Follow the gray pipe to the left…
… it marks the water level and the shape of the now disappeared dam. Boats navigated this canyon until 1971.
Continue up the river bed: you quickly arrive at a suspended footbridge.
Just before this footbridge, we can see the mid-course waterfall.
The path then divides in two with a low passage using a staircase of around twenty steps while a high passage allows you to continue on flat ground.
The route ends with the consolidated ruins of the old mill, with several very educational explanatory panels.
Walkers can continue after the mill towards the Grotte des Fées in 15 minutes (route not suitable for disabled people). But you can also return to the car and visit the Grand Port of Aix, with the wandering garden or the esplanade. You will find peace, shade and numerous restaurants to continue the day.
- For the curious, you can see here a summary of the history of this remarkable site (in french) ↩︎
