GR®5 Alpes (1): Saint-Gingolph - Bise (La Chapelle d'Abondance)

The GR©5 is one of the most prestigious hiking routes in France. This linear route goes from Saint-Gingolph to the Bise pass. Beyond Bise pass you can follow it to Nice.

This itinerary takes you to the heights of Saint-Gingolph and the village of Novel, the smallest commune in Haute-Savoie with about 50 inhabitants. On the way, magnificent views of the high lake, the Swiss coast and the Vaud Alps await you. You will reach the chalets and the lake of Neuteu and then the Col de Bise situated at 1915 m altitude, where you can admire your ascent and enjoy the breathtaking view of Lake Geneva and the Jura! You will reach the alpine hamlet of Bise, which is part of the Chablais Geopark network and nestles at the foot of the Cornettes de Bise, a Natura 2000 reserve. Its chalets, with their preserved architecture, include a restaurant as well as a refuge, freshly renovated in 2017. In contact with the herds of cows and goats, you will not be able to resist the cheeses sold directly by the producers, including the Abondance cheese for which the region is famous!