An artificial pond with a central island, three marked fitness trails and a long church history give Cessy several specific ways to explore. At the Étang, you can consider fitness trails and fishing as activities in one place; nearby, local connections range from municipal Jura forests to a road cycling route that passes through Cessy. For planning your trip, the different types of attractions are worth noting: a named waterside location, forest areas spread across several sites, church heritage and a cycling route with an explicitly limited target group.
The Étang de Cessy and its trails
The Étang de Cessy is an artificial pond excavated in 1989, with a central island. The fitness trail there comprises three signposted routes: the blue route loops around the pond, Orange marks the Vita trail, and Red connects the two routes. The markings make their different functions clear: a loop, a Vita trail and a connecting route—not three similar loops.
Each exercise station indicates the distance covered and remaining, as well as explaining the movement to perform. Details of the equipment may change. Carp, tench, pike and perch are fished at the Étang. If you would like to fish, check the local regulations in advance.
The leisure area at the Étang is also accessible to people with reduced mobility. If you rely on specific accessibility features, check these again before travelling.
Forests across several areas
The municipal forests of Cessy cover 200 hectares and are spread across three separate areas of the Jura’s High Range. These three areas extend across several neighbouring municipalities. This is a helpful distinction when considering the landscape: the Étang refers to a single location, while the forest areas are spread across several sections.
Church history and memorials
The church’s history includes a change in dedication: in 1091, the church of Sainte-Marie in Cessy was transferred to Saint-Claude Abbey and placed under the patronage of Saint-Denis. The present-day choir of Saint-Denis Church was the chapel of the former monastery. The town’s history therefore encompasses both the transfer of a church to an abbey and the former function of a specific church space.
The church still contains a memorial plaque to the French soldiers of the First World War and a Pietà sculpture depicting a soldier in her arms. Alongside its religious history, remembrance of the soldiers forms another distinct aspect.
Agricultural heritage and road cycling route
The agricultural life of times past is also among Cessy’s cultural themes. The Fête de la Batteuse took place at the Maison du Patrimoine on 29 and 30 July 2023 and on 28 July 2024. The event on 28 July 2024 was dedicated to discovering this agricultural world. Thus, alongside church history, there is also a focus on remembering rural life in the past.
The La Boucle du Nord Gessien road cycling circuit runs from Gex via Sergy, Saint-Genis-Pouilly, Versonnex and Cessy to Divonne-les-Bains. Cessy is part of the route, but it differs significantly from the marked fitness trail at the Étang: it is not signposted locally, follows roads open to motor traffic, and is intended exclusively for experienced cyclists. Keep this target group in mind if you include the route in your trip plans.
This gives you a clear distinction when choosing activities for your trip: the Étang offers three marked trails and the opportunity to fish, while the road cycling route is explicitly reserved for experienced cyclists. Church history and historical event themes complement these outdoor activities with cultural highlights.
Discover more destinations: Hotonnes, Civrieux, Massignieu-De-Rives, Bellegarde-Sur-Valserine, Chézery-Forens, Pont-D’ain, Châtillon-En-Michaille, Neyron.
For the broader travel overview: Ain.
